In Russian, "to Be Silent" Is An Active Verb

In Russian, "To Be Silent" is an Active VerbOnce Again the Soviet Union, that great preoccupying history, fills my hours. Long ago I studied "friendly Russian," singing the old songs about wide plains, willing maidens and birch-filled forests; I was trying to be a good liaison with our gallant Soviet allies. In volleyball tournaments with Russian officers, we wanted to win and so did they, and we also wanted to be friendly--all of us wanted that--and the friendship was precarious but w...