Relentless March | The Vineyard of the Saker

by Katerina for the Saker Blog

I left Russia at the tender age of 24, left not because I wanted to leave my country, just simply happened to marry a foreigner who was there at the time and for several years now been living and working in three very different countries, including Scotland and England. Now I am living in yet another English-speaking country that is equally unique and different. I like to think that my experience of these four different cultures, outlooks, attitudes, not to mention systems, had most definitely expanded my horizons. I also want to think that such experience had allowed me to make certain assessments and analysis which hopefully could be translated into informed opinions.

I have been coming to this site for over two years now since it is rather “pro Russian” and therefore my interest was obvious. I have been reading Saker’s and his contributors posts with great interest, although reading some comments was at times bewildering. There are of course some very intelligent analytical comments and commentators on Saker’s blog, after all that is one of the reasons why we want to come here – for the knowledge we might not yet have, for the insight, for an intelligent analyses by someone who took the trouble and for someone’s else point of view that perhaps can make us think – that’s how I see this blog, and I am sure so does Saker. What compelled me to write this piece, a belief that most people coming to this blog are also looking for that same thing, otherwise why bother. On the other hand some of their expressed comments are not opinions but attitudes. Let me explain the difference. Opinion is something that is based on knowledge and at least some research, an attitude is something that expresses a person’s individual take on some particular issue, which has been shaped by picking up some information possibly from MSM, or from social media or wherever without really ANALYZING it but accepting it because it fits with that person’s mentality. See the difference?

I also see in some comments an understandable ignorance of things Russian and I cannot blame them for that, at least they are interested enough to be on this site, which is commendable. Except some obvious troll like creatures, who try to have some facade but most people here I think are a fairly intelligent lot and can see thru that.

In this my small contribution I would like to try and help with a bit more understanding of Russian side of things, which I suppose is rather difficult for people in the West to really understand, as we have lots of pervasive Western media that does not give one a true picture of Russia. Also, I would endeavor to provide some analysis or at least some explanation on the seemingly ingrained animosity of the West towards Russia and it’s possible origins.

So, let’s start.

“Things Russian”. Here I can try to give you some information that you will not get in your Western MSM, for sure. Having Russian as your first language is a great advantage when you can watch, read and listen to what is happening in Russia at present, what is the general mood that comes across, what worries and concerns them, what they think. One can get a pretty clear picture of all of that through their news channels, daily talk shows, expert’s opinions, people’s comments, etc on practically a daily basis. My knowledge on the subject, I can assure you, is up to date.

First, here are some myths that I want to blow apart for some people – Russia and Russians are NOT that greatly enamored with the West that they are so desperately wanting to be “accepted” and “approved” by this West. FAR FROM IT!

Lots of them, having seen the West’s insane, reckless and criminal behavior such as what it has done to Ukraine, hysterics regarding Crimea going back to Mother Russia, MH17 hideous crime, made-up Scripal garbage, expulsion of Russian Diplomats, criminal seizing of Russian diplomatic property, endless sanctions and relentless demonization of Russia and it’s President – feel it’s enough to start a war! No, whatever warm feelings they might have had in the past towards the West after break- up of USSR and hopes of being friendly at last – all these feelings have been killed and long gone. Now, just as it was back in history, they want to keep the distance. Some of the Western poison seeps thru occasionally but that does not get much traction. The so called “opposition” in Russia mostly survives on Soros’s grants and in Russia they even have a name for them -“sorosyata”, which roughly translates as a Soros’s little piglets. These who join them in their various protests are usually mindless youth looking for a bit of excitement. Too much of that excitement can land them with a heavy fine or expulsion from whatever learning establishment they attend. That cools a lot of hot heads. So, whatever one reads in western media regarding strong Russian “opposition” to Putin’s “dictatorship”, bear in mind he has as much fear of this opposition as an elephant of a flea on it’s back. Besides, if he was such a dictator this lot would not be allowed even to exist as an “opposition”, but they even have their own media channels – I reckon the government sees that as the best way to keep an eye on them.

No, there are no censorship, dictatorship or any other “ship” in Russia that does not allow people, however deluded, to express themselves, but in a civilized fashion. Cities are spotlessly clean, excellent infrastructure, every restaurant you could wish for, great bars and nightclubs, same make of cars on the roads as in any European city, friendly people and no homeless on the streets. Those football fans that arrived in Russia from all over the world for the World Cup couple of years ago, had to “pick their jaws off the pavement”. They could not believe what they were seeing as it was so totally different to what they were expecting from the images shaped for them by western media.

This is modern Russia.

In the last 25 years lots of Russians have traveled around Europe, UK, States, etc – something they could not do so easily before – they had a look, and what most of them discovered is that the grass definitely wasn’t greener on the other side. They were interested to have a look and quite content to get back home.

There were some who fled Russia during the terrible 90s when what was going on in Russia at the time was hell on wheels, as it was being robbed and pillaged by the West, whose wet dream at last came true, unfortunately for them only for a brief moment. Quite a number of Russians who left Russia at the time are now returning back home. The West now has got it’s own version of hell on wheels, so let’s call it KARMA.

What Russians also find distasteful are bad manners on the part of the West, showing up in rather unpleasant and uncalled for displays of arrogant lecturing and attempts to show some inexplicable “superiority” with regard to Russia. I have experienced this myself when in England, but NEVER in Scotland, I will hasten to add. Scotland and Scots for me were always “home from home”.

I was buying a train ticket at the Waterloo station in London and the ticket seller, an Englishman in his 40s, seeing my name, muttered under his breath “bloody Russian”. I was looking at him and wondering what made him say that. Here was someone who probably hardly finished secondary school, selling a ticket to someone who is a highly qualified professional, with two degrees, one of which is Masters, attained from one of the best Scottish Universities (writing a dissertation in second language is not easy, believe me!) and yet, he felt somehow “superior” to this Russian and that compelled him to mutter these words. And I suddenly realized that it was CONDITIONED in him, he didn’t even pause to think, it came out because he couldn’t help it. Attitude!

This negative conditioning in the West towards things Russian obviously had roots at some stage and later, reflecting on it I could see how it might have come about. We will leave religion aside for the moment, although it does play some part. The main culprit in my opinion, is the colonial mindset, combined with actual ignorance. To people in the West, meaning Western Europe and Britain, throughout centuries Russia has always been something dark and unknown and therefore to be feared and distanced from. There were few very sparse contacts but on the whole Russia and the West kept themselves to themselves. And until Peter the Great came along, that arrangement absolutely suited Russians as well. They regarded the West as heinous and un-Godly and much preferred to keep that distance. Tsar Peter has changed all of that in his drive to “open a window into Europe” as he put it.

What is not widely known about “superior” Europe of these days and that includes Britain, is that people there never bathed, fearing that it would kill them. When Tsar Peter arrived there with his entourage for their big Euro tour, they were absolutely shocked at the smell and stink of unwashed bodies, even in the palaces. Russians, before baths and showers were ever invented, for centuries had a wonderful tradition of having a “banya” once a week. Sort of like a nice steamy sauna but with an addition of hot water to actually wash yourself. Now, tell me, what nation is more civilized here?

The Russian Tsar, on the other hand was viewed in the West as some strange and fascinating curiosity. When the average person height in those days was shorter than it is now, Tsar Peter, being a young man, virile, handsome, did not wear wig, full of energy AND at 6’8” tall, of course, towered above everyone. At least now the West had a real chance to see a real Russian.

The tour was a great success. Tsar Peter brought back with him some craftsmen, some interesting new inventions, like the sextant and some experienced boat builders. His burning ambition was for Russia to have a Navy, although at that time it was totally landlocked from both Baltic and Black seas.

At some stage Peter also had to fight and defeat the Swedish King who at the time was trying to expand his kingdom into the rest of Europe. Peter had to get him off the land where he wanted to build his new capital, St Petersburg (he never liked Moskva) and that, of course, gave him an access to the Baltic Sea. In the process he also liberated these parts of Europe that the war-addicted Swedish King had managed to grab. Sweden still cannot forgive Russia for that. Afterwards the energetic Russian Tsar set out to build his new capital, laid foundations for his Navy and among many other things made his Boyars in court shave their beards and wear European attire, complete with powdered wigs. Those who refused to obey and shave Tsar himself did it for them and then fined them heavily. One does not trifle with Imperial orders! Eventually he got himself named an “anti-Christ” by the Russian Church, that passionately believed that Russia should not be “westernized”, that it had it’s own destiny and it’s own path. I tend to agree with them there. Meanwhile Europeans had discovered that they had nothing to fear from Russia and that bathing did not kill them after all and everything went rather swimmingly for a while between Russia and the West.

Until the start of the Industrial revolution.

The West suddenly realized that for such one needs lots of resources, which the West did not have but others did. Everyone went busily sailing around the world looking whom they can easily colonize and loot. Britain, one has to say, outdid every other European rival in those pursuits. Then, when the supply of countries to loot started to dwindle, the collective West turned it’s gaze upon… Russia. And this, in my opinion, was the moment when that animosity had taken root. Here was a country, with hardly any population to speak of, occupying huge territory and not just that, full of everything one can only dream about, every great resource imaginable, including gold and diamonds…

There was only one problem. Those “bloody Russians” in the way!

So, that was the start of it – fueled by greed, envy, resentment and hatred. The rest we all know. The “relentless marches” on Russia, mostly in gangs. Both Napoleon and Hitler had lots of willing European accomplices, all wanting a share of the spoils. Well, they all got what they deserved and here we are now, in 21st century and they are STILL at it! Lessons not learned. Only this time they got themselves a big bully that they can all hide behind but unfortunately for them this bully cannot fight. At least not a serious opponent. Some little helpless nations around the world, no problem, drop few bombs, show up with one of your “carrier groups” and it’s all honky dory. Here, it is facing RUSSIA, a nation that NEVER lost a war.

And now we have this NATO – another gang, controlled by this bully. The problem for them is that NONE of them can really fight, even as a gang and so, what we now have is a circus show, called exercises, each one with more ferocious name than the last. Russia is watching these clowns prancing on her borders and has left them in no doubt whatsoever that just one step over that border and there will be nothing left of them, INSTANTLY. They can also install their missile bases in Romania and Poland, or in any other little euro vassal, sorry, NATO ally, that wants to make itself a prime target – anything fired from those will be immediately shot down and the place from where it was fired will be just one large smouldering crater, several kilometers in diameter. No, Russia does not consider NATO a big threat. Just a nuisance. The game that is being played here is as follows: “we”, NATO allies have to scream very loud and very often about “Russian aggression” and “Russian treat”- failing that this NATO becomes irrelevant and the big MIC will not be able to suck up trillions of taxpayers money to line some very, very deep pockets. And while we are at it, we will force our “allies” to buy our military junk at exorbitant prices. So, here you have it.

I think people in the West hearing this Russophobic propaganda garbage 24/7 start believing it and start imagining that perhaps all of this is true, but remember what Goebbels, Hitler’s chief of propaganda advocated – keep repeating a lie often enough and they will eventually believe you.

