StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

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

Cite this document
Summary
This article discusses the memoir “My Second University: Memories from Romanian Communist Prisons,” by Stroia where recounts his story, by documenting inside the communist penitentiary his memoir.Dr. Stanciu Stroia was labeled ‘undesirable’ by the communist authority…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER92.7% of users find it useful
My Second University: Memories from Romanian Communist Prisons by Stroia S & Dusleag D L
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "My Second University: Memories from Romanian Communist Prisons by Stroia S & Dusleag D L"

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
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“My Second University: Memories from Romanian Communist Prisons by Article”, n.d.)
My Second University: Memories from Romanian Communist Prisons by Article. Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/history/1522391-essay-on-the-book-stanciu-stroia-my-second-university-memoeries-fron-romanian-communist-prisons-iuniverse2005-isbn-0595346391
(My Second University: Memories from Romanian Communist Prisons by Article)
My Second University: Memories from Romanian Communist Prisons by Article. https://studentshare.org/history/1522391-essay-on-the-book-stanciu-stroia-my-second-university-memoeries-fron-romanian-communist-prisons-iuniverse2005-isbn-0595346391.
“My Second University: Memories from Romanian Communist Prisons by Article”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/history/1522391-essay-on-the-book-stanciu-stroia-my-second-university-memoeries-fron-romanian-communist-prisons-iuniverse2005-isbn-0595346391.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF My Second University: Memories from Romanian Communist Prisons by Stroia S & Dusleag D L

Romania History and Politics

This situation even led to the "declaration of independence" by the romanian communist Party m albeit still under the basic Communist structure.... Nicolae Ceausescu Nicolae Ceaucescu became the head of the communist party in Romania in 1967and by the late 70's had brought Romania to its heels through widespread persecution and curtailment of freedom.... The Revolution in Romania in 1989 led to scores of deaths and put an end to communist rule in Romania....
2 Pages (500 words) Essay

Effects of Prisoner Self-Harm on Prison Staff Well-Being

The rate at which self-harm is taking place in prisons in the United Kingdom is alarming.... The paper "Effects of Prisoner Self-Harm on Prison Staff Well-Being" describes that the major problem should be identified and neutralized since treating the cause is the best way to alleviate the problem....
12 Pages (3000 words) Essay

The Impact of Migration on Hotel Management in Bucharest

The hotel industry is Romania is dependent on several factors including the levels of service, the workforce available, the tourists and visitors to Romania and romanian and world economy, condition of the tourism industry in general.... To enable students to produce a proposal related to a focused and specific topic that is of an acceptable standard to be used in the preparation for the dissertation/independent research study requirement (IRS). 5....
15 Pages (3750 words) Research Paper

The Purpose of National Risk Assessment in Romania

hellip; The risk of flooding that is explained by the romanian Academy Geography Institution extended the distribution site of the sites of Seveso; this provided an opportunity for these areas to be categorized as areas that are prone to Natech event.... The new state which is now Romania gained independence in 1877 from the traditional Ottoman Empire.... The year 2003 was exceptional when viewing from a climatic point....
6 Pages (1500 words) Research Paper

An Assessment of Risks in Romania

The risk of flooding that is explained by the romanian Academy Geography Institution extended the distribution site of the sites of Seveso; this provided an opportunity for these areas to be categorized as areas that are prone to Natech event.... The year 2003 was exceptional when viewing from a climatic point....
18 Pages (4500 words) Term Paper

Romani Culture And Gypsy Identity

The basis of gypsy life and culture comes mostly from stories and the Romani language.... 50), which place the origins in musicians sent from India at the request of the then king.... Marushiakova, Popov, Kenrick (2001) generally concede that the Roma began, in a chronology of migrations, leaving Persia for Europe in the fifth century, driven by the White Hun invasion from Central Asia.... A second lesser group settled in the Caucasus, and a third largest group in the Balkans, “within the boundaries of the Byzantine Empire” (Marushiakova, Popov, Kenrick, 2001, p....
6 Pages (1500 words) Term Paper

How Romanian Government Can Drive Tourism Towards Improvement of Economy

This research proposal "How romanian Government Can Drive Tourism Towards Improvement of Economy" provides the possible interventions that the romanian government needs to introduce to the tourism industry in order to make significant economic contributions.... hellip; The research aims at assessing the potential alternatives that the romanian government can explore in order to attract service industry benefits for the national economy, maximizes local, regional and international tourism market exploitation through government policy approach and explores the capacity of Local Tourism Governance Approaches....
8 Pages (2000 words) Research Proposal

Memories of the Red Decade

He is also the author of The communist Party in Maryland, 1957-1957.... After the end of the Second World War, certain parties were still influenced by communist ideologies.... The context of the book is about how communism was still perpetuated by the Maryland party which resulted to an investigation being conducted by the House Un-American Activities (HUAC) investigation's into the communist Party in Maryland1.... By 1944, the communist Party had attained the peak of its influence in Maryland....
2 Pages (500 words) Book Report/Review
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us