This post brings back my memories! I grew up during the Soviet period and I remember Samantha very well, she was about the same age as me. I followed her story on TV very closely and was really shocked when she died. I remember, I even wrote a little poem about her (naive, kids’ poem):
Саманта. Саманта. Саманта. Ты маленькой, право, была, Но сделала ты ведь, Саманта, Больше добра, чем зла.
Ты мира хотела и счастья, И жить чтоб всегда без войн, И светлыми ручками детства В сердцах зажигала огонь.
Огонь правоты, справедливости, Улыбок и ярких цветов, Бессмертья огонь, добродушия И вечной весны огонь.
From my understanding, Smantha was better known in the USSR, than in the USA – is it true? For example, my husband who is American knew nothing about her at all. Did you know about her in early 80s?
By the way, there was another girl, Katya Lycheva, who, I believe was a “soviet response to Samantha” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katya_Lycheva & http://beautifulrus.com/katya-lycheva-dove-peace/ Did you know about Katya? Was her trip to the USA covered by US media at all?
Regarding Smantha’s mom, I can only imagine what a tragedy it was for her to lose her daughter and her husband. Just please tell her that many Russians (I’m sure thousands, if not millions), myself including still remember Samantha and that her life had a big impact on their lives (at least on mine).
no subject
Саманта. Саманта. Саманта.
Ты маленькой, право, была,
Но сделала ты ведь, Саманта,
Больше добра, чем зла.
Ты мира хотела и счастья,
И жить чтоб всегда без войн,
И светлыми ручками детства
В сердцах зажигала огонь.
Огонь правоты, справедливости,
Улыбок и ярких цветов,
Бессмертья огонь, добродушия
И вечной весны огонь.
From my understanding, Smantha was better known in the USSR, than in the USA – is it true? For example, my husband who is American knew nothing about her at all. Did you know about her in early 80s?
By the way, there was another girl, Katya Lycheva, who, I believe was a “soviet response to Samantha” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katya_Lycheva & http://beautifulrus.com/katya-lycheva-dove-peace/ Did you know about Katya? Was her trip to the USA covered by US media at all?
Regarding Smantha’s mom, I can only imagine what a tragedy it was for her to lose her daughter and her husband. Just please tell her that many Russians (I’m sure thousands, if not millions), myself including still remember Samantha and that her life had a big impact on their lives (at least on mine).