A Letter to Vladimir Putin

6/17/2010

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin
Kremlin,
Sobornaya Ploshad,
Moscow, Russia


Dear Prime Minister Putin:

Dobroe utro. In reading a novel recently, Stalin’s Ghost, by Martin Smith, I was reminded of the Moscow Metro system. In that story, Stalin’s Ghost haunts the Moscow Metro.

First, I want to compliment you on your excellent transportation system. I have traveled in Moscow and have been enthralled by the beautiful Moscow Metro system. Your stations are lined with black marble from Georgia, white marble from the Urals, and pink marble from Siberia. The Kropokin Station had beautiful golden and crystal chandeliers, mosaics, and frescos line the walls of many of your stations.

Jan e govorju po-Russki. I do not speak Russian very well so please forgive me. I have enclosed an open letter to Connecticut Transit located in Hartford, CT, USA that is self-explanatory. Because of the issues raised in the letter, I am contacting you and asking for one of the following:

1. Is it possible for one of your staff to contact either or both of the following men and invite them to come to Moscow and tour your excellent system? Perhaps they can imagine the possibilities. These persons are:

Commissioner Joseph Marie, Connecticut Department of Transportation. The address is 2800 Berlin turnpike, Newington, CT 06111, USA. Telephone 8~10 860-594-2000

The other is Arthur L. Handman, Executive Director, 100 Leibert Road, Hartford, CT 06141-0006. Telephone: 8~10 1-860-522-8101

2. Another option in lieu of tours would be to sponsor a series of “live-aid concerts.” These concerts would raise money to revamp and upgrade the CT transportation system. Imagine U-2—the band, not your metro line—performing.

Everyday, cars clog our highways spewing out noxious fumes. One is reminded of spice-laden camels raising clouds of dust and sand crossing the desert toward Cairo. One is
reminded of produce-laden and donkey-drawn carts braying and brawling traveling past traffic clogged cars.

One is also unfortunately reminded of the factory smokestacks of West Virginia and a coal-choked sky. Only instead of several large smokestacks, we in Connecticut face hundreds, if not thousands of tiny smokestacks from private vehicles. Fumes that if unchecked will surely drift to over the ocean to Moscow.

Thank you for your attention and I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,




Mel Hathorn