First off, the following is completely my opinion based on news articles, personal opinions and my past experiences. This blog is not the New York Times, so while you can disagree with my opinion (and I invite anyone to do so, I am always open to learning and will change my opinions if I determine that they are flawed based on additional information) I am not about to reference anything I write. I'd like to think I'm reasonably well informed so I don't think I wrote anything that is obviously incorrect. Let me know if I did.
I apologize for the silly posting title. I could make the argument that it does not refer to Russia but to my long period of hibernation from posting here. However, that would be offensive and I would have no one to beat up for comparing me to a bear other than myself.
I have been somewhat reluctant to post as few topics have actually piqued my interest enough to post one of my trademark rambling pontifications and I feel no need to stoke my ego by writing a few thousand words on “Hamburgers: friend or foe?” or “What is the deal with all of the perscription strength deoderants coming on the market? Are Americans just getting sweatier?”
One topic did move me to write however; this topic is Russia’s clearly unacceptable actions in Georgia and recent saber-rattling in its dialogue with the West. Considering I was born there, I am conflicted in my desire to condemn an oppressive regime. I do not consider myself a “self hating Russian” but neither am I blind. So here I will attempt to reconcile Russia’s desire for Westernization (which I deeply believe exists) with its Evil Empire like movements in the last few months.
Point (as presented by all of Western media):
Russia is returning to its Soviet Union past in terms of military aggression, political intimidation, oppression of its citizens and undemocratic suppression of the press.
Counterpoint (as presented, poorly, by me):
Russia has realized that it has stagnated after losing its infrastructure post 1991. As a result, it is now attempting to revitalize its military (which could kick start its non-oil industries) and show off its military capability within its former sphere of influence. Refusing to be bullied economically or politically by the US and the West, Russia is displaying a willingness to go to war to prevent economic defeats (BP pipeline in Georgia, for instance), and is willing to do so in the face of Political pressure.
To prevent a turn of public opinion Russia is suppressing the press, with the assumption that the bad publicity from this suppression is not as bad as the outcry over what a free Russian press could potentially print.
As far as showing patriotic (read: communist) leanings (i.e. the anthem, military parades, etc) it is more about Russia trying to congeal its disconnected and disaffected populace than it is about legitimate political motivations: say what you will about Lenin (and there are many bad things one can say about the man), but prior to 1918 must of Russia was illiterate with no power or transportation in the eastern half of the country whereas post the revolution Russia became the worlds #1 grain supplier under Lenin and an industrial superpower under Stalin (despite his name being a near four letter word, and his history of genocide, incompetence and oppression, it is important to realize that the potential for a benign dictator exists in theory).
I would never condone the actions of Lenin, Stalin or any of their mass murdering cronies who took power after them, but it is important to realize that Russia has very much returned to the Feudal System that was in place pre Communist Revolution, except land is no longer the measure of wealth. Despite their countless crimes and failings, the Communist leaders did manage to create some semblance of economic equality, or at least bridge the gap between the disproportionately few haves and the multitude of have-nots. Because of this, and please keep in mind that by no means do I approve, Russia’s leaders, faced with a similar situation, have clearly chosen to adopt historically effective methods of redistributing wealth.
Does this mean that Russia should return to its Communist roots? No! But at the same time it is presumptuous to say that socialist-like economic reforms, which could revitalize Russia’s non-oil related industries, are morally wrong simply because they have the taint of socialism. Being conditioned to fear and suspect Communist countries, the West is terrified of a sickle and hammer flying over the Kremlin, but it is for this very reason that Russia will not fly it. The Russian people are hungry: they want Western goods, culture, and tourism.
I left Russia literally days before the collapse, and I remember standing in line at the US embassy in Moscow for three days, overlapping with the 1991 attempted coup by hard-line Stalinists. I remember clearly looking up at the telephone posts and listening to the loudspeakers telling us that there would a return to “Soviet Power” and that Gorbachev was “very sick” (can anyone doubt that these people would have had him “peacefully pass away in the night” as soon as they felt he was no longer a valuable hostage?) and seeing:
1) Old men and women yell at us, spit on us, and tell us that “you Jews will get what you deserve now” (except with more profanity and racism) and being absolutely terrified.
2) The vast majority rally, protest, blast music from cassette players and show their contempt for the coup leaders.
I wasn’t there weeks later when AC/DC, Pantera and Metallica played a huge free outdoor concert in Moscow. No, at this time I was traveling to the United States, possibly already in NY, my memory fails me on the exact dates. It is difficult for me to reconcile the optimistic and energetic Russia of that time of change to the lumbering, power/money hungry bear that it has become. Run by oligarchs and former spies, it is still a wild frontier where for the very few millions (if not billions) can be made and thrown away on luxury yachts and expensive cars. In light of the vast poverty stricken masses of the countryside these lucky few living in Moscow and St Pete’s are repulsive, “let them eat cake” indeed, but I sit back and watch Soviet era cartoons on YouTube, and I can’t help but feel some nostalgia for my childhood. It could just be my tendency to romanticize past experiences. There was nothing charmed about the anti-Semitism I encountered from rich and poor alike, but even then I can’t believe that an entire people are evil.
Common points: Russia is PMS'ing and needs to chill out.
Good things come to those who wait,
Better things come to those who go out and take them,
The best things are the ones you earn.
Did I read that on a Hallmark card? Allegedly.
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