Word: palmira
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Dates: during 1950-1959
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Clenched Fists. As the crowd came up, half a dozen sailors watched glumly from the Pozharsky's deck. Two of them planted themselves in warning at the head of the gangplank. Most of the women stopped singing, but Palmira, undiscouraged, waved her carnations and shouted, "Tovarish, Tovarish, Tovarish Stalin." The Russians continued to stare blankly and, for a moment, her voice began to break. Then she beamed and raised her arm in the clenched fist salute. At last the Russians answered. They raised their right arms-with hands held open. "No, no," howled Palmira's followers...
...Russian captain was the first to understand and close his fist in the Communist salute. The other Russians quickly followed his example. Then a man in blue overalls came down the gangplank, walked up to Palmira and took her flowers. But when she asked with gestures if the women could board the Pozharsky, he waved a negative hand and hurried back to the ship. He carried Palmira's carnations head down. After a while the women quietly left the dockyards...
Capitalist Tools. In the afternoon Palmira went back to selling lupines, but she did not do very well. Most of Ancona's people, who had been invited to visit the American ships, were intent on the destroyers and in no mood to eat lupines. To her daughter Palmira remarked that she felt empty inside...
When evening arrived the American sailors came ashore. As soon as they landed scores of Italians gathered around them chattering and laughing. Suddenly Palmira, curious to know what the fuss was about, walked through the dusk to the edge of the crowd. As she stood there, an American sailor "with a hat like a saucepan" thrust some chocolate and a carton of cigarettes into her hands. Before she could say anything he was gone...
...Later Palmira reflected, "Of course, [the American sailors] are tools of the capitalist system and they are probably ready to mow down workers. Still it was nice of them to hide their anti-worker feelings today. They are good boys. I don't know whether what I say makes any sense, but . . . I am confused...