Interview: Natan Sharansky

by Dewey Hammond

This piece was commissioned in 2004 by Philadelphia to appear in its November issue; however, the piece was "killed," which means it never ran. This website is the only place where this interview has ever been published.

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Natan Sharansky spent a decade in the Gulag well before it was hip to be a political prisoner. Convicted of spying for the United States during the Cold War, this Ukrainian-born Jew called a Soviet labor camp home until Reagan saved the day and the Evil Empire crumbled.

Sharansky, former deputy prime minister of Israel, is now the minister for Jerusalem and diaspora affairs, and he just released his second book, “The Case for Democracy.” He’ll appear at the Philadelphia World Affairs Council on November 11, and after that will head to the White House to meet with President George W. Bush.

What was the most difficult moment of your incarceration?
"They arrested me for high treason and explained clearly that I could be sentenced to death. I had to find inner strength to cope with this, resist, and not compromise."

Tell us about your captors.
"I saw how helpless they were to destroy the spirit of the free people. That was the spark that we kept alive in prison."

What about “The Case for Democracy”?
"Democracy is the best guarantee for peace, but there is very little analysis of why there is such a deep intimate linkage between democracy and peace, and between human rights and security."

What about those who argue that democracy may not be for everyone?
"Every democracy which hates you is much better than a dictator who loves you."

Philadelphia is arguably the birthplace of modern democracy.
"Philadelphia is a very important place for modern democracy. America was lucky that from the beginning it was built on the principles of human rights."

Peace in the Middle East is possible: fact or fiction?
"The only way to make it possible is to encourage deep democratic changes. The talks must be to turn the fear-society to a free-society."

If you're interested in reading about an anthology of great "killed" stories, check this out.