General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Robert Parry: Sidestepping Ukraine’s ‘N-Word’ for Nazi [View all]fadedrose
(10,044 posts)Russia has had bad governments. Her people suffered under all of them and the punishing climate. Communism improved lives over the aristocracies in that they got more education, but lost personal freedom, speech, property, etc. Russians know all about hard times.
Still they have a culture that supports the arts and are not characterized as barbarians.
When my dad was a soldier in WWI, he came into contact with Russian soldiers, not sure of how, being forced to fight when the Germans marched into town making all young men fight for them. He passed on a fondness for the Russians, his admiration for their friendliness, music and dancing. Must have been when WWI ended, during pre-Iron Curtain times when countries bordering Russia were not swallowed like after WWII.
We lived in Arlington in the 60's, went to see the Soviet Army Chorus sing and dance live on stage, in DC, and they were awesome, and their national anthem is teary...
I wish they'd have a respite from trouble and that their government would allow personal choices (gays, religion, race, etc.) that it would fear other nations' aggression less, which is why they fear NATO on their doorstep. Russia has no trust because of experience with all governments.. Ukraine should get more of the American contact she so desires....
I hope Russia comes out of this okay. Gawd knows her people have suffered enough because of government corruption and stupidity. Didn't some goofy Russian president give away the Crimea when it was full of Russians? I don't know much about the Russia's history, and am going to read up on it....also have to read up on Ukraine's history and stop relying on Teevee.