Russia is not your enemy. All it wants from the West is to be left alone and also to be shown some respect. This arrogant, talking down to, insulting approach has no place in dealings with an old civilized and cultured nation like Russia, which is also extremely well-armed. That attitude actually reflects very badly on the West and on state of mental midgetry of their politicians, who do not seem to have any grasp that such approach will lead them nowhere. Most of course are puppets, just doing what Uncle Sam is telling them but here is a word of warning – following Uncle Sam might lead one to the cliff edge…

Another bit of info that you will not find in western MSM – RF (Russian Federation) Immigration Services are inundated with applications from people in the West, including USA, (and I am not talking about expats), who want to move to Russia. These people see it as some kind of Noah’s Ark, compared to what is coming to their countries. Living in Russia they feel they can be free to be a normal family with normal family values, not parent1 and parent2, but Mum and Dad and where their children can grow up in a normal environment, without being subjected to creepy gender selections.

In conclusion I will say this – in my experience most people are not that different from each other, after all we are ALL human and we all want the same in life – love, appreciation, family and a future for our children. It’s not that hard to get along if you want to. But what we also have in common is a common enemy that hates humanity and wants us culled (their expression) and what’s left, subjugated. So, rather than facing each other with hands in a fist, how about we direct our attention and all our energies to fighting THAT evil, the one that wants to destroy us all.

Uncle Bob on August 31, 2020 · at 3:58 am EST/EDT

The soul of the Russian people is endless. Here is an example of that I saw posted by a Russian.The English translation isn’t the best,but is understandable:

In Moscow (back in June), the hero of the Soviet Union Ekaterina Demina (Mikhailova), the only woman who fought on the fronts of the Great Patriotic in the intelligence of the Marine Corps, died. 😢😢😢 😢😢😢

Her, which has passed all 1418 days of war, since June 1941 May 1945, buried with military honors on June 27 At the same time, not a single ′′ zalpa ′′ in memory of the hero was not distributed. The rating TV programs used to discuss ′′ dirty laundry ′′ -… the twentieth series about the children of the stars changed the saga about the adventures of the cat Bari Alibasov and the poisoning of Alibasov himself.

What is the care of a 93-year-old veteran, the last woman who received a hero’s star for battles in the Great Patriotic? Katyusha, before which the marines kneeled. The one who went to the front at 15 years old because she ′′ was ashamed not to fight “. 😢😢
The same Katyusha!
Do you remember the almost symbolic story of the Russian girl Katyusha from the song of Mikhail Isakovsky and Matthew Blanther, who loved singing in the pre-war years? It was the story of a gentle, loving singing, walking on the spring bank of the spring, the fog of the river.

In a new way, the song was sounded during the Great Patriotic War. There are dozens of new options in the people. Who is the heroine of the song: and the fighter with the machine in his hands, and the loyal friend of the soldier waiting for his return with victory, and the front nurse…
The story of Katyusha Mikhailova (in the motto of Demina) is very similar to the story of her namesake from the famous song. The daughter of the commander of the Red Army, who remained in early childhood round orphaned, was raised in the Leningrad orphanage. Nine classes yes nursing courses were all her education by the summer of 1941
Brother, who served as a pilot at the border, in Brest, invited her to visit him on vacation. In the morning, after Smolensk, she was awakened by explosions: German planes bombed the train, and she first saw panic, blood and death. ′′ I still have a terrible picture in front of my eyes: the mother’s corpse is crawling through the chest. I found my chest and began to suck, – she recalled. – The surviving passengers went on foot to Smolensk. Many women carried the bodies of children with them. June, the heat, the smell is monstrous…”. The other morning the girl came to the city military office. Having added two more years to her 14-year-old, she achieved enrollment in the Red Army and sent to the front.
This is how Katyusha Mikhailova became a combat soldier of the front line. She went into intelligence, along with the infantry fire beat the enemy’s attacks, tied the wounds of comrades. In late autumn, she was seriously wounded in the leg on the far-away approaches to Moscow near Gzhatsk, and she was hospitalized. From there, I began to ask for the front again. ′′ Let’s send you to Stalingrad, on the military ship ′′ Red Moscow “, said the military. That’s how Katya got into the Navy.
– Near Stalingrad, we took the wounded – burned tanks, pilots. Sometimes they were like mummies from bandages, only eyes and mouth are visible. We fed them from a spoon (for one duty I had to care for 900 wounded), – said Katyusha Mikhailov.
After writing a letter to Stalin, she achieved enrollment in the Marine Corps. Before her, the girls were not taken there. Before departing to the front, the battalion made a 50-kilometer march-throw. By the end of the trip, Katya had a terrible swollen leg. And then a brass orchestra sent from the city towards sailors. ′′ A lieutenant approached me and said: ′′ You’re one girl, let’s dance “. When dancing, I was dark in my eyes in pain. But it was not possible to show the view. After all, I asked for the battalion herself “,-recalled Ekaterina Illarionovna. With the 369th battalion of the Marine Corps, Catherine with battles, took place on the waters and shores of the Caucasus and Crimea, Azov and Black seas, the Dniester and the Danube, on land – Romania and Bulgaria, Hungary and Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia and Austria…
Three combat orders, five combat medals… Medal ′′ For Courage ′′ – for taking Temryuk.
The order of the Patriotic War – for Kerch. Night troopers in a storm on the desert coast. A small ′′ heel ′′ of the hand-to-hand craftsman near the villages of Zhukovka and Glake. At night, girls-pilots arrived from the Taman shore on the cracking ′′ U-2 ′′ and threw the sailors of suhari and canned food. The well with fresh water turned out between German and our trenches. At night, I managed to gain water, during the day, people were tormented by thirst. And only Katya sometimes helped out sailors.
The Germans have already learned that among the sailors defending the small bridgehead, there is one girl. They even knew her name. It used to be, during the hours of calm from German trenches shouted:
– Rus sailor! Rus Ivan! Show Katyusha! Shooting is not.
Then she, leaving her machine on the brustere, took a bucket and went to the well in full height. ′′ Katya, come back! Katyusha, they will be killed!”-shouted after the sailors. But she was walking, and the Germans did not shoot, they, laughing, climbed out of the trenches, waving their hands and played on the lip harmonica: ′′ I went to the shore of Katyusha “. The girl returned with a full bucket and sang sailors…
After the liberation of Crimea, the battalion was transferred to Odessa. The storming of Belgorod-Dniester began. He was taken at night, landing from rubber boats near the cliff’s coast of the Dnestrovsky estuary. They were planted under the machine gun fire of the enemy, with the bright glow of lighting missiles. Seven rows of barbed wire were in the water off the shore, and a five-meter cliff was raised behind them, from which machine guns were built and flew into German grenades attacking paratroopers.
The first storm, dropped from the boat where Katya was located, broke up on a mine. The second one ahead of others jumped into the water. Screaming ′′ cheers!” and their unchanged ′′ halfundra!”, sailors threw wire with shinels and cloak tents. Katya was one of the first to be under the cliff. Small, sophisticated, she, clinging to the roots and branches of the bushes, quickly climbed upstairs and, bringing down the winding, dragged her comrades to her, lifted the machine gun. Then they rushed into the attack and cleared the comb of fascist machine guns. Katya received the first order of the Red Banner for this fight.
Then there were medals ′′ For the liberation of Belgrade “, ′′ For the taking of Budapest “, ′′ For the taking of Vienna “. But of all the battles, the most memorable for her is the storming of the Ilok fortress in December 1944…
Without paying attention to the wounded hand, she tied the wounded comrades. The throat in cold December water went from tree to tree, climbed the branches to the wounded and tied them to the barrel with bandages and belts so that they would not fall down (the island they planted was under water). And then again took the machine. Out of fifty paratroopers, only thirteen are left…
Katya, who has already weakened from blood loss, covered in ice water, the survivors of the paratroopers moved to a suitable boat and sent to hospital. But soon and from there escaped – to catch up with my battalion…
Katya Mikhailov was presented to the title of Hero of the Soviet Union for the fight near Ilok…
Katya met the victory in Vienna. That night they were placed in a residential room. It was rare for Katya. It was much more common to sleep under the open air, wrapped in a raincoat. Boots on your feet, so that, jumping in anxiety, be ready for battle. The machine was even on the chest at night. Right at hand, a saninstructor bag. ′′ It was 5 am hours. Heard the automatic queues. I looked – and my sailors kiss with the Austrians and shouting: ′′ Victory!” Then the round-up of me gathered: ′′ You’re already 19. Maybe you’ll marry one of us?” And I replied: ′′ Guys, you’re my my guys brothers, and marriage is forbidden “, the veteran said.

After demobilizing, Katya graduated from medical institute and worked as a doctor all her life. And when the war started in Afghanistan, again came to the military office. But there they said: ′′ Grandma, did you win yours!” She was 50. by then.

And in 2008 The veteran survived a strong moral shock – she was stolen by combat awards. Two scammers, using the gullibility of Catherine Illarionovna, under the guise of social workers, infiltrated her apartment. Couldn’t hold them. In 2010 she was awarded duplicates of orders and medals…
And we continue to be washed by Alibasovy, Buzovy, Volochkov
and also with them 😢
We are not worthy of the memory of heroes

192 Comments

HomoSapiensWBe on August 30, 2020 · at 6:11 pm EST/EDT

Great Essay! Thanks for writing it.

I will share with family and friends who are negatively brainwashed about Russia, which unfortunately includes most of them.

By the way, the expression — which you used correctly — is “hunky dory.”
Cheers!
Bart Hansen on August 30, 2020 · at 6:14 pm EST/EDT

Thanks, Katerina. On NATO, I laughed out loud at your comment that “what we now have is a circus show, called exercises, each one with more ferocious name than the last.”

We are proficient at naming congressional acts, as well, for example, the Patriot Act and others, many of which are meant to restrain, restrict or surveil.

Thanks for not mentioning our unique system of “sanctions”. To sanction usually means approve, but we have taken the meaning to a whole new level meaning war or starvation by economic means.
vera on August 30, 2020 · at 6:18 pm EST/EDT

“how about we direct our attention and all our energies to fighting THAT evil, the one that wants to destroy us all.”

Good point, Katerina. But I cannot but say, as a Czech, that you leave out the Soviet tyranny and its impacts, and that is not right. There are many Czechs (and many Poles and Hungarians) who have a legit grudge against Russia and its various past experiments, invasions and massacres. I personally have left that grudge behind, but when I see you skip that entire can of worms, I cannot but mention it.

I think Russia is lucky to have Putin, such a clever strategist. The question is, can he groom the next generation? The hyenas have not gone away… they are waiting in the shadows.
- Zoka on August 30, 2020 · at 7:08 pm EST/EDT
  
  Vera, being Czech you show exactly the way of thinking Katerina explained so well.
  See, it wasn’t Russia, it was CCCP and you as a Czech citizen had much better life then any Russian at that time. Russians were subjugated just like you Czechs and the only difference now is that they freed themselves and you didn’t. And you didn’t because you allowed yourself to be brainwashed, and from what I can see this will take some time.
  I’m personally connected to Czech republic and Slovakia, some beautiful smart people see what’s going on but majority of them are clueless. As I said it will take some time and nobody is going to help you, this is the battle you have to win by yourself. You know Vera freedom is luxury, only the best can conquer and enjoy it.
  Czechs are not playing in that league… not yet and I’m so sad about that.
  - vera on August 30, 2020 · at 10:55 pm EST/EDT
    
    HI Zoka. Last I heard, it was Russians who created the CCCP, no?
    
    Quality of life was indeed better in Czechoslovakia than in the Soviet Union, but most of us really would have preferred not be forced into communism, not to have fake murderous trials, not to have prisons full of political prisoners, not to have our agriculture ruined by soviet style collectivization, and not to be occupied in 68. Funny, huh?
    
