My Second University: Memories from Romanian Communist Prisons by Stroia S & Dusleag D L - Article Example

My Second University: Memories from Romanian Communist Prisons by Stroia S & Dușleag D L When the Communists took over Romania in 1945, Stanciu Stroia, a medical practitioner, refused to join the communist party. Stroia, at that time, occupied an important place in the Romanian society as he was one of the pioneers in his practice and held the position of a hospital director. This high profile-position caught the interest of the Soviet communist leaders who pledged to promulgate a novel ‘social order’ patterned after Stalinism. After Stroia refused to support the communist cause and rejected calls for him to join the communist ranks, Dr. Stanciu Stroia was labeled ‘undesirable’ by the communist authority. 1Stroia was so committed to his practice that even with intense pressure from the communist party for him to become “an informer in the interim” but he declined instantly (31). As a consequence, Stroia was arrested for the crime of aiding anticommunists groups and of plotting for the overthrow of the communist state for which he was sentenced to six years of imprisonment. The sentence also came with the eviction of his family from their property and confiscation of his medical practice. In his memoir “My Second University: Memories from Romanian Communist Prisons,” Stroia recounts his story, by documenting inside the communist penitentiary his memoir which was later published by his grandson, the author of the biography Dan L. Dusleag, also a medical doctor. The title of the memoir holds significance as the years Stroia spent inside his cell proved valuable as he acquired precious lessons and realizations – revealing that what he learned outside of prison is as priceless as what he learned while in captivity. In the opening chapter of his book, Stroia realizations about our existence is evident when he acknowledges that he 2‘believe[s] in destiny and in the power of God” (21) and that his imprisonment is destined. Hence, he spends his time writing ‘moments of [his] life’ in prison which for him cost much of his freedom. This documenting is done with great care so as not to arouse suspicion. He hides this undertaking by pretending that he is preoccupied with sewing. Stroia considers this enterprise a very important one as later on he assumes that reader of his memoir will similarly learn from what he has gone through under the communist regime. Stroia emphasizes that he learns so much from his strength which he relied solely upon when he feels he is losing hope. Immediately after his arrest, he could not foresee what is going to happen to him. 3Yet, when the guards ushered him inside his cell, he remembers seeing the patch of blue sky ‘through the door, on the first door on the right’ and is filled with hope that in no time he would be ‘freed’ (31). Yet, as soon as the police lock him up in his cell, he realizes that he will stay longer that he expected. Stroia also remembers the fears he harbored during his first few days in jail, the foul smell of the room and the other prisoner, a former patient, Lae Greavu, who exhibited uncontrolled behavior. 4The doctor recounts that he is swept with fear as he spends ‘agonizing moments wrestling’ with the man who later on clamed down after recognizing the doctor (45). This depicts that the Stroia realizes that his courage, strength and optimism saved him from the agony he went through under the hands of the communists. But what is compelling about Stroia’s account is his reportage of what he learned about communism during his time and during his captivity as the doctor offered his readers a telling glimpse of that part of history and a deeper understanding that comes with his self-realizations of what occurred in Eastern Europe and why there is still arising conflicts even after the fall of communism. The doctor also reminds us of the insights he gained with regards communist repression of freedom and the courage of many citizens in his community to stand firm against these repressions. 5The List of Political Detainees in Stroia’s memoir includes ‘incorruptible spirits’ and citizens ‘representing the entire political spectrum’ of the nation. The book notes that out of the 18 million Romanians in 1945, more than half a million people were arrested and exiled. Mentioned also were the ‘countless relatives and friends’ who suffered from torture and persecutions, yet refused to give up courage and resolve or yield to the communist authority (221 – 225). In the introduction of the memoir, Dan Dusleag asserts that it is significant to document communist repression and make it part of history so as to avoid the same the repetition of similar injustices that threaten freedom all over the world. 6This is the same goal his grandfather purported when he wrote the memoir as both believe that ‘Ignorance is at the root of all evil.’ Hence the understanding that part of our history is ‘crucial for our own self-preservation’ (2). Hence, the chosen title of the book, “My Second University: Memories from Romanian Communist Prisons” is a appropriate title for the book as Stroia opened our eyes to the reality that the things we learn outside of school, through our experiences or our struggles, whether we are in captivity or unchained, are as valuable as the time we spent at garnering a diploma. For Stroia’s, however painful his memories of prison maybe, his time in prison made him more humane and courageous and it is not always our diplomas that would carry us through life’s turmoil – but the strength of our inner spirit. Read More