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Make sure you put it at the very end of your bucket list, because you might not be available to get to other bucket list items.
From someone who lived for 20 years in that awful country, once I left, I swore never go back there. Most of the Russians are intolerant and rude. As we saw the videos at the beginning of the thread, Russians solve disagreements with fists and arguments and rarely cooperation. Despite the rich history, literature and music, Russians are still peasants at heart. Cheating is respected and is considered the way of life. Not sure they'll ever be able to join civilized nations as they are millions years away.
So-o-o, we know you didn't hang out in intellectual circles there. Too bad for you. You really missed a LOT of great people!
BTW, what do you do for interesting conversation in the US? Just wondering.
Why do Americans think America is superior? They bash other countries as being backward or undemocratic, and impose their "American way of life" and consumer cr@p on everyone. They think the only entertainment worth watching is Hollywood, and can't appreciate other cultures. SO annoying! Just take a look around C-D to see some of these attitudes play out.
Do people have a right to be proud of their country? Or is that a right reserved for Americans? Is Russia the only country that propagandizes to its people about how great it is?
I would like this post a million times if I could.
So-o-o, we know you didn't hang out in intellectual circles there. Too bad for you. You really missed a LOT of great people!
BTW, what do you do for interesting conversation in the US? Just wondering.
Ruth, obviously not everyone is of intellectual nature there.
Some are quite materialistic and those lament the "loss of comfort zone" and "uncertain future" because of acquirement of Crimea. They seem to hate that trade.
It's interesting to observe the split of opinions among Russians at this point. It's not "same old, same old" kind of split - in fact I sense something new on horizon. The whole patriotic theme is not revolving exclusively around Putin any longer.
Ruth, obviously not everyone is of intellectual nature there.
Some are quite materialistic and those lament the "loss of comfort zone" and "uncertain future" because of acquirement of Crimea. They seem to hate that trade.
It's interesting to observe the split of opinions among Russians at this point. It's not "same old, same old" kind of split - in fact I sense something new on horizon. The whole patriotic theme is not revolving exclusively around Putin any longer.
Well, no, but that poster was painting the entire nation with the same brush, that's what I was objecting to. It's not that hard to find people one can have an interesting conversation with. "Russians are still peasants at heart"? ALL Russians? I think not. And even some of the ones that are, are good people.
It's always refreshing to hear your much more nuanced and original analysis of things. Please feel free to elaborate on your take on the current patriotism.
Well, no, but that poster was painting the entire nation with the same brush, that's what I was objecting to. It's not that hard to find people one can have an interesting conversation with. "Russians are still peasants at heart"? ALL Russians? I think not. And even some of the ones that are, are good people.
It's always refreshing to hear your much more nuanced and original analysis of things. Please feel free to elaborate on your take on the current patriotism.
Part of Russians are indeed "peasants at heart." With this being said however, in Russia "peasants" does not necessarily means "dumb and incapable" or "country bumpkins" ( although the latter one has a fair share too.) But in fact quite a few inventors/technologically savvy people were coming from peasant families, ( not to mention one of the greatest Russian poets,) so assuming that once the aristocracy/upper class was gone after the 1917, there was no one left to proceed with a task of development of the country is wrong. ( Americans in particular might be prone to this train of thought, judging by their own society, that those on the bottom are the least capable and intelligent, since all the capable have been sifted through and given the opportunity to move to the next level. ( That is if we are talking Whites of course, Blacks are a different matter.) This is NOT a case in Russia. ( And that is not to mention of course that part of Russians are not of peasant mind/origin at all.)
And current patriotism? It seems to be taken to a whole new level, not even sanctioned by the government.
Is it still possible to buy toilet paper in Russia, or do you guys have to queue up in front of the stores just like in the old Soviet days?
"Soviet days" were very different, depending on the year,(s) so it's a subject for scrutiny in this respect. I assume at this point in time there are no lines and still plenty of toilet paper.
Re: "Soviet days" were very different, depending on the year,(s) so it's a subject for scrutiny in this respect'
Speaking of 'Soviet days', I had the great opportunity to get lost a little bit in those old 'Rus' days. I managed to get kind of a book length description of 'Muscovy', the lands of Russia, it's people , customs and institutions. The document was 'On the Rus Commonwealth'. It was written by an Elizabethan ambassador to the Russian court documenting his experiences in working out commercial trade with Rus at that time. Elizabeth sent him there to work trade out as Russia and England were interested in it. From his experience, it can be said his stay was not completely conducive to generating good relations between England and Boris Godunov and the rest of the Russians he encountered in his work.
Even in its own day the book was considered providing a highly prejudiced and an inaccurate look at 'distant Muscovy'. It was thought that there was too much bias directed to Ivan Groznyi making him completely responsible for the disorganization of Muscovite life. Some Russian critics also didn't agree with its 'foreigner' appraisals of its society and culture. And they resented its suggested denunciation of the culture and people of Muscovy. The writer was attacked for his biased liberalism (due to his English patriotism) on a 'despotic' and 'cruel' and 'evil' Russia.
On the other hand other critics thought it a very 'precious document for the ordering of political, economic and social history of Muscovy during the late sixteenth century'.
In any case the work does pick up on continuing analysis of how 'Muscovy' today is perceived in its relationship to Europe. Have to say it no doubt is always continues to be on the say 'cutting edge'. ...;-)...
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Please feel free to elaborate on your take on the current patriotism.