    As for the rest of it, you are right. We swallowed Havel’s bs line, hook and sinker. And walked into a trap. Yeah, I am sad about it too. There is hope yet, though. If Belarus holds, eastern Europe will breathe easier,
    - BeliVuk on August 31, 2020 · at 12:52 am EST/EDT
      
      Vera after WWII the Czech joined the completely undeservedly, the “club of the victors”. How was it that the Czech Republic became part of the Soviet Block?
      Czechoslovakia was given to the Nazis by the West (UK and France). USSR attempted to stop this, but the West refused to join an anti Nazi coalition. Many of your citizens willingly worked for the Nazis.
      At Yalta, spheres of influence were created. USSR wanted a zone of protection against future attacks from the West thus the Eastern Block. Were they justified in asking for this zone? If you say no than you do not know much about Russia and its history of invasions from the West.
      The West was to have influence in this zone as USSR was to have it in Italy, Austria, and Germany. The west reneged on the agreement, so USSR reneged on letting the West into their sphere of influence.
      It was no different then how western Europe remains to this day occupied by USA including the Czech people.
      Recently the Czech government participated in desecrating Konev’s statue in Prague. Konev led the Soviet forces and liberated Prague and saved it from what happened to Belgrade, Stalingrad, and many other cities that the Nazis occupied. More Soviet soldiers died in liberating Your country than your own countrymen and women.
      Not only that the Czech’s and Slovaks willingly participated and worked for the German military and sent soldiers to the Russian Front. I am not a Russian, but I will always honour the feats of Soviet soldiers as being sacred.
      Your nation fell under the influence of USSR because the West was preparing an invasion of USSR and not just an invasion but an atomic attack against the nation that liberated Europe.
      The Czech Republic and its former president Vaclav Havel has shamed your people just so he could get a Nobel prize as he participated in destruction of Yugoslavia.
      - Anonius on August 31, 2020 · at 9:36 am EST/EDT
        
        You missed one more thing. Churchill wanted Greece so badly, at all costs shall we say? He traded Poland for Greece. Poles have GB to thank for this and nobody else. If USSR (CCCP) was so bad, why did it retreat its forces from Austria after defeating the Germany? Austria interestingly enough is not vandalizing Soviet Military Cemeteries respecting their sacrifice. While the barbarity of the neighboring countries is out in the open. I am not sure how old the “Czech” people are here but I’d like to remind you and others that there was always “Master’s” hand initiating all the problems. Hungary in 1956, Czechy in 1968, SU’s perestroyka and Poland quickly followed. Returning to Czechy in 1968, SU shocked the “Master” by Air dropping 500,000 paratroopers, who briskly captured Prague and story was over before it even started, unlike the Budapeszt in ’56. I was barely a teenager on a car trip with my parents, and as it happened we could hear the heavy transport planes at night while tenting just outside Budapeszt. My father decided to go back next morning.
        
        BeliVuk on August 31, 2020 · at 11:55 am EST/EDT
        
        It is interesting how collaborators become liberators when and write their own history. The Croats, for example, started joining the partisans when the Red Army was in Romanian. In both WWI and WWII Croatia was not partitioned because the Serbs had this delusion about Brotherhood and Unity and now Croats build monuments to the likes of Jure.Francetić while destroying the Jasenovac monument where they murdered 700,000 Serbs, Jews and Roma as well as socialists Croats and Muslims. https://www.google.com/search?q=jure+francetic+spomenik&rlz=1C1CHBD_enCA897CA898&oq=Jure+Franketic+&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j0l7.3941j0j15&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
        By the thanks for the addition .
      - K. Kříž on August 31, 2020 · at 11:29 am EST/EDT
        
        Czech solders and units in WWII fought as part of Red Army and British Army. Czechs did not form any units to fight againts Allies.
        
        BeliVuk on August 31, 2020 · at 11:40 am EST/EDT
        
        “Among the approximately one million foreign volunteers and conscripts who served in the Wehrmacht and Waffen SS during World War II were ethnic Germans, Belgians, Czechs, Dutch, Finns, Danes, French, Hungarians, Norwegians, Poles,[1] Portuguese, Swedes,[2] and British, along with people from the Baltic states and the Balkans. At least 47,000 Spaniards served in the Blue Division.[3]”
        
        vera on August 31, 2020 · at 1:04 pm EST/EDT
        
        They were conscripts, get it? There were tons of young Czechs in Germany working for their war effort. My mother was hiding in the mountains, worried she’d be grabbed and transported to the Reich.
        
        And of course the Protectorate of Bohmen and Mahren was forced to support the German war effort, after we were betrayed in Munich. After the assassination of Heydrich by our parachutists, they unleashed terror against us.
      - vera on August 31, 2020 · at 1:28 pm EST/EDT
        
        BeliVuk: Oh please. When Czechoslovakia was handed to Hitler on a silver platter, the Soviets were busy making treaties with Hitler. And making plans for stealing Ruthenia. And no, we did not unreservedly join the Soviet camp. Another trap.
        
        You are right about Havel. He was a smooth operator supported by the same sort of people creating mischief with the recent color revolutions. You may at least be happy to know that many Czechs realize that, and often jeer at the “humanitarian bombardment” the SOB promoted and supported.
        
        BeliVuk on August 31, 2020 · at 6:50 pm EST/EDT
        
        I don’t suffer revisionism gladly Vera. Czechoslovakia was taken in 38 Moscow Pact was in 39.. For 6 years prior to 39 Litvinov the Soviet Foreign Minister in meeting after meeting attempted to unite France Britain and USSR in an anti Hitler pact , They refused. When Czechoslovakia was assimilated USSR was excluded from discussion you were given to Germany by UK, France, Italy, UK and France armed Hitler and appeased him Army navy and weapons sales in violation of the League of Nations Main aim was for Hitler to attack USSR. Moscow Pact had one aim stall for time to build armaments as Soviets knew their weapons in the Spanish Civil War did not do so well against the Germans. So the Pact which had nothing to do in occupying Czechoslovakia. They took what was taken from them during the 1920s . Western attack against Russia This attack included the Czech occupation of much of the Siberian Railway. The West even used Chlorine and Mustard gas against Russia. Much of what happened to you like Yugoslavia recently was planned in London. War does not make me happy.
        
        Nussiminen on September 01, 2020 · at 2:22 am EST/EDT
        
        Very true. And the traitor-in-chief, Beneš, ordered unconditional surrender of the army — literally giving away the heavily fortified border in Sudetenland without firing a single shot — in spite of Soviet readiness to assist militarily. It was such an embarrasment how Beneš repeatedly turned to the Soviet ambassador at each and every step during the escalating crisis in 1938, asking if the USSR was ready to help and was disappointed by the unwavering, affirmative answer. He had hoped that the USSR also was about to cave in, just like the Euro-trash. That would have made his Western bootlicking and capitulationist stance look less vile and contemptible.
        
        To top it off, having betrayed his country Beneš left the mess behind as he went unresistingly into — yes — Western exile (London). The nightmare his grovelling and incompetence unleashed upon Czechoslovakia ended as the Soviet Red Army finally took Prague.
        
        vera on September 01, 2020 · at 12:52 pm EST/EDT
        
        Sudeten were taken in 38. Czechoslovakia was taken in March 39. Surely the pact with Hitler did not happen overnight? No, the pact just showed that the Soviets were hoping to play patty cake with and/or outwit Hitler, and failed, just like the West. They were not ready for his attack. And paid dearly for that.
        
        Below, Nussi: Benes was a weak man and a traitor. Whether we could have held off Hitler is a dubious proposition, however, and people will be fighting that one till the end of time. I heard that the border fortifications were incomplete and weak. For the morale, though, it would have been better to fight. And for being on the right side of the good fight.
    - Serbian girl on August 31, 2020 · at 1:22 am EST/EDT
      
      What do you mean Havel’s “BS”?
      Vaclav Havel was a war criminal, an ueber hawk, US neocon lap dog who led his country to actively participate, invade & bomb & massacre people in other countries….(Serbia, Iraq…)
      
      For you to bring up “negativity” and “legit grudge” for 1968 given everything your country has been involved in since then (btw in 1989 those CCCP troops left your country without firing a shot) is astounding.
      
      Some of your politicians have understood the toxic legacy of Havel and are now trying to repent for his crimes… as they should…
      - Marko on August 31, 2020 · at 2:50 am EST/EDT
        
        To Vera’s defense, I think in her reply she also see Vaclav Havel as a criminal.
        
        Serbian girl on August 31, 2020 · at 11:03 am EST/EDT
        
        Of course Marko. Referring to Havel’s action as mere “BS” sounded a little tame to me.. so I added my comment for clarity’ s sake. I have no that Vera agrees with me.
        
        vera on August 31, 2020 · at 12:56 pm EST/EDT
        
        Thank you, Marco. Exactly. Maybe next time I should spell out BS for those of us not so versed in English slang. I worry about getting caught in some Miss Manners spell checker. :-)
      - K. Kříž on August 31, 2020 · at 11:38 am EST/EDT
        
        Hi, I am a Czech, too. Think Vera is actually a part of that legacy. Havel was just a useful idiot.
    - Rublev on August 31, 2020 · at 4:44 am EST/EDT
      
      Vera, as a fellow citizen I can agree about that (useful idiot?) Havel and the trap of Hegelian dialectical trap of communism (bad) vs capitalism (good) that people in central/eastern Europe fell for. On the other hand it is very easy to take advantage of hope of desperate people. Evil and sad. Cheers
      - vera on August 31, 2020 · at 5:31 pm EST/EDT
        
        Rublev, my own sense is that he was not a useful idiot at all. That he was once profiting personally from the financial help people in the West were sending to support political prisoners, and later actively subverting Czechoslovakia’s transition, and enriching himself in the process. IMO, Havel was a seriously personality-deformed human being who enjoyed the chaos he caused, and the damage he wrought. Havel was about Havel.
        
        Yes, evil and sad. Best to you.
    - Weimer on August 31, 2020 · at 5:53 am EST/EDT
      
      You say “most of us” – how do you presume to speak for most? My family came from the east (Slov), a neglected part of the country that only developed with the socialist policies (there was never communism, remember). And my grandparents had to give some land to the cooperative, but later said it was the best thing, because it made life so much easier. Cz under socialism was 100% food secure… now, not so much. (The agri sector was deliberately destroyed in the 1990s, so that Billas, Tescos, Aldis, Kauflands, and other western masters could come in.)
      And speaking of masters – now both Cz and Slovakia have US military advisers… if you think that is an improvement, well then, live with the consequences.
      And 1968? I was there… I suggest you read about the US overthrows of govts around the world, e.g., the one in Indonesia in 1965-67 to understand what a massacre really is.
      The problem with so many in Cz/Sl is that they simply have no knowledge of wider history and just keep repeating western propaganda over and over again.
      - vera on August 31, 2020 · at 1:21 pm EST/EDT
        
        Weimer, let’s not play word games. I am speaking to a mostly western audience, and they call the system communism. Yes, indeed, we were said to be in socialism, and communism was just around the corner. Sure. And with the Soviet Union forever! Gadz.
        
        I always say that there was much good in the way things were. But that does not mean we should sweep the evils under the carpet. Your grandparents were glad to surrender their land. My great uncle refused, and spent the next 11 years in jail.
        
