‘I Think It’s Going to Unite the World’ : Around America, Diverse Views

U.S. voices: In houses of worship, coffeehouses and on street corners, Americans spoke with excitement, disdain and fear about the Soviet shake-up. “I think it’s going to unite the world because it leaves China, North Korea and Cuba as Communist powers.”

--Jerry Wensloff of Roswell, Ga., a computer company owner.

‘Courage’

“I was impressed with Yeltsin’s courage. Boy, when he was on top of the tank, he was golden.”

--Michael Walsh, a railroad brakeman in Des Moines, Iowa.

‘Unbelievable’

“I still think Gorbachev is a great man, and he deserves our respect, and what he did is unbelievable.”

--Alexandra Astor, 55, of Omaha, Neb., who left Kiev in the Ukrainian republic in 1974.

‘Civil War’

“I’m really afraid there’s going to be civil war over there.”

--Nancy Leonard, 29, of Chicago.

‘Done More for Russia’

“Gorbachev . . . has done more for Russia in the last few years than anybody else did in the 76 years I have been alive.”

--Al Barnett, 76, of Boston.

‘Will of the People’

“I was really pleased to see the will of the people come to the forefront.”

--Alvin M. Sugarman, a rabbi in Atlanta, Ga.

‘Throwing Money Into a Pit’

Giving aid to the Soviets would “be throwing money into a pit at this point . . . like handing it over to the Mafia.”

--Bob Hass, Berkeley, Calif.