Nina, like many deportees and citizens under the Soviet Union was forced to join the communist party in order to survive. Jobs, housing and the everything in between required citizen to show their allegiance to the party regardless of their political position. Despite the fact that her family was deported to Siberia under the communist Soviet regime, on paper, Nina was a voluntary member of the very party that oppressed her.
Now it is as important as ever to remember the effects of authoritarian regimes on societies and people. When we do not question our government or leaders we open the doors of injustice and suppression. Evil never sleeps and as the world changes and we seemingly approach instability, justice cannot sleep either.