        Yes, food security was destroyed, and much crap entered along with the velvet revolution.
        
        As for the occupation in 68, we should be grateful we were not massacred like the Indonesians? What a craven argument. If you liked the old system, I should think you would support Dubcek’s reforms. If socialism with a human face could have been allowed to live, maybe something useful for the world would have been born.
    - Zoka on August 31, 2020 · at 6:07 am EST/EDT
      
      HI Zoka. Last I heard, it was Russians who created the CCCP, no?
      
      No Vera they were not Russians, they were Bolsheviks, they didn’t think of themselves as Russians and many of them were Jews. Russians would never kill Czar. It is about mindset not about DNK.
      
      As I said it will take some time…
      - vera on August 31, 2020 · at 1:11 pm EST/EDT
        
        Lenin was not a Jew. Stalin was not a Jew. Don’t BS me.
        And yes, a crazed mob will kill just about anyone. Russians are not exempted from that mentality.
        
        Please explain how Bolsheviks did not think of themselves as Russian. What nationality did they adopt?
        
        BeliVuk on September 01, 2020 · at 1:33 pm EST/EDT
        
        Lenin’s mother was German–Swedish Lutheran, and his father was of Russian Jewish ethnicity but who cares. This did not seem to bother Lenin nor did he know about it. Russian Empire was unique in that it was inclusive unlike the British Empire which excluded the conquered people from leadership roles in government.
    - Anonymous on August 31, 2020 · at 4:24 pm EST/EDT
      
      “HI Zoka. Last I heard, it was Russians who created the CCCP, no?”
      
      None of the formative leaders of the USSR were Russian:- Lenin – Ukrainian, Stalin – Georgian, Krushchev – Ukrainian, Dzherzhinski (founder leader of Cheka) – Polish, Beria (possible poisoner of Stalin, leader of NKVD) – Georgian. The largest group of victims of the early phases were Orthodox Christian Russians who had their very identity and lives erased.
      - vera on August 31, 2020 · at 5:02 pm EST/EDT
        
        Lenin was born in Simbirsk, east of Moscow on the Volga. How does that make him a Ukrainian? Wikipedia lists his nationality as Russian.
        Point taken about the various nationalities of some of the leaders.
        
        I was taught that the Bolshevik movement was largely Russian. Is that wrong?
        
        Yes, many Russians were killed by the Bolsheviks. Not just in the early phases. Stalin’s purges. The gulag. The holodomor. The murder of returning Red Army soldiers after the war (if they were not trusted to be utterly loyal to Stalin). The pile of corpses is a bit too large to sweep under the rug.
    - Slobodan Cekic on August 31, 2020 · at 7:19 pm EST/EDT
      
      Well, it may surprise you, but it has not been the Russians who created USSR. Great majority of the Bolshevik leadership has been Jewish, and the funding of the revolution came from the Jewish/Anglosaxon banking elites who financed Trotsky. as well as the German/Jewish ones who financed Lenin. These people were such friends of Russia that they killed the Emperor with his whole family, caused a bloody civil war and and split the country into federal statelets. Russia and the Russians have paid a terrible price for all this.
      You are identifying Russia, like many, with the project of it’s destruction. The Czechs having suffered a lot from the same cause, I can understand it.
    - keywacat on September 01, 2020 · at 9:19 am EST/EDT
      
      It is my understanding that it was Czechoslovaks who subverted the democratic process after WWII to install communism here, just as it was Czechoslovaks who ran the state apparatus, nationalised farms and industry, killed Horakova, sent WWII heroes to prison and in general ran things as they saw fit.
      
      In fact Czechoslovaks were running things so much as they saw fit Russians were generally not allowed off their bases, for fear of getting bad ideas from the native population.
- Katerina on August 30, 2020 · at 8:17 pm EST/EDT
  
  Thanks for the comment Vera. With regard to “Soviet tyranny” with “various past experiments, invasions and massacres” (??) I am not sure I understand what you meant by that? As far as history tells us the countries you have mentioned were LIBERATED from Nazi Germany by Soviet Army, costing thousands of it’s solders’s lives. History also tells us that these very same countries were among European accomplices to follow Napoleon and Hitler in their marches on Russia and USSR. That is a historical FACT. I have no idea what “tyranny” and “massacres” you are alluding to unless it is from the re-written East European “history” which now seems to be a very popular pursuit among those countries.
  - vera on August 30, 2020 · at 10:44 pm EST/EDT
    
    I appreciate the response, Katerina. By experiments, I mean of course the communist experiment, By invasions, I mean Hungary in 56 and Czechoslovakia in 68. By massacres I mean Katyn. By bringing that up, I in no way wish to negate or invalidate the heroic efforts of all Russians during the war, nor deny that most of Czechoslovakia was liberated by the Red Army. My mother wished Patton kept marching on, but that was not the fault of the Red Army. Just don’t get carried away by your patriotism, which is admirable, to sweep the negatives under the rug, Cheers.
    - Katerina on August 31, 2020 · at 12:17 am EST/EDT
      
      To Vera
      I have promised myself to answer just ONCE to comments I find rather objectionable. In your case I will make an exception. Hungary and Czechoslovakia, being an integral part of Warsaw Pact (you must have heard of that), have tried at the time to carry out, with the help of external players, the early versions of what is now called “colour revolutions”. Obviously, had to be brought back in line. Do you think NATO would idly stand by if one of their members had decided to switch sides now? I don’t think so. As for Katyn, I think you need to do some actual research on that “massacre”, you will discover that Russia (or USSR at the time) had absolutely NOTHING to do with that. Another vile attempt to demonize Russia. And yes, I love the country I was born in and proud to be Russian but I also do not project attitudes, just INFORMED opinions, backed by research. I suggest you do the same. Cheers.
      - Oū Sī/區司/Osmanikoff on August 31, 2020 · at 5:06 am EST/EDT
        
        Much truth in this, but for this: You forget that the revolt in Hungary in 1956 was to a gret part a anti-Jewish rebelllion. As soon as the large Jewish Bolshevik element had been removed and the Party cleansed, the Hungarian people continued to enjoy their “Gulash Communism” for 33 more years.
        This is not meant as an anti-Jewish remark, I have family and past wife and lovers who were Ukrainian and Russian Jews and some in the extended Rothshildt family, and engoy being with my Jewish friends, I Just don’t like Jews who command ruling communist parties, the City of London, the USA and all of Palestine.
      - Roger on August 31, 2020 · at 5:43 am EST/EDT
        
        Hi Katerina,
        Nice article. You pointed out in a reply to some comments …”As for Katyn, I think you need to do some actual research on that “massacre”, you will discover that Russia (or USSR at the time) had absolutely NOTHING to do with that…”. I know mostly non-Russian point of view on this matter plus some other unverified information. I am interested in this topic and would appreciate if you could direct me to Russian sources, i.e.to some supporting materials that Russia was not involved. Thank you
        
        Katerina on August 31, 2020 · at 6:35 am EST/EDT
        
        To Roger,
        The Katyn “massacre” was carried out by what is now called ukro-nazis, the ukranian fascists collaborators at the time. They spoke Russian and so, much later, it was easy to pass it as a crime that can be pinned on Russia. They also carried out another unspeakable massacre on a much, much bigger scale, of ukranian jews at “Babiy Yar” – heard of that one?
        
        Roger on September 02, 2020 · at 8:34 am EST/EDT
        
        Hi Katerina,
        Thanks a lot. Not heard before about Babiy Yar, you are right, terrible crime. I see that there is some information on Babi Yar, but still I cannot find anything about Katyn. I understand your point, however I would be interested to read more about it. Can you please send me some sources, can be also in Russian. You can post it here or send via email. Thanks
      - Kérberos on August 31, 2020 · at 6:47 pm EST/EDT
        
        Dear Katerina,
        Thank you so much for your very sensible and enlightening essay, which I saved for future reference.
        As a Czech, I would also like to express my deep sense of shame over the recent take-down of Marshal Konev’s statue and general dissing of the role that Russian soldiers played in liberating the Czech and many other European lands from the Nazi murderers.
        I’d like to express my gratitude to your country for this, as well as my sorrow over the death of thousands of Red Army soldiers who gave their lives to liberate us, while many Czechs cowardly collaborated with their occupiers.
        And let’s keep in mind that the borders of post WWII Europe were decided in Yalta by Churchill, Roosevelt, and Stalin, not just by Stalin. As had been the case in Munich, we were again given away without any input on our part.
        Sadly, many Czechs – like Vera, I believe – have bought into the Western propaganda. I was in the Czech army in 1968 when our Prague Spring was brought to an end by the Warsaw Pact armies. Our barracks got “liberated” by a Polish tank unit. Prior to their visit, we had all of our ammunitions confiscated by our officers. When the tanks arrived, we were throwing stones at them. I still remember the Polish soldiers laughing at us…, and then driving their tanks to guard the entrance, so no more “counter-revolutionaries” could get in to create more “counter-revolution.” It seems funny now, but it wasn’t then.
        I really appreciate your words…, and thank God for Putin and the many sensible people now in charge of the Russian Federation. God save Russia and her truly heroic people.
    - BeliVuk on August 31, 2020 · at 1:05 am EST/EDT
      
      Vera’s patriotism clouds reason, and does not make you humble. Radio Free Europe was not free you paid 68 as did Hungary in 56 with the loss of your most educated that we got for free in the West and you got partition and absorption into NATO your new master. If Patton had a statue built in Prague do you think that it would be deserved and would it have come down like Konev’s statue did recently? All of Czechoslovakia was liberated by Russian and Soviet blood respect it.
      - K. Kříž on August 31, 2020 · at 11:45 am EST/EDT
        
        And Polish and Romanian among others…
      - vera on August 31, 2020 · at 1:40 pm EST/EDT
        
        Beli, Patton should have a statue in Pilsen, and for all I know, he does. The Konev affair is shameful — done by the same sort of people who are pulling statues down in America. Sadly, Czechia is divided.
        
        Moso on September 01, 2020 · at 7:38 am EST/EDT
        
        Vera who bombed factory in Plzen?
        
        vera on September 01, 2020 · at 4:13 pm EST/EDT
        
        Moso, I was told by a friend who was a witness, that when the Germans were fleeing west, Americans bombed Pilsen. He said there were very many German soldiers waiting for trains at the main station, with their horses, and that the carnage was fearsome and painful to behold.
- Bianca on August 30, 2020 · at 11:56 pm EST/EDT
  
  Dear Vera I am also Czech born in 1960. I remember in my town there was a base of Soviet soldiers who were not allowed to get out. We didn’t like being occupied because it remained us of Nazis occupation during WW2, but there was a huge difference: Nazis killed us, Russians didn’t. I also remember that Russian soldiers disliked the occupation as much as we did. They were clearly ashamed. After velvet revolution Russians left and Soro’s grants and organizations came. More and more I was hearing about Soviet tyranny and how horrible Russians were. Younger Czechs believe that, but it is a lie. It is brainwashing aimed to break bond between Czechs and Russians.
  - vera on August 31, 2020 · at 1:46 pm EST/EDT
    
    Bianca, I agree. Except the part where the Russians left. Not quite. They took over Karlovy Vary. :-)
    
    I happen to think that Russia cannot quite be trusted; but can any country? I think Czechia would be better off if it leaned more toward Russia, and I am not alone. Again, we are captive, and this time by the EU.
- Marko on August 31, 2020 · at 2:41 am EST/EDT
  
  Katarina, thank you for the inspiring text. I loved it and I am glad that there are very positive developments in Russia. The other day I read Moscovites had replaced their trolleybuses with electric buses. Very exciting.
  
