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Bolshaya Gruzinskaya Street, House 63, Apartment 87, Moscow Russia, 123056 =========================================== A L E T T E R FROM BENJAMIN R. YUZON, PRESIDENT, U. P. L. I. October 10, 1987 My Dear Starry Poet Igor Mikhailusenko, WELCOME TO AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL ! Enjoy your stay in the promotion of our cherished ideal "World Brotherhood and Peace Through Poetry". It was a great pleasure speaking to you over the telephone. Next 5-day Congress will be in Milan, Italy beginning June 20th, 1988. This award should have been presented to you at the joint 10th World Congress of Poets and 1st World Congress of Culture in New York City. Sadly, we missed your honorable presence. Inscribed at back of medal is your illustrious good name. With all the good -- CONGATULATIONS AND BEST WISHES ! Benjamin R. Yuzon, M. E. President, U.P.L.I. ====================================================== A U T O G R A P H I N A BOOK "AGAINST THE WIND" - Short Stories - By Alexander Kazantsev ^^^^^^^ Foreign Languages Publishing House Moscow ************************************* To dear Igor Mikhailusenko --- to a dreamer for whom one dreams and wishes that in the year 2000 AD he will remain as fresh and young with his dreams as he is today, and then he will accomplish something unusual, necessary, and brilliant. ALEXANDER KAZANTSEV, Russian science-fiction author 9/12/1960. ****************************************************** *An OPEN LETTER By Igor Mikhailusenko To The Editors of "SOVIET UNION" Magazine (No.7 /424/ 1985) IGOR MIKHAILUSENKO, USSR We live in difficult and anxious times. Today every person should be filled with a sense of personal responsibility for the fate of the world. And if all people of good will act together, they can preserve peace on Earth. I think that you would be interested in knowing what the outstanding sculptor Sergei Konenkov had to say on this subject. Once in a letter (this was in 1968) I asked him how he saw the future, the year 2000. This was his reply: "I see the year 2000 as a year of constructive peace." "SOVIET UNION" Magazine, No. 7(424) 1985 was published in 20 languages and spread by "Aeroflot" in more than 100 countries of the world. ****************************************************** THIS IS IGOR MIKHAILUSENKO'S POEM, written first in his life: -------------------------------------------- GOD OF WAR There's Mars himself ! In healm a-shining, And on his steed of bronze so stark. Like a hungry hawk through the heavens flying In deep impenetrable dark Upon his shoulders wings are gleaming, A red star burns upon hid breast. His angry glittering looks so streaming, A menacing sword in his mailed fist. But on this day, in some strange manner, And notwithstanding flames and smoke, The whole land sees a peaceful banner Flying above a peaceful folk. The God of War our earthly planet Protected from the evil gloom, So that bright branches should spread upon it, So that the bird-cherry tree should bloom. May 9th, 1945 Moscow Translated from the Russian By WALTER MAY ********************************** MOSCOW Igor Mikhailusenko There is nothing more lovely, of this I am sure, When I stride through your avenues, Moscow, once more, When on high blocks, as if on their shoulders, there lies A warm ruby-hued gleam from your evening skies. There is no-one more happy than I, you must see, When you call me a Muscovite, honouring me, For that proud name resounds like the highest reward, And there's no other name which such joy can afford ! Therefore, let that proud name like a bird song be sung Our our capital city, so ancient, yet so young ! July 1980, Moscow Translated from the Russian by WALTER MAY **************************************** Igor Mikhailusenko M Y M O S C O W' S D E A R ENVIRONS I love you so, my Moscow's dear environs ! Blue tent of sky above the swirling stream, Deep forest green, the fields, the far horizons, Aroma of ripening grain, -- its golden gleam ! Here the sun's rays are bracingly, warmly dancing, Here lies all that my childhood heart held dear, Here the bright stars from behind the clouds are glancing And all around to my loving heart lies near. March, 1979 Translated from the Russian by WALTER MAY ================================================== "I WAS PLEASED TO HEAR OF YOUR CONCERN FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PEACEFUL WORLD AND, WHILE I AM NOT A COMPLETE PACIFIST, AGREE WITH YOU THAT A WAR WITH NUCLEAR WEAPONS WOULD BE A TERRIBLE CATASTROPHE, WHICH WE MUST DO ALL IN OUR POWER TO AVOID". That was from Lord Bertrand Russell's letter of 26th July, 1962, to Igor Mikhailusenko. ABC American Biographical Institute, Inc. A Nationally Recognized Reference Work __________________________________________________________ F I V E T H O U S A N D P E R S O N A L I T I E S O F T H E W O R L D The Sixth