Chuck Norris vs Communism — Freedom Isn’t Free

My name is Leo Frincu, and for those who don’t know me, I was born and raised in communist Romania. At twenty-three, I had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to move to the United States and start my life all over again.

With four words of English to my name, ten dollars in my pocket, and one friend in Los Angeles, I took a leap of faith and defected from Romania, leaving behind the National Wrestling Team and my dream of being in the Olympics. Twenty-two years later — in what feels like a blink of an eye, I can easily say that I had two lives: one with freedom, and one without.

As the director Ilinca Calugareanu eloquently describes in her Netflix documentary, Chuck Norris vs. Communism, living under communism can teach you many valuable lessons about freedom. From my experience of having lived in two completely different environments and cultures, I have learned that the Freedom of Choice and the Freedom to Express our Opinions are valuable rights that one must never take for granted.

I was only six years old when I first started dreaming and learning about freedom. Public gatherings, talking against the Party, or about anything other than supporting our dear leader were forbidden. We were scared that someone might hear and report us to the “Securitate,” the Communist Party’s secret service. You couldn’t trust anyone, including your neighbor and, sometimes, even your close friends. Besides getting into trouble with the Securitate, we wouldn’t be allowed into the underground movie viewing rooms in the future if we didn’t keep our mouths shut. Standing up to the brainwashing communist propaganda machine could mean prison, and even worse for our families. Those who dared to object and speak up were swiftly punished. Most Americans don’t know how it feels to be censored and to not have a voice. It kills your spirit and drowns your soul.

One day, back in Communist Romania, I remember whispering to one of my friends about the bootlegged B-rated American movie I had seen the other night in an undisclosed location. “You gotta see the abundance in the United States. Wow, these people are doing really well! They are so lucky to live there. I wish one day I could live in a place where you can thrive and be yourself.” I was taking a risk that day, but I couldn’t help sharing my enthusiasm.

Moving to America felt like removing a plastic bag from over my head. It allowed my spirit to breathe and replenished my soul. Freedom of choice and being allowed to express our opinions makes this nation the best country in the world. However, this freedom isn’t free. We had to earn it back in December 1989 in Romania, and I believe we have to fight for it everywhere in the world today.

I am firmly convinced that you have to live, earn a living, and try to integrate into a different culture to truly understand how blessed you are to live in the U.S.A. Living in America has also taught me that disagreeing with someone doesn’t make you wrong or them right. It just means that two people see the same issue from two separate angles. I think that’s the true definition of freedom. Variety, multiple points of view, and even healthy conflict are the recipes for growth.

Another big lesson I’ve learned here in the United States is that communication is a must if we need to move forward. We can all have different opinions, but there’s always hope for reconciliation as long as the dialog exists. Despite being on opposite sides of the aisle, an answer to a problem is only possible if the two sides keep talking — even if, or when, they disagree. That wasn’t possible during communism when there was only one side. Life was safe only when the citizens obeyed the orders coming from the top and kept their opinions to themselves.

Speaking up and standing up for your beliefs isn’t only a fundamental right, but it is also one of the most basic principles of growth. The same as the plane needs the wind to push against its wings to lift off…the same as we need adversity to build strength, we also need different opinions and opposition to come up with the best possible solutions. Strength, wisdom, and progress don’t come from all of us being the same, thinking the same way, and looking at a problem from the same angle. They come from having different opinions, thinking differently, and most importantly, speaking up and standing up for our individual beliefs without having to lose our freedoms.

Twenty-two years later, I still believe the United States is one of the best countries in the world — where an immigrant like me can bring his dreams to reality. However, the America I know and fell in love with is the place where EVERYONE has the right to express themselves freely without being punished, segregated, or alienated.

Let’s all agree to disagree sometimes, and let’s keep the dialog going. The goal isn’t to convince someone to agree with you, but rather, to understand where the other person is coming from.

Watch Chuck Norris vs. Communism on Netflix and let me know what you think. In my opinion, every American citizen would benefit from seeing our country through the eyes of an immigrant.

If you want to read more about life under communism and what it took to become a citizen of the United States, read my first book, Choosing Freedom, available on Amazon.com and IBooks. It is a story of determination, setting goals, and achieving success.

Thank you.

God bless you, and may God bless the U.S.A.