Russia should take from the West what is better and avoid what is worse. Russia is in the midst of a transition in which an institutional framework radically different than any which it has ever had before is taking hold and adapting to its present conditions. Russia must change in order to be fully functional, but this isn't to say it cannot maintain its own distinct spirit. I would however be against some sort of a witch hunt in which Russians try to discern and then isolate and punish dissidents. Humility is a prerequisite for wisdom, and I fear the kind of mentality portrayed in this article could be antagonistic towards the basic idea that what works best is best. An argument focusing primarily on whether something is "Russian" rather than on whether or not it is the better practice would weaken and limit Russia and could stoke disdain of it by making it seem and act arrogant, blind, and inconsiderate. If Russia wishes to avoid being like the US in that way; it should be catious and conscientous in its nationalism and avoid letting its nationalism rob of Russias objectivity, humanity, and common sense. Learn from ours and others mistakes and successes while fashioning your own way.

One of the major tragedies of the capitalist globalization has been the homogenization of cultures under the overwhelming influence of the United States' tentacles reaching every corner of the world. How have countries, even as great as Russia, benefited from this American onslaught? McDonaldization, Pepsi generation, KFC, savage capitalism, superficial colors passing for real culture, and loss of real identity. The Russian youth left their Tolstoys, Dostoyevskys, and Pushkins to read cheap sex novels and nudist magazines. This state of affairs was able to trive under the western puppet Yeltzin, leaving Russia as well as the rest of the world aghast at the disappearance of real and autentic culture . There is a world out there that has nothing but contempt at the money-worshiping culture of jungle capitalism. People need to get their cultural roots and values back. If the current leadership of Russia--God bless them--can rejuvenate the inimitable Russian soul in the Russian cultural domain and beyond, the whole world would be richer and grateful.

Meantime, I know a lot of people who are bored senseless with American culture right now...movies made for young boys democraphic, spot buying for the zombies, no bottom up culture at all, everything from top down preppies and soriority sisters who probably never opened a door for themselves. There is no flavor or character of the American people ANYWHERE to be seen anymore, except perhaps in Hip Hop. If it weren't for a few stations, I'd scrap cable television. Its either offensive or a flaming bore what is on our television, at least to me. I just wish Russia and others would translate movies into English. How hard can that be? I'd buy them, that's for sure.