Edition 1997 MIKHAILUSENKO, Igor Georgievich oc/Journalist (retired); ad/Bolshaya Gruzinskaya Street, House 63, Aparrnment 87, Moscow 123056, Russia; ed/Graduate, Maurice Thorez Foreign Languages Institute, 1958; English Specialization; pa/Writer; Journalist, USSR Press, Foreign Countries Press; Laurel Leaves, Official Organization of United Poets Laureates International; Board of Directors, International Writers & Artists Association, Morehead State University; International Association of Writers, Bluffton College; cw/Author, Five Poems Seen By the English Queen, 1995; Contributor, Dostoinstvo; hon/Award for Noteworthy Contributions to Rainbows and Rhapsodies; Award for Achievement of Excellence in Poetry, Editors of Fine Arts Press; Recognition for Efforts Towards World Brotherhood & Peace Through Poetry, United Poets Laureates International , 1987; Badge of Honor, Moscow Peace Committee, 1982. Igor Georgeovich Mikhailusenko was born of Russian parents on 20 April, 1932, in Moscow, Russia. In 1958 he graduated from the Maurice Thorez Foreign Language Institute in Moscow. He specialized in English, and worked for a brief spell in the USSR Travel Agency "INTOURIST" as a translator. As a child, he lost both his legs in a street accident during the Nazi bombing of Moscow (a misfortune that he dealt with courageously), then, in 1943, his father Georgi, died of a head wound he received at the front while fighting the invading German army. His mother, Anastasia, survived the war but died from a stroke in 1974. Igor Mikhailusenko has had a lifelong commitment to the cause of world peace, and has sent poems and peace letters to numerous publications abroad and been publicized in the (former) Soviet Union in various journals and magazines. Many of his poems have been set to music and become popular songs, known both in the USSR and abroad. He was the author of the lyrics to the Olympic song "Shine out, Just like a Star, Our Sporting Planet", written for the games of 1980 as well as the galaxy songs "Starry Meeting", "Waltz of Love", and "Cosmic Tango". He visited the USA in 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, and 1992-93 on a one man crusade to promote world peace and understanding through his works. His work for peace has won him many honors including the Badge of Honor from the Moscow PEace Committee in 1982 and recognition for his efforts for world brotherhood and peace through poetry by the United Poets Laureate International in 1987. He recieved an award from the Editors of Fine Arts Press, Knoxville, USA in 1988 for his noteworthy contribution to "Rainbows and Rhapsodies" and his excellence in poetry. His poems "To the Stars" and "Happiness" were published in Russian in millions of copies and appeared in English in the VI Antalogia de Pesia Contempranea", Lisbon, Portugal in 1989. In 1989 US President George Bush endorsed his visits to the USA sending him a personal letter later published in The Valley Independent, Pravda, New Times, and Moscow News. Mr Mikhailusenko also tried to explore ideas aimed at increasing the welfare and safety of humankind by a cultural exchange between the superpowers, reduction of nuclear weaponry and cooperative space exploration, through the medium of correspondence with people such as Lord Burtrand Russell (the late Nobel Peace Laureate) and the former Dean of Canterbury, Dr Hewlett Johnson. He also correspoonded with the IOC Presidents, Lord Killanin and the Marquis Juan Antonio Samaranch and published an article about the Olympic Museum in Mir Novestei in 1995. He attended the Centennial Olympic Congress in Paris in 1994 where he read a paper, "Sport and The Mass Media" and a poem. In July 1997 Mr Mikhailusenko participated in the 15th World Congress of Poets at Buckinghamshire College< High Wycombe, England and was awarded the title Laureate Man of Letters with a presentation of a laurel wreath. This poem is by Igor Mikhailusenko SURVIVAL A Testimony No, I'm not dead ! I'm living yet. As witness to that -- Here stands my verse And thuis blue evening sweetly set Amid the awakened Universe. These lines Which lie before you now Are part of mine, And they resound. No, I'm not dead ! I'm living yet, With a feeling of joy Spread all around ! And let that feeling of joy Of mine In the name of lasting peace go forth Pass over, many and many a time, To all those living on our Earth ! Translated from tht Russian by WALTER MAY BE A CAPTAIN... On this planet of ours far-flighted, Like some interplanetary bark, Be, O questing poet, far-sighted In these days of half-light, half-dark. Be a captain firm and fearless On the starry, stormy sea. May our sky, bright blue and tearless, As a banner of peace float free ! Translated from the Russian by WALTER MAY ***********************************************NEWS FROM THE PAST----- An Article: "RUSSIAN PREACHES PEACE THROUGH POETRY" by Chris Moran, Staff Writer of