  Luckily for you, Vera, you did not get to eat, drink and breath in tons of depleted uranium as we have had in Serb lands thanks to NATO/US genocidal terrorists. No amount of Soviet wrongdoing comes even close to what we have had to endure with a 1000-fold increase in deaths of cancer. Children are dying of leukemia and other cancers thanks to NATO/US and the puppet government says that there is no proof the increase in deaths is because of the NATO bombardment. Now, that we have NATO puppets in power, they are assets stripping the country. Soon nothing will be left and then they will bring in Arabs, Pakistanis and others.
  Iraq and Yemen, of course, suffered the same fate as the Serb lands.
  By bombing the Serb countries, NATO bombed one of the most pro-American group of people in the world and although there are still those in our midst that worship US/EU/NATO terrorists, most of those that have an IQ higher than their shoe size despise them. The Soviet’s cure for the illness called social and class injustice might have been worse than the illness but what NATO/US/EU are doing is nothing short of actions of a hell bent death cult.
  - zidar on August 31, 2020 · at 1:19 pm EST/EDT
    
    Marko, trolleybuses are elctrically powered. We had them in Belgrade, then we switched to fuel powered busses. So, electrical busses are kind of continuation of sane practice.
    
    Funny, they had trolleybuses in Toronto too. And lots of streetcares 9much more than today). Then, after WWII order came from GM – scrap electrical vehicles in public transport, and switch to buses, which we will supply for a small nominal fee. I have heard similar story for other cities across America (the continent).
    
    I guess this shows people how commies were always ruthlessly destroying the environment, among other things.
- Weimer on August 31, 2020 · at 5:43 am EST/EDT
  
  I was in Cz in the 1960s and 1970s (incl 1968), and know exactly what this “tyranny’ you speak of was. It is twisted history, nothing more. You forget that Slovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Romania were fascist states during WWII. And Poles… well, they were one of the main reasons WWII happened, since they scuttled every attempt at a defensive alliance. (As a Czech, perhaps you do know Poles stole a bit of N. Bohemia after Munich.) Not to mention that Poland invaded USSR in 1920.
  The thinking you describe is not uncommon, but it completely leaves out historical context and a deeper understanding of what went on in Eu in the last two hundred years. (Czechs did not defend their country from Hitler, it was left to the USSR to defeat him,. Never forget that.)
  - Anonius on August 31, 2020 · at 12:50 pm EST/EDT
    
    Weimer, if I remember correctly Piłsudski (Polish President) actually participated in German takeover of Czechy in 1928, which was a shame for all the parties that allowed this to happen. The GB and France could also be included in the list of participants. Let me remind you that Hitler believed that Sudety belonged to Germany and not Czechy. It is interesting that SU is blamed for Ribbentrop-Molotov agreement (which was considered a collaboration with Hitler by the West), while Poland did exactly the same against Czechy in 1928.
    - Anonius on August 31, 2020 · at 1:16 pm EST/EDT
      
      Sorry, I may have been off by ten years, maybe it was in 1938.
- K. Kříž on August 31, 2020 · at 11:20 am EST/EDT
  
  I personally have left that grudge behind. Really you did? From the Soviet tyranny to legit grudge against Russia and its……,you are very quick. It seems to me you are a havloid activist that always talks about the Russian tyranny and the 1939 occupation of our country by some mysterious Naziland.
  - vera on August 31, 2020 · at 1:53 pm EST/EDT
    
    Huh? Yes, I did. I think Czechia should step out of EU and make a closer alliance with Russia. I like Putin’s direction.
    
    I have no idea what you mean by “mysterious Naziland.” Sounds like some sort of denial on your part.
- Roman Doroszuk on September 02, 2020 · at 7:13 am EST/EDT
  
  Do not forget who brought Communism to Russia and brutally murdered the Car of Russia and all his family..it was not Russia that gave birth to Communism, it was USA and England that financed this monstrosity.
Harry_Red on August 30, 2020 · at 6:25 pm EST/EDT

Once arrogance and the feeling of superiority crosses a certain threshold, it corrupts everything…..

….you stop learning
….you stop advancing and improving
….you stop learning from your mistakes, since you have no mistakes
….you do not recognize the past and become in denial of it
….you do not correct any errors
….you cannot make sound judgement based on reality.
….you do not benefit from others and you don’t let anyone benefit from you.

Arrogance combined with ignorance, individualism, materialism and exceptionalism, makes for a very deadly cocktail.

Something big needs to happen to break the arrogance of this culture and its people !
- rob on August 30, 2020 · at 10:11 pm EST/EDT
  
  Something big is brewing. The question is when, where, how, who will fire the first shot. At that point, we will have only prayer to save ourselves.
- joey_n on August 31, 2020 · at 3:12 pm EST/EDT
  
  Describes the USA to a T. It can possibly explain why:
  * customary units are still used
  * dollar bills are all the same color
  * there’s no paid maternity leave
  * public transport is lacking
  * one-dollar coins still aren’t commonly used despite decades of inflation
  * the prongs of power plugs don’t have protective rubber insulation
  * it took until 2016 for GMOs to be labeled
  The list goes on.
  
  These tend to be shoved aside because of the USA’s reputation, as if the USA is so perfect that whatever is used by default is the one and only. This the effect of American exceptionalism.
Anil on August 30, 2020 · at 6:33 pm EST/EDT

Thank you very much, Katerina. Covered a lot of ground in a nice condensed form.

And thank you, Russia!
Juan gomez on August 30, 2020 · at 7:09 pm EST/EDT

Thank you katerina for speaking from your heart, the west mentality is how much you have, that is what you are worth, a very materialistic society that will not stop until someone says enought is enough
- BeliVuk on August 31, 2020 · at 1:23 am EST/EDT
  
  Very few with wealth understand how to be humble.
Tyson B on August 30, 2020 · at 7:15 pm EST/EDT

Great essay – thanks for writing.

I would add, long before the Industrial Revolution, that the West’s animosity towards Russia has its roots in The (RC) Vatican, esp. the religious militants, the Jesuits – always wanting to subvert Orthodoxy with the aim of reuniting after the Great Schism. (Saker has previously published a great doco by a Greek Orthodox priest on this particular issue – the point being, if Orthodoxy came to Russia from Greece and if you recall when Paul wrote his letter ‘To The Romans’ he wrote it in Greek – not Latin, that indicates that Greek was the Lingua Franca of the empire). So it was catullay the RC Church that removed *itself from Christendom!!!

In that vein, its clear that RC Poland was set up & maintained as a spoiler between German capital and technology & Russian natural resources and educated & skilled workforce – which it remains to this day. Recall that even Churchill called Poland the “hyena of Europe”.

Lastly, Britain always had its Machiavellian designs on Russia. This goes back to Queen of England & Ireland, Elizabeth I (1558 – 1603) via her diplomats seeking exclusive trading rights with Russia.

As regards, England (or as we would say these days using Saker’s shorthand descriptor the ‘Anglo-Zionist Empire’) being the enemy of Russia there’s a great essay on the stalkerzone – which details same.

Rest assured, Russia will prevail in any hot war with the West. The country is being protected by Our Lady – and I have personally proven this – not once, but twice in my life – 1979 & 1991 (without even realizing what was being revealed to me, it only recently coming to me – but that’s another story!). For the purposes of this comment I’m asking readers to take that on authority.

Kind Regards
- Anonymous on August 30, 2020 · at 9:00 pm EST/EDT
  
  I do believe you. I always told people that Russia is under the ‘Pokrov’ of the Mother of God.
  Good to remind people that England meddled in Russia’s affairs since it was gripped by the imperial shivers. The ‘Muscovy Company’ has been stripped of its privileges several times, last time by Peter the Great for its meddling in the Streltsy Uprising of 1698.
  - Ultrafart the Brave on August 30, 2020 · at 9:32 pm EST/EDT
    
    Indeed, Russia has a special & enduring place in the tapestry of human history.
    
    For those with a religious bent, Our Lady of Fatima had particular words to say about Russia, and the present Russian rulers have carried out Her instructions.
    
    Meanwhile, the malevolent Anglo Empire is shaping up to be little more than a speed-bump in the story of humanity.
    - Anonymous on August 30, 2020 · at 11:19 pm EST/EDT
      
      Well, she has. I was sending a comment quoting Dostoevsky’s inspired ‘Pushkin Speech’ about Russia’s place and destiny, but someone didn’t like it and it didn’t ‘pass’. Pity.
      Sorry OTOH to disappoint you in regards to the ‘Lady of Fatima’. Russia was under the Protection of the Mother of God from its very inception and remained under it at all times. Besides two cathedrals dedicated to the ‘Intercession’ at Vladimir and Moscow (the one we see at all times in the Red Square) it has numerous wonder-working icons of the Mother of God. The present Russian rulers followed her instructions by protecting Orthodoxy. The Lady of Fatima demanded that Russia abandon its ‘schism’ and submit to the tender cares of the Pope.
      - BeliVuk on August 31, 2020 · at 1:19 am EST/EDT
        
        “tender cares of the Pope” like the Cathars did to Pope Innocent III? .
        
        BeliVuk on August 31, 2020 · at 1:27 am EST/EDT
        
        Should read like the Cathars “got from Pope Innocent III”
      - Tyson B on August 31, 2020 · at 3:20 am EST/EDT
        
        “The Lady of Fatima demanded that Russia abandon its ‘schism’ and submit to the tender cares of the Pope.”
        
        I think you will find thats an Orthodox interpretation. Fatima’s private revelation was in 1917 – year of the jewish-Bolshevik revolution.
        
        It is understood by RCs in the West that by Fatima’s private revelation it was the Pope who was to consecrate Russia to the heart of Mother Mary – which was in fact done by a council of Cardinals – but not by the Pope himself (this reinforces my 1st point about the conspiracy against Russia being a Vatican one at first – using RC Poland in all of its various incarnations as the spoiler of Pan-Slavism).
        
        Anyhoo, I really dont want to argue a theological point other than to say Russia is being protected by Mother Mary – and that some people in the West are aware of that (and thats why, as a person of faith, I can say *with certainty that Russia will prevail in any conflict as she has so many times in history).
        
        Regards
cdvision on August 30, 2020 · at 7:44 pm EST/EDT

Bravo Katerina, beautifully written. I’m of Western origin, but left my country of birth in disgust. I have worked with Russians, and you are probably too polite to say it, but I will, they are much better educated than in the West – as well as the other qualities you describe. Russia is a very important counterpoint to the West, which is very rapidly losing its collective mind.
Simon on August 30, 2020 · at 8:00 pm EST/EDT

Dear Katerina. You say: “in my experience most people are not that different from each other…”. Very true. My daughter and I travelled across Russia by train about a year and a half ago. We were in Russia for about four weeks. We met a lot of people along the way. They were all friendly, engaging, good company. And without exception, they all seemed very comfortable in their Russian-ness. Absolutely zero feelings of inferiority towards the people of the West. They were much better informed about the world than we are about their country. And yes, clean cities with good public transport, some poverty but no homelessness, good restaurants and cafes. We treated ourselves to ballet (Anna Karenina) at the Marinsky in St Petersburg and opera (Manon Lescaut) at the Bolshoi in Moscow. One thing you didn’t mention: on a night out, Russian women really do know how to dress elegantly; the men, not so much. Anyone who reads this blog and who is curious about Russia but has never been there; well, you should go, you will have a wonderful time, as we did. Thank you for taking the time to pen your piece Katerina. It prompted many fond memories for me of Russia and its people.
traducteur on August 30, 2020 · at 8:24 pm EST/EDT

A heartwarming essay! Thank you, Katerina. I hope our masters will take note.
Razor on August 30, 2020 · at 8:31 pm EST/EDT

Our most basic common link is that we all inhabit this planet. We all breathe the same air. We all cherish our children’s future. And we are all mortal.

