My hopes for Russia are that, in her foreign policy, she will continue the Soviet Union's pre-Brezhnev efforts of promoting peace and understanding among the nations of the world, and that she will keep her defence spending at a minimum level -- just enough to maintain a credible deterrent in order to keep those at bay who are eyeing Russia as the next possible target for their "democratisation crusade". For reasonable people know that wasting resources on weapons of mass destruction is the worst way of giving the people education, housing, health care, etc., and the best way of keeping the world's nations divided and afraid and suspicious of each other. For the military-industrial complex and for large parts of the world's mass media, keeping the world in a permanent stat of fear and thus on the edge of an abyss is profitable, for the rest of us it's destructive.
So I hope Russia does not follow the American way. Also because it is only a question of time before some religious lunatic sitting on the nuclear button will hear "god's voice" telling him to press it. And he will, just as surely as Mr Bush followed god's advice and attacked Iraq.
I also hope Russia won't adopt America's ideology of unrestrained consumerism, which is a dead-end street, or its stratification of society, where the top less than 1% live in obscene luxury, while the bottom 20% don't know where their next meal is coming from.
So basically, I hope that Russia will do her own thing, rather than be dazzled by the Anglo-Saxons' propensity to worshipping the golden calf and displaying material wealth (and to hiding their poverty), for reasonable people know that such wealth is not one of the prerequisites of happiness. I also hope that Russia will learn from both her own mistakes (like attacking Afghanistan or adopting Milton Friedman's system of unrestrained market economy, misnamed "free market economy") and other nations' lessons.
One of Russia's great strengths is her almost innate spirituality not yet hopelessly corrupted by western influences. This strength can enable Russia to provide humanity with an alternative to a Darwinist society for which the world has been heading since the counterrevolution, but it can just as easily prove a fatal flaw, because this spirituality is almost defenceless against abuse by false prophets like Solzhenitsyn (who in his narrow-mindedness never forgave the injustice he and many like him suffered in the Soviet Union's mortal combat against fascism), Jeffrey Sachs (drunkard Yeltsin's top economics adviser -- "privatize, matketize and monetize"), Gaida and Chubais, to mention just a few of those who brought Russia to her knees, and not to mention those who are waiting in the wings for a chance to tear apart what's left of her (the oligarchs in cahoots with the Orthodox church, the Scientologists and the raft of other unholy sects whose sole objective is personal gain).
"false prophets like Solzhenitsyn (who in his narrow-mindedness never forgave the injustice he and many like him suffered in the Soviet Union's mortal combat against fascism), "
Russ F in Berlin, I've read some extraordinary stuff in my time but your last post equals the best of it, especially the above sentence.
When I read opinions like yours I am reminded of the Orwellian worlds of Animal Farm and 1984.
The Soviet Union fought a heroic and mortal combat against the invading Nazi army, with massive suffering endured by its people. But before the 1941 invasion the Soviet Union's "mortal combat against fascism" didn't prevent its leader signing a pact with Adolf Hitler, thus proving Stalin's naivete as well as his incompetence and cruelty.
It is absolutely right that Russia should forge an independent path in the world but it should do so with the best interests of its own people at heart, not in the interests of protecting power for its own rulers (to all intents and purposes unelected) - and certainly not for the purposes of simply cocking a snook at the West on the basis of the same shallow interpretation of world affairs promoted by chattering bloggers (choggers? blatterers? :-) :-) sipping cocktails in Western European capitals while ordinary Russian citizens continue to be impoverished and lied to by their leaders.
There, you see you've made me quite cross now and I will have to lie down in a darkened room :-)
Privet !
As a Brit who has been to Novisibirsk in 1998 , my interest in Russia has always been great. I currently study the language and welcome contact with likeminded persons. As for hopes and fears ?
Well I certainly hope that the less wealthy people in Russia will see brighter times, after all there is no shortage of money now !!
I personally would like to see this antiquated and extremely frustrating Visa system removed, Russia can only benefit in terms of tourism.
I do hope to that Russian culture will not be overwhelmed by the likes of McDonalds etc, that would be a tragedy indeed.
As for Politics and Politicians, I think the Ukrainian Police Chief's gesture sums it up in one :)
Poxa
Rog
Britain, France and Italy have long experience in giving away what is not theirs to appease their Masters. In 1938 they dismembered Czechoslovakia and gave to Germany. American blackmailed France to scarify Czechoslovakia. Polish scavengers took part in fist with a small piece Czechoslovakia for themselves.
These countries wanted Germany to dismember Russia for them but Germany had its own project and took over most of Europe. In 2008 after 60 years Britain, France, Italy, Germany is giving away what is not theirs again to appease America. Do they really think that America will dismember Russia for them? But America has its own project that will surprise many. Kosovo is just prelude to what west really want.
Their greedy drive to east will end with millions killed and their countries destroyed. They already tried to dismember Russia many times. French, Brits, Germans died in Russia in big numbers for their glorious commanders in shit. West always dreamed of Russia riches, but they were killed in big numbers. Western masses are going to be sacrifices for the big project of eastern expansion to Russia land. They will use democracy as cover to grab land and resources. Many Russians will be killed but Europe will become a graveyard for their citizens and will glow.
West all the times talks about values and human rights, it is really laughable.
They values and disregard for human life are on display in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere. Lately west come up with a golden thought that colonialism was not so bad after all. Westerners are killing hundred thousands with ease in the name of better life for them victims. West will get what they deserve just continue spreading democracy with bullets and your racist/fascists policies. If Hitler would run elections in occupied countries, he could be the greatest democrat ever but empire of darkness has no match so far.
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