The US Newspaper "THE BETHESDA GAZETTE" appered onThusday, September 14, 1989. "Through poetry I can promote peace, " said Mikhailusenko, many of whose poems have been set to music, including the 1980 Moscow Olympic song "Shine out, just like a star, our sporting planet." ****************************************************** L O V E IGOR MIKHAILUSENKO I took my pen And one white paper sheet, And wrote a word, all in one breath complete: L O V E ! The paper fluttered, Suddenly seemed a dove, And that word uttered Soared through dark skies above, And saved from war this threatened world we see, And saved us from ruin and destitution ! And is not this the timely great solution Of our one problem: TO BE OR NOT TO BE?! Moscow, Russia -- 1987 (Translated from the Russian by WALTER MAY) ************************************************* DEAR FRIENDS ! YOU ARE WELCOME TO FIND IN THE LIBRARY -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE MAGAZINE "NEW FRONTIER", published in Pennsylvania, USA --- Vol.VII, No.10 = November 1987, and READ in it: ========================================== A N I N T E R V I E W W I T H I G O R M I K H A I L U S E N K O Soviet Poet BY SW. VIRATO INTRODUCTION BY ART ROSENBLUM ============================================== IGOR MIKHAILUSENKO SAID IN THE YEAR 1987, TO SW. VIRATO: --- "I must immediately say that I am a great optimist. Even one of our greatest poets, Nikolai Tikhonov, called me "a battling optimist." I'm quite certain that the Earth goes not into abyss, but moves to a brighter future. The sun will shine brightly for all the people of the earth and the clear sky will not be marred by any armed airplanes, but will be dotted only with peaceful rockets, which will be used to discover the stars in the name of peace and for the good of all. I have a glorious vision that in by the year 2000, the world will surely reach its destination. It will be a world without weapons where all dwellers on the earth, all peoples and nations, will be happy and free and will live in prosperity". "I TRUST IN SUPERMIND. THE FORCE IS GOD", says Igor. ****************************************************** IGOR MIKHAILUSENKO'S E-MAIL is the following : mig@technoserv.ru Igor says: "I LIKE HAVING MANY FRIENDS! >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> *********************************** GENTLEMEN, THE PRESS ! READ PHP, October 1975 ! ___________________________________ PHP is a monthly magazine whose sole policy is to help create a better world to live in. Published in Tokyo, Japan. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Read Igor Mikhailusenko's letter that was published in PHP in October 1975 (in The 5th Anniversary Issue): In 1974, I wrote a letter to Mr. Gerald Ford, President of the United States of America. Here is part of what I wrote: "The Second World War brought sorrow to millions of people and it didn't bypass my family: my father was killed on the battlefield and I lost both legs as a ten-year-old boy during the German bombing of Moscow in 1942. I'm doing all I can for a lasting peace. May I ask you, Mr. President, a few questions in the name of better international understanding, friendship and peace: What are the best ways, in your opinion, to establish better international friendship and durable peace in the world ? What do you think of a free exchange of ideas, information and people ? What do you think of our 20th century ? What is your conception of happiness ? " I beleive you would be interested in what I heard in reply. Here are some lines written by Mr. Eli Flamm, Press Attache of the Embassy of the United States in Moscow (Nov.6, 1974), to whom my letter to President Ford was passed for reply: "Your letter to President Ford has been passed to me for reply. Let me say that we all appreciate the friendly and generous spirit in which you wrote, and share your feelings about the sorrow caused by war. "In answer to your questions: "One of the best ways to improve international friendship and create peace in the world is to develop dialogues that lead to open covenants openly arrived at. Handshakes were a sign that the men meeting held no weapons; let us go on from there. "We have been working and continue to work for the widest possible free exchange of ideas, information and people. This is one of the main points at the ongoing talks at the Conference for Security and Cooperation in Europe, in which we too are taking part. "The 20th century is a time of great change. We should try to be equal to the challenges. "Happiness, like beauty, may be said to be in the eyes of the beholder. If we can help each other improve our perception in these areas, so much the better. "We wish for the younger generation of the world a brighter future, together with a remembrance of things past." As an ordinary Soviet citizen, to whom peace is very dear, I was very glad about the fine exchange of correspondence