John F. Kennedy

This lady is expressing the same sentiments as that great and inspiring orator, JFK. People will differ on how good a President Kennedy was, but I think there is no question that he had a gift for inspiring people with his oratory.

Living here on the Western edge of Europe, in Ireland, we as a people who have known suffering, struggle and oppression for centuries, I think can well understand the brave endurance of the Russian peoples, certainly this Irishman can. During the troubled times in Russia in the 90’s, when it was being plundered by Western interests with the help of their local facilitators like Khodorkovsky, Bereshov and so on, all of this was well reported by an exceptional Irish reporter for the Irish Times newspaper, once a proud organ of impartial information, now a propaganda outlet for Neo-liberalism, and I was so sorry for the poor Russia people.

Since the rise of Vladimir Vladimirovich, I have watched with great please the amazing work he has done for Russia and Russians, along with his wise, gentlemanly and exceptional diplomat, Sergei Lavrov. Indeed, also the Defence Minister, Sergei Shoygu and the Chief of Staff of the Armed forces, General Valery Gerasimov. Truly, these are the exemplary statesmen of our times, rising head and shoulders above their international contemporaries, especially their western contemporaries.

I just pray that we can get past the collapse of Western evil through their ponzi money power and insane and evil militarism without the world exploding into a war of annihilation.
Bo Robinson on August 30, 2020 · at 8:45 pm EST/EDT

Beautiful! A lot of us here in the US feel the same way about our gov’t and feel we are treated the same way by them. We’re trapped here. The imbecility is now driving into our streets, our neighborhoods. 700 pro Trumper vehicles drove through LA today and many of them were flying the flag of Israel. Why is that? Lots want to emigrate to Russia no doubt. Not all just to experience some vague notion of what they think it is. Some, if they are going to die at their own gov’ts hand, would prefer to do it defending truth.
paul on August 30, 2020 · at 9:25 pm EST/EDT

One thing omitted from the essay is the extreme schizophrenia of western (elite) behaviour.
Russia is a deadly threat to the “civilised” western countries, which could murder us all in our beds in an instant, and which rigs and controls the elections held in every country in the world. Why, even the US president is merely a KGB agent installed by the evil Putin to do his bidding!
At the same time, Russia is a ramshackle dictatorship that is falling apart. All the Russian people are yearning to overthrow Putin’s oppressive rule. The economy is falling apart because of sanctions and could collapse at any moment. The Russian armed forces are a joke, little better than a street gang. Russia is likely to disappear in a puff of smoke with just a few more sanctions.

Western leadership is the worst in its history. Arrogant, venal, corrupt, irredeemably ignorant, insufferably sanctimonious, deluded and ideologically driven. A Metternich or a Bismarck is required, and all that is available is a Trump or a Biden, together with their cringing, servile satraps, Macron, Merkel, May, Johnson.

One is reminded of the description in 2nd Timothy of men who are “lovers of themselves, lovers of money, self assuming, haughty,……not open to any agreement, slanderers, without self control, fierce, ……headstrong, puffed up with pride.”
- Katerina on August 30, 2020 · at 9:53 pm EST/EDT
  
  Thank you Paul! You said it very well.
Dick Lenning on August 30, 2020 · at 9:54 pm EST/EDT

Thank you for this informative essay, Katerina. Like you, I come here to learn and fill in the (large) gaps in knowledge that Western mainstream media leaves out. After living & working in the Middle East for two years, I saw quite a few Anglo habits that the rest of the world despises:

*Frequent interruption/interjection of people when their viewpoints do not follow your narrative;
*Belief that Western perspective is the absolute correct viewpoint, therefore they speak on behalf of humanity;
*Instead of admitting they are wrong, Westerners use “moral equivalence” arguments to show they are no worse then others.
*Emotional argumentation over logical + rational thought.

Whatever you do Katerina, do NOT compromise the best parts of your Russian soul just to “fit in” with Anglos!
- Katerina on August 30, 2020 · at 10:24 pm EST/EDT
  
  To Dick Lenning
  No chance ot that! : )
- joey_n on August 31, 2020 · at 12:24 am EST/EDT
  
  *Belief that Western perspective is the absolute correct viewpoint, therefore they speak on behalf of humanity;
  *Instead of admitting they are wrong, Westerners use “moral equivalence” arguments to show they are no worse then others.
  
  I don’t know if this counts, but after making visits to expat forums like ToyTown Germany and Expatica (where you will find English-speaking tourists and expats in continental Europe), I began to suspect that it was the case among a faction of Anglo-Americans. Members of such forums, from what I remember, tended to complain about:
  * (perceptions of) rudeness from locals
  * lack of queuing
  * people not smiling
  * (perceptions of) poor/inadequate customer service
  * people not holding doors
  * lack of English fluency
  * lack of air-conditioning and ice in drinks
  * people not saying “please” or “thank you”, let alone in the local language
  If the subject is Germany, be sure to expect references to both world wars, as if the victorious Anglos have the right to act superior.
  
  If this page is another good example of Anglo ignorance, then I can see where you’re coming from. Even the author of the linked article, Jan Petersen, is German himself (it is likely the British mentality has worked too well on him). Otherwise this would’ve been a golden opportunity to discuss the communication differences between the Anglosphere and continental Europe.
  From what I have read, Germany and Russia are two such countries where smiling is only acceptable if it’s meaningful (i.e. you’re really happy about something) or between close friends and family members. Speech is also more direct. Some have gone as far as to say that the concept of “white lies” doesn’t exist in Germany. Rumor has it that one reason Wal-Mart failed in Germany was the employees flashing fake smiles at the customers, much to their annoyance.
  Is it me, or do English-speaking countries tend to be more politically-correct than continental European countries?
  
  Among USians, what makes it worse is the long-standing indoctrination of American exceptionalism and the proliferation of Hollywood in other countries. Some American tourists were also observed asking for prices in “real money”, as if US dollars were the only ‘real money’ in the world.
  
