In 1985, the cartoonist Behrendt believed that Moscow's new leader, Mikhail Gorbachev, was different from the previous leaders because he didn't follow their old-fashioned ideas. Instead, Behrendt thought that Gorbachev was trying to create a more modern and forward-thinking approach to governing. (whats the deeper meaning and why are they pointing) as a 8th grader
As an 8th grader, it might be a bit challenging to grasp the deeper meaning of this statement without a thorough understanding of the historical context. However, I can try to explain it in simpler terms.
The cartoonist Behrendt believed that Mikhail Gorbachev, who became the leader of Moscow (or the Soviet Union) in 1985, was different from the previous leaders. Behrendt thought that Gorbachev was not following the traditional or old-fashioned ideas that the previous leaders had. Instead, Gorbachev was trying to bring about a more modern and progressive approach to governing.
The deeper meaning here is that Behrendt saw Gorbachev as a leader who wanted to make significant changes in how the country was run. He saw Gorbachev's ideas as forward-thinking and different from what had been done in the past. Behrendt may have been pointing this out to highlight the potential for a shift in the Soviet Union's policies and practices under Gorbachev's leadership.
To fully understand the significance of this statement, it would be helpful to learn about the historical context of the Soviet Union in the 1980s and Gorbachev's reforms, such as glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring). These reforms had a profound impact on Soviet society and ultimately led to the dismantling of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s.