as I have been and will continue working for the widest possible exchange of ideas and information for peace. People must be allowed to travel far and wide, too, on our dear planet of Earth. That is the best way, in my opinion, to become really aware of differing forms of government and ways of life, and the right road to better international understanding, to genuine friendship --- which leads to world peace for all time. Our greatest dream is, of course, peace; for genuine human happiness is impossible without peace. Long live peace and friendship throughout the world. Igor Mikhailusenko U.S.S.R. ****************************************************** ************************************************** A LETTER FROM EDWARD M. KENNEDY: United States Senate Washington, D.C. 20510 March 23, 1977 Mr. Igor Mikhailusenko Bolshaya Gruzinskaya Ulitsa House 63, Apartment 87 Moscow 123056, USSR Dear Mr. Mikhailusenko, I just received your letter written on May, 1976. I want you to know how much I appreciate your taking the time to write and to send me a copy of the January 1976 issue of "V Mire Knig" in which your article appears. I agree fully with your feelings that travel serves to broaden individual understanding of different cultures and governments. I hope that you will have the opportunity to visit the United States. Sincerely, Edward M. Kennedy ****************************************************** <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< A PAGE FROM THE PAST... Igor Mikhailusenko, USSR: In Moscow in May 1965 I had the good fortune to meet Konstantin Khrutsky, a veteran of the 1877-78 Russo-Turkish War. He was very sprightly for his age, and he literally enchanted me. We took a liking to each other and had our photo taken as a memento. He told me stories about the war in which he fought to liberate the Bulgarians from the Turks; he mentioned, incidentally, that "the Bulgarians had beautiful eyes and a wonderful kind heart". He still had vivid memories, he said, of the green Bulgarian forests and valleys, and the blue sky. Recalling his comrades-in-arms with particular warmth and emotion, he said it was his last wish that the friendship between our two peoples should be preserved and strengthened. Four years ago he died at the age of 114. It would be very nice if you could publish my short letter about Konstantin Khrutsky in your magazine which is read by millions of people both in the USSR and the world at large. (That was published with an original photograph -- Mikhailusenko and Khrutsky --in The Illustrated Monthly Magazine "SOVIET UNION", No.3 /276/ 1973. Founded by Maxim Gorky in 1930 as "USSR IN CONSTRUCTION". Renamed in 1950. Published in Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, English, Finnish, French, German, Hindi, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mongolian, Rumanian, Russian, Serbo-Croat, Spanish, Urdu, and Vietnamese. Delivered by Aeroflot Airlines to more than 100 countries of the world.) >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Igor Mikhailusenko. mailto:mig@technoserv.ru ************************************** BUSH LETTER IS A DREAM COME TRUE By Dorothy McCLAIN Igor Mikhailusenko of Moscow had only one dream when he arrived in America. It was somehow to be able to reach President George Bush with his message for peace -- for now and for all time. That dream and another one has come true. A letter from President Bush arrived Wednesday at the home of his Monessen hostess and Igor was informed of its receipt at the clinic in Fort Lauderdalt, Fla., where he was awaiting the new artificial legs that had just been completed for him after three weeks of casting, fittings and adjustments. Igor -- a poet who has visited Monessen twice during the past few years -- was elated and thrilled at the news of President Bush's response, and was also very excited about taking his new artificial limbs for their "first walk for peace". World peace has been Igor's dream for 47 years -- since 1942 when he was ten years old and lost his limbs in a nazi bombing raid in his birthplace of Moscow. In his letter, President Bush offered his hopes that Igor's trip to America is successful. It read: "I want to thank you for sharing with me your views on peace. Ours is a changing world, full of hope, new technologies and, most of all, new friendships. "Like you, I look forward to a peaceful future between great rival powers --a peace full of prosperity and freedom for all peoples. "The United States and the Soviet Union have begun a new relationship. It's a relationship that demands realism, but has shown real progress in a better understanding between our two nations. "When we have kept to the principles of realism and strength, dialogue and engagement, we have succeded in advancing both peace and freedom. My administration remains committed to these tenets of international harmony." (That was