  ~~~
  
  The English language itself is also inconsistent when it comes to spelling. The words ‘slaughter’ and ‘laughter’ do not rhyme despite one containing the other. As a native English speaker I wonder how a non-native speaker or learner can tolerate this.
  Languages like Spanish, German and Russian are relatively more consistent (what you see is what you get). They also have the added benefits of (1) grammatical gender and (2) formal-casual second-person pronouns (T-V distinction). Russian in particular has the Cyrillic alphabet, with which a word like ‘rendezvous’ is respelled as ‘рандеву’ and not ‘рендезвоус’.
  - Dick Lenning on August 31, 2020 · at 1:17 am EST/EDT
    
    Dear Joey,
    
    Thank you for your lengthy response. Please be aware that I also acknowledge the Anglo-Saxons have some good qualities; queuing/lining up is a good habit, as is please & thank you.
    
    The fact is that the Anglophone empire, which includes USA + entire Five Eyes, has been dominant for 300 years, therefore the average Anglo citizen is used to their ways being “end all/be all.” That explains why they cannot believe a non-Anglo is capable of innovation, especially of it is Chinese or Russian, thus they (arrogantly) assume the innovation was stolen from them.
  - BeliVuk on August 31, 2020 · at 1:41 am EST/EDT
    
    For me I had hell of a time with O-U-G-H words when it came to English spelling and pronunciation. It would be so simple to write the way we speak and speak the way we write.
  - Anonymous on August 31, 2020 · at 3:46 am EST/EDT
    
    Perhaps lack of ‘English fluency’ of the ‘natives’ and innate inability to speak other languages of the English play the major role in the complains against the natives. God is an English gentleman, for God’s sake.
  - Katherine on August 31, 2020 · at 11:11 pm EST/EDT
    
    “The English language itself is also inconsistent when it comes to spelling. The words ‘slaughter’ and ‘laughter’ do not rhyme despite one containing the other. As a native English speaker I wonder how a non-native speaker or learner can tolerate this”
    
    Gotta laugh!
    English spelling is a nightmare, also for native speakers. That is why we need spellchecker And editors.
    
    But I’ll say a word on behalf of English.
    Just my view.
    I am pretty fluent in German, and it took me quite a long time to get a handle on the der/die/das and the plurals. Nonexistent in English. German offers a lot of complications for an English speaker.
    
    One “problem” with English is that the grammar seems to be simple; that means that most native English speakers to not have the fundamentals to build on when learning a foreign language with a more complex grammatical structure. Which is why native speakers also make grammar/syntax errors as well as spelling mistakes.
    
    A German journalist/writer I knew who had spent a long time in the States (partly as an exchange student) and spoke very good, idiomatic US English, told me: The problem with English is that it is very easy to get started and learn the basics. But no matter how long you study it, the conviction that you really have a command of the language keeps receding in the distance. You keep encountering stuff that you just don’t understand.
    
    English is super-idiomatic—the line between idiom and “straight” language that seems to follow some rules is porous and not clear—and it also transforms itself very fast. In many cases a sentence whose meaning would be crystal clear in a language that has cases and case endings ends up being mysterious if one doesn’t catch all the nuances of word order and “Tonfall.”
    
    So, the grammar actually does end up being a challenge because so much of the official language is actually based on odd idiomatic usages. The spelling is a terrible challenge.
    
    But in other ways German/Russian/Italian/Spanish are more difficult to learn.
    
    And please, don’t tell me about Russian! The verbs!! Perfect or imperfect? Walking or traveling in a vehicle? Verb of motion or not? Action is completed or not? No articles! Aaaargh! Totally apart from the declensions of nouns—for six cases! Plus of course the adjectives. Soft or hard endings? Which case after numbers?
    Come on!
    English is easy. Stop complaining!
    One plus with Russian: After Russian, German was easy.
    
    Tschuess, Katherine
    - Katerina on September 01, 2020 · at 12:09 am EST/EDT
      
      Katherine,
      
      For your information German is the easiest language for Russians to learn. Based on exactly what you said.
      - Anonymous on September 01, 2020 · at 3:41 pm EST/EDT
        
        Hi, Katarina,
        
        I can believe it. And, once I became fluent in German and it felt natural to me I understood better what seemed like oddities in Russian, such as use of accusative after verbs of motion, etc.
        
        I haven’t given up on Russian—I love to see videos of Putin with subtitles in English; he speech is so clear, as is his thinking and general delivery, that I can catch quite a bit on the fly. But I think I’ll need total immersion in Russia to get anywhere with it. Hut ab for writing your dissertation in English!
        
        Actually, I also find the Cyrillic letters harder to read quickly than is it Latin letters? They look more the same to me. Possibly because there are no ascenders and descenders (e.g., y, p, h, g, l, etc.).
        
        До свидания, Katherine
Biswapriya Purkayastha on August 30, 2020 · at 10:00 pm EST/EDT

How did this ticket seller in Waterloo know you’re Russian? Katerina is hardly a uniquely Russian first name. And assuming you didn’t change your original surname, and assuming that’s a uniquely Russian one (not one shared with a Ukrainian or Bulgarian or Belarusian, for example), there are plenty of people with Russian surnames in the west, a lot of whom are working for anti Russian organisations.

In the St Petersburg Metro I was myself looked at more than oddly by ticket sellers. I was pulled aside at Sheremetyevo 2 to be searched and my passport and ticket examined. So what? I don’t think that’s a proof of systematic Russian anti-india attitudes.
- Katerina on August 30, 2020 · at 11:09 pm EST/EDT
  
  To Biswapriya Purkayastha
  
  It is a real pity that is ALL you got out of this essay. I suggest that you need to get out into fresh air occasionaly, take a deep breath and enjoy the sunshine and blue sky..
rob on August 30, 2020 · at 10:07 pm EST/EDT

This entire essay APPLIES EXACTLY TO CHINA, too.
- Subhuti37 on August 31, 2020 · at 12:12 am EST/EDT
  
  Agree, I have spent time in both countries and love them and theur people both.
  
  That’s because they’re actually civilized. Unlike the West.
OverripeOldy on August 30, 2020 · at 11:03 pm EST/EDT

Re Britain and control of Earth’s resources and their on-going, 500-year survey…this is some neglected history.

Note: The Hakluyt Society established in 1995 is not to be confused with the original Hakluyt team about 1595.

In late 1500’s, the English Crown realized its very survival was to be as seafaring-traders/sea-controllers and began (1) building a global navy and (2)collecting data, in earnest, of all known, global resources, first compiled by England’s 2 Hakluyts, both uncle and nephew having the same name of Richard Hakluyt.
Columbus’ 1492 voyage made clear there is a limit to Earth’s land and resources. England’s merchants took notice and advised the Crown accordingly.

The fact of finite land and resources decided England’s future existence and meant that global collection of navigation data and resource deposits was to begin, Thus, an Earth survey, by all means available, was established and run by the Hakluyts about 1595. It has never stopped.

Spies, shipping agents, ships’ captains and navigators, adventurers, scholars et al were enlisted globally to record and send the data to the Hakluyts for collection and [limited] publication to interested parties. The Hakluyts collected all raw data and printed the first volumes about 1599. [I have read several parts of the early volumes which is a bit of a struggle, because there was not yet any standard form of English spelling or grammar.]

An example of vital data : On long voyages across open ocean, lack of potable water caused entire crews to die and their ships become derelict. This was well known by occasional reports of these derelicts. Thus, sources of potable water for long voyages and the landing points for longboats to get safely ashore at “unknown” islands to collect the fresh water, had become vital knowledge by 1600. I.e., if The Crown was to have a future, it must be via a globally dominant navy.

This Earth Resource Survey led to gold-buccaneering, fleet-building [and Drake’s attempt to wipe-out competition (Spanish Armada)] on up to The East India Company and into more modern, more covert tactics, e.g. identifying control methods to ensure global control of trade routes, as choke-points, colonies, naval domination ,etc. That Earth Resource Survey and quest for control of resources has never ended.
Long-range planning was always evolving by trial and error and very covert. The small island-nation of England learned well its limitations as its Empire collapsed. Surely by the 20th Century, survival depended on correctly analyzing its failure to control that Empire. To wit: the lacking island-nation needed a giant proxy-nation to front for its Empire rebuild. Whoever might it be?

As a token reminder, the Crown’s Admiralty was secretly given the 1st workable idea to devise the atomic-bomb, by Leo Szilard about 1934, known as neutron chain-reaction , which was clearly beyond Britain’s personnel and resources to develop alone].
Alexandra on August 30, 2020 · at 11:22 pm EST/EDT

Thank you for Katerina for this wonderful essay! When I was in Moscow last year I encountered many people that were very disillusioned with the West – many thought that the western politicians were idiots. So I image today, their thoughts and understanding of the West are even more negative.

The Western establishment’s habit of racially profiling people is their weakness – they are afraid (they will never admit it!) of the “other”, the “different”. They think they are superior, better but in reality they are not, just arrogant, selfish, greedy. Your phrase: “There was only one problem. Those “bloody Russians” in the way! So, that was the start of it – fueled by greed, envy, resentment and hatred.” encapsulates these so-called western leaders perfectly!
red1chief on August 30, 2020 · at 11:56 pm EST/EDT

The real threat to Russia is not military as the author eloquently points out, but there is a monetary threat. The Empire prints money at will and somehow it still holds value, and through all these deep-pocket NGO’s infiltrates governments it doesn’t like and “colorizes” them to their liking with revolutions or made-up scandals. Look at Brazil, the Empire took it without firing a shot.

While Russia got wise to this and kicked most of them out, these NGO’s often operate quite freely on her borders.

On a side note, many more people here in the USA where I live are wise to all this anti-Russian MSM propaganda. This not only damages US-Russian relations and risks an idiotic conflict, but damages the USA as well given all this McCarthyism it has again spawned. Americans who present reasonable solutions to the many problems here are shouted down as foreign agents, of a country more are realizing is no threat to anyone.
- Eduardo on August 31, 2020 · at 2:52 pm EST/EDT
  
  Sim! Os EUA estão por trás do Golpe no Brasil! Mas muitos brasileiros sabem disso…
  —————
  Google-translate from the mod….
  “Yes! The USA is behind the coup in Brazil! But many Brazilians know this …”
Anonymous on August 31, 2020 · at 12:03 am EST/EDT

“This negative conditioning in the West towards things Russian obviously had roots at some stage”

A mess of Russians — Shakespeare, Love’s Labour’s Lost
- Katerina on August 31, 2020 · at 11:19 pm EST/EDT
  
  That brought smile to my face. My favourite Shakespeare play is “Midsummer Night Dreams”, where misunderstanding can lead to some unexpected results..
Subhuti37 on August 31, 2020 · at 12:04 am EST/EDT

Awesome, well said.
The only (tongue in cheek) disagreement I have is that the people in the West are still unwashed—–their minds are dirty from constant exposure to Western dirty lies.

Sadly, most still can’t figure this out.
- Oū Sī/區司/Osmanikoff on August 31, 2020 · at 6:03 am EST/EDT
  
  Chinese have for two hundred years thought Englishmen and North Americans (USians) smelled badly.
  I long thought this was due to drinking too much raw milk, But I (being Nordic) drink a lot of milk and no Chinese (in Mainland China) ever remarked on me being ‘smelly as a Westerner”,
  After a while I found that the cause was rather to much misuse of soap and hot water every day — showers galore!
  I only use a little soap on my body while showering once a week: Otherwise, just water (and potassium soap for the hair). Thus there is a natural balance of bacteria on my skin — and no “Western Stink”.
eddie on August 31, 2020 · at 1:02 am EST/EDT

Thank you for the interesting reflections, Katerina, and I respect your bravery by starting at the bottom and working your way up..
In this way, you will be amazed to discover the civilized world exists elsewhere, when you arrive.. Good luck..
John Campbell on August 31, 2020 · at 1:04 am EST/EDT

I read your submission with interest Katerina. I was raised in Canada by a political family. I think people underestimate the degree to which being principled is anti rewarded in the west in general. Acting on self determined values is something that scares or offends most people you might meet in Canada. There are good people here. But if you link good character up with any sort of non elitist political analysis you will be labeled a communist and driven from most social groups or places of work. The effect of keeping a whole society in fear of being labeled communists has the unfortunate effect of limiting self awareness down to the personal level… The red scare ideology has never abated.

There are serious problems with this. How does one work up an analysis of the world and social development when thinking about anything any Marxist has ever done or said is strictly off limits.
These are important and serious ideas regardless of wether you agree with any of them or not. They are an important part of history and it is not possible to make much sense of things with no real ideological background to compare new information with.

I get the sense that in Russia there is not so much of this craven world view where everything must be combed through to strip out any kind of “Marxist” terminology or analysis. One does not need to Advocate for the communist party in order to gain important perspective and also moral blueprint from leftist ideology. I think most Russians have the benefit of having had the opportunity to build a world view that can look for both positive and negative from the Marxist experiments. I had the benefit of learning about these things from a very rare position in the west. I have had a strong ideological base to work from my whole life. It is hard for me to explain what this has meant to me. Most people in the west, even really good people, are kind of rudderless. They take on assumptions that all marxists/Russians/ Chinese/Cubans are kind of evil. Agree with them or not, marxists and those influenced by there ideas truly want the world to be a better place. The assumptions that they are almost evil, is maybe the biggest moral loss the west has suffered. I know that most leftists in general mean well. Most people in this country don’t believe that. Believing that a huge part of the world are bad people causes a kind of moral and emotional retardation in otherwise clever and wise people. Once you accept it being ok to discredit this enormous section of well meaning people your view of the world becomes polluted.

I think this is the main problem of the west in general. Canada. America. They are cut off from a sense of respect for there own history of social movements and any sense of pride in that background. This is a tragic loss. I know my link to great men and women who have stood there ground in bitter conflicts. Many died. For a sense of the common good. This has been a powerful force in my life. I have had the pride and confidence to stand against almost any circumstance that seemed unjust. It has come from that knowledge of history of social movements. This is what is missing in the west. Most people are rootless. I think this may be the difference between Russians and most westerners. With out deep historical knowledge and pride in your people’s past, you become fearful and can not stand for principles.

