[hlmencken3]

A visit to the USSR as a student inspired Iowa Senator Joni Ernst to take her first interest in politics and and to join the US military. She was shocked at the primitive state of the USSR.

[jttpwalsh]

A visit to the USSR as a student inspired Iowa Senator Joni Ernst to take her first interest in politics and and to join the US military. She was shocked at the primitive state of the USSR.

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Yes, a normal person would react that way. Not only was it primitive, the lack of freedom, and oppression was palpable; it hung in the air, like fog. We took a train from Leningrad to Helsinki. Once we crossed the Finnish frontier, our teacher engaged us in a discussion. What would you do, if for some reason, you were not allowed to leave the country? My answer was to plan a suicide mission; escape, or die, trying. That was the consensus opinion, among our group.