from "MOSCOW NEWS" Weekly newspaper, No.46 (3398), Sunday, November 12, 1989, INDEX 50076.) Read also Igor Mikhailusenko's letter in the Magazine "NOVOYE VREMYA", appearing in Moscow in several languages, No.39, 1989. *************************************************** ******************** HERE AND ABOUT IGOR MIKHAILUSENKO WRITES POETRY FOR WORLD PEACE By Teresinka Pereira, Professor of Spanish Igor Mikhailusenko is a crusader for world peace. Getting around with the help of a cane, he is limited in the things he is able to do. He lost both of his legs as a boy in World War II, when German bombs exploded in Moscow. In his words: "I was hit and awoke a pool of my own blood, both of my legs gone. Then, and again in the hospital, as doctors worked to save me, I told God if He would let me live, I would devote myself to peace and do all I could to see that this type of distruction and suffering would never happen again". This mission is what is bringing Igor Mikhailusenko back to the USA. He is striving to bridge the gap between his country and America and bring others to beleive, as he does, that world peace can be the only means to true happiness. One of his visits to America took him to Florida where he was fitted with new artificial legs, which ended 47 years of hobbling about on wooden legs. His new legs have given him much greater mobility and have helped him to promote world peace. Igor Mikhailusenko is a graduate of the Maurice Thorez Institute of Foreign Languages in Moscow. He specialized in English and worked in the Intourist as a translator. He is now devoted to poetry and journalism. His poems and peace letters were sent to numerous publications abroad. Now Mikhailusenko is in his fifties. He loves children and writes poems for and about them: Once More Peace Once more I wish to speak of peace./ The peace which lives within my heart. I do not want that life should cease, /Scorched up, where lovely day can start! Just look -- the sun shines everywhere ! /So why the wish to make clouds form ? Let all the children in bright fresh air / Laugh on our planet, free from care, /And let their mothers embrace them warm. Inside the Soviet Union Igor and his works have been publicized in various journals and magazines. Many of his poems have been set to music and have become popular songs, known not only in Russia but also abroad. He was the author of the lyrics to the Olympic song "Shine Out Just Like a Star, Our Sporting Planet", written for the games of 1980, as well the Galaxy songs "Starry Meeting"and "Waltz of Love". He was awarded the badge of Honor of Moscow Peace Committee for his active work in the promotion of peace. "Peace is not a firebird from a fairy tale which is to be chased by its tail on the rocks, Mikhailusenko says, "but an ardent and persistently active attitude towards life. Any reasonable effort is valuable for achieving this great aim of mankind, for peace spells happiness." He also says in verses: I am --- a Human... One of many, many.../For the survival of us all I bear responsibility...--- (That was from BLUFFTON COLLEGE'S STUDENT- PRODUCED WEEKLY NEWSPAPER -- The Bluffton College WITMARSUM, February 7, 1992, Page 5,Volume LXXVIII, No.13) ****************************************************** ** **************************************************** IGOR MIKHAILUSENKO' S POETIC PROFILE Igor Mikhailusenko was barely nine years old when the Great Patriotic War began. During the bombing of Moscow, in 1942, he lost both his legs in a street accident. His father was killed at the front. But there was too much grief all around to shut one-self up in one's own sorrow. He tried not to be separated from his friends, he studied at school. His mother worked day and night at a factory, and he and helped her as far as he could. He himself went for shopping . Then later he was fortunate enough to meet fine people. "At fourteen I sent off the first letter in my life. Not to any old body, but to Academician Vladimir Afanasyevich Obruchev. I had just read his "To the soil of Sannikov", and could not help but writing to the author how that wonderful book had captivated me. The famous scientist sent me a reply, and a regular correspondence between us sprang up. Vladimir Afanasyevich shared his experience with me, and his thoughts about peace, so essential to our planet". Igor Mikhailusenko carefully keeps the letters Obruchev sent him, and books with authors' inscriptions from other noted people -- from Nazim Khikmet, Martin Andersen-Nexo, Alexander Fadeyev, and Nikolai Tikhonov. His correspondence with Nikhonov played quite a special role in his life. As a student at the Foreign Languages Institute the budding poet asked the master-hand for advice. How to live? How to write ? Nikolai Semyonovich replied in detail, and spoke of what had moved him in his life, and in literature. The dialogue between the outstanding Soviet poet and the "battling optimist"(as Tikhonov called his correspondent) continued for many years. Read "WRITE STRONGLY AND BOLDLY", an article by Igor Mikhailusenko which was published in the Magazine "OGONYOK" ("Little Light") No.48 * November 27, 1976. In 1980, in a letter to the President of the World Olympic Committee, The Lord Michatl Killanin, Mikhailusenko spoke of his verses as a secondary leaning, and said that the struggle for peace was his first goal throughout life. He is firmly convinced that peace will not come of its own accord, but must be fought for -- through youth meetings, through sporting competitions, through contributions to the Peace Fund, through songs and poems... He himself, from day to day, makes a worthy contribution to that great goal. ****************************************************** Putin: The Next Gorbachev ? ___________________________ __ I watch with interest what the press media reports here and abroad. Recently, my attention was attracted by the following: “Vladimir Putin wants to do something for Russia. I don’t think that he, as a man of the new generation, will go down the road of dictatorship,”Gorbachev was quoted as saying by Itar-Tass. These words of Gorbachev could not but please me. In my opinion,, Mikhail Goprbachev is honest with the people, and a very responsive man. On July 13, 1995, he gave mwe his book “The Years of Hard Decisions”and signed it: “To Igor Mikhailusenko — from the author. I wish you good health and peace of mind. Mikhail Gorbachev.” That heartfelt autograph of Mikhail Gorbachev inspires me to write verses for peace and brotherly love! In explaining my country’s new changes, I would like to say that World War II depleted Russia. The leaders tried mostly to do what was best for the country, but there were some who wanted to enrich themselves and not the country. Mikhail Gorbachev is not like that. He is very much loved by the people in our country, because he has ushered in a new era of perestroika and glasnost. I believe his opinion about Vladimir Putin is very true and encouraging. I believe Vladimir Putin is very much loved by the people in our country, too, because he wants to rebuild a strong Russia with a powerful presidency and a flourishing economy. He is determined — whatever the cost — to crush separatism in Chechnya or anywhere else within Russia ’s borders. In my opinion, Putin has already made headway in one area — restoring ordinary Russians ’faith in themselves. He is just the man to rule Russia! Just one point to add: Sometimes people get upset at a leader because he cannot create a paradise in one day. God even took longer than that when He created the Earth. We Russian people must be patient with our leader. Igor Mikhailusenko Moscow That was from “The Moscow Times”Newspaper, appearing in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, July 8, 2000, No.1996. GENTLEMEN, THE PRESS ! READ : The Herald Journal Logan, Utah, Wednesday, October 31, 1990. ******************************* **************** Russian Mormon Promotes message of peace Russian poet Igor Mikhailusenko brought his message of peace to the Logan LDS Institute last week By Debby Bronson religious editor Like Utah’s early Mormon pioneers, Russian poet Igor Mikhailusenko of Moscow is a pioneer in his own right. He was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on the LDS-celebrated Pioneer Day, July 24, 1988. He is believed to be the first Moscow citizen baptized into the church since 1917. And he is providing the first ever translation of the recent LDS Conference into the Russian language. Speaking to Utah State University students in the Logan LDS Institute of Religion last Wednesday, he talked about his conversion to the LDS faith. He talked, also, about his another subject equally desr to his heart: world peace. “I came from Russia with love, and I have been received with much love already,”he told the students. The truth of his simple statement was evident by the warm welcome he received from the large crowd who gathered to hear him speak. Ten yesrs ago, the Soviet people were afraid of the United States, he said. Stereotypes from both sides led to equal distrust. “You were afraid of us,”he said. “Each side thought the other were enemies.” Today, the stereotypes are fading. “I believe our great countries can live in this century as good neighbors without any cold or hot war,”he said. “It is my desire that the year 2000 be the year of constructive peace for all the world.” With that goal in mind, he told the group, he wrote letters to world leaders posing this question: “What do you think the world will be like in the year 2000?” President Bush was among the many who replied. “It was a very warm, very optimistic, very peaceful letter,”he said. It impressed Mikhailusenko so much that he shared it with readers of the Soviet newspaper, Pravda, and it appeared in print in more than 17 million copies, “to the delight of the Russian government,” he said with a chuckle. “I am very proud in this way to promote understanding and peace.” Working toward world peace has been an important goal of Mikhailusenko’s since childhood. As a young boy, he learned firsthand the awful effects of hatred and war: He lost both huis legs during a Nazi bombing of Moscow during World War II. Poetry and writing have been an outlet for expressing hism feelings for peace. His very first poem, entitled “God of War”,”was inspired by the ending of World War II. His interest in peace eventually led him to the LDS Church. While in the United States several years ago to have a pair of artificial legs constructed, he made contact with a friend at the Gandhi Peace Center in Boston. That friend was LDS, and from him, Mikhailusenko first learned about the LDS faith. He was baptized two years ago in Washington, D.C., by Scott Garner and Mike Jardine, who now both attend USU. He explained to the audience that contrary to what most Americans believe, spirituality is no stranger to many Russians, and majority of the religious are members of the Russian Orthodox Church. People of many faiths are represented in the Soviet Union such as Buddhists, Jews and Moslems. “There are many people in Russia who werer not unbelievers (in Christianity),” he said. “It’s very natural for the Russian people to love religion. Historically, after they were baptized in Christ they became strong believers.” He recalled his own first visit to a church when he was just a child. His father — who was a member of the Communist Party and, supposedly an athiest — told him after he returned from church, “If you like it, it is good.” He recalled, too, that his father, a colonel in the Soviet Army at the time, would make it a point to always bless the soldiers before they would go to war during World War II. “I think there are no obstacles today for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to come to to Russia today, ”he said. He was asked, if he could choose between life in the Soviet Union and life in America, which would he choose? “If I stayed in America, I would have more good food and freedom to create and be able to have access to the cultural treasures here, “he said. “But still I would prefer to live in Russia because my goal is to help promote understanding, be a bridge for peace, so I would prefer to live in Russia. I am a Russian ambassador for peace in Heavenly Father ’s hands. ” ( That was from Herald Journal Logan, Utah, Wednesday, October 31, 1990) ****************************************************** AUTOGRAPH IN THE BOOK "SOROS ON SOROS -- Staying Ahead of the Curve" By George Soros with Byron Wien and Krisztina Koenen ===== John Wiley & Sons, Inc. New-York-Chichester-Brisbane-Toronto-Singapore 1995 AUTOGRAPH: "To Igor Mikhailusenko with best wishes. George Soros." ********************************************** INFO: Publications, The Topic Theme: AUTOGRAPHES -- An article by Igor Mikhailusenko: "I'm Collecting Autographes...". Published on November 4, 1998, in "ROSSIYSKAYA GAZETA" Newspaperappearing in Moscow, Russia. Also, an article by Igor Mikhailusenko: "I'm Collecting Autographs...".Published on December 14-20, 1998, in "DOSTOINSTVO"Newspapwer, appearing in Moscow, Russia. Also, an article by Igor Mikhailusenko: "Autographes Not For Sale". Published on January 14, 1999, in "24 HOURS" Newspaper, appearing in the Krasnodarsky region of the Russian Federation. ****************************************************** An epigraph to Igor Mikhailusenko's Book of Poems "MESSAGE TO XXXI CENTURY", in preparation: Only these who struggle live. Only these, Whose souls are devoted to very highest dreams, Who lay their path above the threatening steep, Who always to one aim their souls then keep, Who move ahead, and who, again, As holy toil, majestic Love will name... Victor Hugo (Translated by Walter May) ********************************************* MESSAGE TO XXXI CENTURY By Igor Mikhailusenko O long since have lived on Earth -- Lived ere Piramids had their birth... There in Egypt, moonlit kept, Sphinxes have ages sweetly slept ! I remember now, e'en today, All those years which have flown away, And I also most firmly know -- I shall remain, for ever so ! I shall live in the oncoming age, In the lines of the poet's page; And upon the sea and the land, Always ready with verse at hand ! Through this planet I shall stride, And on ships sail far and wide. Let the children know not more war -- Peace in my poems is found therefore ! In the Thirty-first Century clear Many poems and odes here and there, On their never-failing way -- I shall meet again New Year's Day ! May 9th, 2000 AD Moscow, Russia Translated from the Russian by WALTER MAY ******************************************* -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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