Anyway I know few Russians. I would be interested in your feedback.
- Katerina on August 31, 2020 · at 2:28 am EST/EDT
  
  To John Campbell
  I could almost feel your anguish John. “Beliving that a huge part of the world are bad people causes a kind of moral and emotional retardation” – in that sentence you pretty much said it all. Ignorance, just sheer ignorance plays a huge part in that retardation. It is sad to see. Information that could enlighten is verbotten! You are not supposed to know the truth, only what they want you to know, hence this brainwashed mindset, which gets more and more reinforced by the constant stream of this vile garbage from the west’s MSM. Anything that threatens that narrative is shut down. We are lucky to still have few sites like this one where one can at least feel that one is not alone in his/hers thinking and understanding. Have courage and hope. That is exactly what we need. Thank you!
- BeliVuk on August 31, 2020 · at 2:38 am EST/EDT
  
  John there are too many linear thinkers in Canada, and this is due to how we were educated back in the 50;s and 60’s. As soon as linear thinkers see a picture of a Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officer wearing a turban, they do not see beyond the turban. Nor do they see the fact that in Canada, we have many freedoms guaranteed to all — to people born in the country as well as to old and new immigrants. These rights include Freedom of Religion, and the right to be considered for employment in government jobs on equal footing with others, if qualified. We have had a history where one had to be a WASP to become a police officer, school principal, or teacher. Xenophobes see religion and culture of others as a threat rather than enrichment. These people, often children of former immigrants, are like the Puritans who came to America seeking religious freedom — only to deny it to others.
  
  With whom did these attitudes and beliefs originate? The first big slice of refugees came to Canada from the United States. These were the United Empire Loyalists or Tories, the upper crust of colonial America who came after the American Revolution, with their slaves, to settle in Nova Scotia and Ontario. Between 1780 and 1830, the Loyalists were followed by the “great migration” of immigrants from the British Isles. The population push in Britain caused by the Industrial Revolution, the Enclosure Acts, and the end of the Napoleonic Wars in Europe, as well as the potato famine in Ireland forced the government in London to find new settlements for the unemployed soldiers, displaced farmers, and poverty-stricken peasants and orphans. Canada became the main destination for these displaced and disadvantaged masses. Similarly, today, those who come to our shores are fleeing war and/or poverty in their homeland, in some cases caused by our interest, as did the Scots, Irish, and English 150 years ago. The only difference to some Canadians is that the earlier immigrants were white, while the current ones are a bit tanned.
  
  This racial intolerance, which has been present since the arrival of the Europeans, can be traced to the 19th century literature of the early settlers of Canada, the Loyalists, and upper-class immigrants from the United Kingdom who believed that they were the “culture carriers” and as such should bring civilization to the backward people of the world whom the European conquerors viewed as uncivilized. This attitude was true of both the upper and lower classes from the British Isles, particularly among those who emigrated in the nineteenth century. The British aristocracy and those who supported the social structure were influenced in their thinking about people and their place in society by the French Revolution and the Romantic age, which extended in an altered form into the Victorian Era.
  
  The Victorians, as summed up in the writings of Darwin, felt that it was the white man’s responsibility (“white man’s burden”) to bring civilization to the backward races of the world. We can see that this thinking continues to this day. There are strong indications in some letters to the editor, and the discussions that follow, indications of aloofness by whites demanding respect from those who are non-white. They want some entitlement because of their ethnicity and parental contribution and their own service to country (e.g. military). Those who feel entitlement due to race see their tax dollars going down a deep hole of never-ending asylum seekers.
  
  The tax dollars that the government provides to help modern immigrants to start a new life in Canada is a drop in the bucket in comparison to the amount of tax immigrants pay in their lifetime. In the nineteenth century, help was provided for the immigrants from Ireland, Scotland, and England. In many cases, these families were very poor and the government provided them with assistance, which we also do for contemporary immigrants. The Irish, Scottish, and English immigrants did not assimilate into the Native and French culture. They replicated Old England in the New World and held onto their culture which they saw as superior to any other.
  
  The anti-Russian issues is a conservative platform. When I was a student in grade school every picture of Russian women showed them as ugly or pulling a boat up the Volga. Marx’s writings in school was ignored and if included it was preempted with some film about the gulags. Democratic socialism was always equated with Stalin’s dictatorship which was nothing more than state capitalism..
  
  Huge anti-Communism campaign begins in America to discredit unionism so anti-communism became a fight against unionization of labor. McCarthy Witch Hunts, books such as Animal Farm, One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovic, George Orwell’s 1984 were required reading in schools.
  
  Hollywood movies and TV was inundated with anti-Soviet propaganda such as I Spied for the FBI, Rocky IV, Dr. Strangelove and hundreds of others. Nations don’t have principles they have interests. We ride the coat tails of Uncle Sam and that is mainly true due to the fact that our immigrants are prominently right-wingers who fled Europe seeking freedom which is hypocrisy of the highest order as they deny it to others world over.
Paul Schofield on August 31, 2020 · at 2:23 am EST/EDT

The continuous never ending anti Russia propaganda is very tiring. The level of mindless acceptance by the wider community is very concerning in this age of nuclear weapons and the global warming threat. Add to that we are now subjected to George Orwells “two minute hate ” sessions almost daily against China. We are all required to hate Chinese people now as well. I have almost given up on humanity.
Thank you Katerina for and excellent and interesting article.
Nussiminen on August 31, 2020 · at 2:30 am EST/EDT

Wonderful as well as a truly stunning submission — thank you, Katerina.

”The so called ’opposition’ in Russia mostly survives on Soros’s grants and in Russia they even have a name for them -’sorosyata’, which roughly translates as a Soros’s little piglets. These who join them in their various protests are usually mindless youth looking for a bit of excitement.”

What’s so beautiful about this is that it underlines that, in Russia, Soros was defeated politically as well as ideologically. Indeed, Putin issued an arrest warrant for him which, fortunately, hadn’t Soros end up in Russian jail. Instead, Soros decided to turn on his home country, and it seems to be working like a charm.

”And now we have this NATO – another gang, controlled by this bully. The problem for them is that NONE of them can really fight, even as a gang and so, what we now have is a circus show, called exercises, each one with more ferocious name than the last.”

Exactly. Sure, masturbatory fantasies are pleasant to boost one’s ego. Their silly ”naming conventions” are one and the same both in warfare and lawfare, like my favourite in the latter category: DASKA — Defending American Security from Kremlin Aggression Act.

”When Tsar Peter arrived there with his entourage for their big Euro tour, they were absolutely shocked at the smell and stink of unwashed bodies, even in the palaces.”

Haha, he and his entourage had the pleasure of smelling the Euro-trash!

”I think people in the West hearing this Russophobic propaganda garbage 24/7 start believing it and start imagining that perhaps all of this is true, but remember what Goebbels, Hitler’s chief of propaganda advocated – keep repeating a lie often enough and they will eventually believe you.”

The Russophobic soundbites are wearing off, slowly but surely. The irony is that as far as the German Nazis are concerned, they learned their ”manners”, not least unashamed lying and demagoguery, from the Anglo-Americans. This code of conduct persists among the latter simply because they still haven’t experienced a resounding defeat at home at the hands of Russia’s armed forces.

”In the process he /Peter the Great/ also liberated these parts of Europe that the war-addicted Swedish King had managed to grab. Sweden still cannot forgive Russia for that.”

Not only that, but the crackpot Charles XII indeed tried to conquer Russia where his “invincible” army ended up totally routed as later on was to happen to Napoleon’s and Hitler’s armies as well. Sweden lost forever its Great Power status to Russia. The ensuing grudge was considerable among Sweden’s elites up to the beginning of the 21st century. Now it’s waning, not least due to changing demographics and the impending collapse of the neoliberal West which the grudges of old don’t address. The Swedish elites are more than happy to simply parrot the Zionazi anti-Russian slanders nowadays.

”Another bit of info that you will not find in western MSM – RF (Russian Federation) Immigration Services are inundated with applications from people in the West, including USA, (and I am not talking about expats), who want to move to Russia. These people see it as some kind of Noah’s Ark, compared to what is coming to their countries.”

I have to say that I understand them. The rot and decomposition going on right in front of us in the West is unbelievable. Still, Russia should be careful — and if it’s really a matter of inundation, then I firmly believe she is — about Western immigration.

”I was buying a train ticket at the Waterloo station in London and the ticket seller, an Englishman in his 40s, seeing my name, muttered under his breath ’bloody Russian’.”

An imbecile who nonetheless arrived at the right conclusion with regard to your ancestry based upon the spelling: Katerina.

All the best,

/Nussiminen
- BeliVuk on August 31, 2020 · at 3:13 am EST/EDT
  
  Peter and his allies did not have an easy time with Charles XII. Peter lost at Narva and several battles towards Moscow but in the end won the war and freed Denmark, Poland and Prussia . .
- Katerina on September 04, 2020 · at 8:01 am EST/EDT
  
  Soros is a Hungarian Jew and a NAZI colloborator, with blood on his hands. There will be a special place in Hell for that creature..
Alieu on August 31, 2020 · at 3:14 am EST/EDT

I liked the article overall, although there were a few minor things I disagreed with. One correction that’s important to point out is the quote that you gave from Goebbels is actually the result of Anglo-Zionist propaganda itself. When Goebbels said that, he was referring to the English press, and was accusing them of using that strategy to lie about Germany.

After the war they took the quote out of context and portrayed it as if he was bragging that he was the one lying. So ironically the English press actually proved him correct by constantly taking that quote out of context and deliberately misrepresenting what he said. With the result that many people now believe he was speaking about himself lying, rather than referring to the lies of the English media.
- Little Black Duck on August 31, 2020 · at 4:55 am EST/EDT
  
  Thanks for this, I didn’t know this but am not surprised.
  What is not understood in the west is that we essentially are the bad guys.
  Doing the work of the Devil, anyway.
  Perhaps it is the absence of, or the suppression of the Devil in Russia and China which makes them great?
  
  I find myself self censoring just as you have Katerina!
- vera on August 31, 2020 · at 2:02 pm EST/EDT
  
  Do you have a link to substantiate that, Alieu? Thank you.
Anonymous on August 31, 2020 · at 3:43 am EST/EDT

Thank you. True indeed. And very well said.
What freaks me out most these days though is ppls ignorance in general in the west. Regarding Corona and the economical slow down and also the vanishing human rights, or lets say the abolition of common sense and how ppl mostly just accept it. This is history repeating itself. Societies are changed and directed in one direction only. And ppl follow this direction almost blindly.
Mentioning this in this context is being done because of this question: what would have happened to Russia without Putin? If western servants would have remained to rule the Kremlin, would the russian soul and culture have prevailed? Would the russian statehood still exist? Arent things much more fragile than we imagine them to be? Arent ppl much more willing to suffer instead of to rise?
Gladly love has lead your way and evolved has very well educated and reflected human being.
A human trait remains though that personal opinions change over time. It would be interesting to see the changes from the 90s to today in regards to the russian politics and the country as a whole.
In todays maniacally manipulated world a spot of tradition and common sense is an anchor so thoroughly needed.
Uncle Bob on August 31, 2020 · at 3:58 am EST/EDT

The soul of the Russian people is endless. Here is an example of that I saw posted by a Russian.The English translation isn’t the best,but is understandable:

In Moscow (back in June), the hero of the Soviet Union Ekaterina Demina (Mikhailova), the only woman who fought on the fronts of the Great Patriotic in the intelligence of the Marine Corps, died. 😢😢😢 😢😢😢

Her, which has passed all 1418 days of war, since June 1941 May 1945, buried with military honors on June 27 At the same time, not a single ′′ zalpa ′′ in memory of the hero was not distributed. The rating TV programs used to discuss ′′ dirty laundry ′′ -… the twentieth series about the children of the stars changed the saga about the adventures of the cat Bari Alibasov and the poisoning of Alibasov himself.

What is the care of a 93-year-old veteran, the last woman who received a hero’s star for battles in the Great Patriotic? Katyusha, before which the marines kneeled. The one who went to the front at 15 years old because she ′′ was ashamed not to fight “. 😢😢
The same Katyusha!
Do you remember the almost symbolic story of the Russian girl Katyusha from the song of Mikhail Isakovsky and Matthew Blanther, who loved singing in the pre-war years? It was the story of a gentle, loving singing, walking on the spring bank of the spring, the fog of the river.

In a new way, the song was sounded during the Great Patriotic War. There are dozens of new options in the people. Who is the heroine of the song: and the fighter with the machine in his hands, and the loyal friend of the soldier waiting for his return with victory, and the front nurse…
The story of Katyusha Mikhailova (in the motto of Demina) is very similar to the story of her namesake from the famous song. The daughter of the commander of the Red Army, who remained in early childhood round orphaned, was raised in the Leningrad orphanage. Nine classes yes nursing courses were all her education by the summer of 1941
Brother, who served as a pilot at the border, in Brest, invited her to visit him on vacation. In the morning, after Smolensk, she was awakened by explosions: German planes bombed the train, and she first saw panic, blood and death. ′′ I still have a terrible picture in front of my eyes: the mother’s corpse is crawling through the chest. I found my chest and began to suck, – she recalled. – The surviving passengers went on foot to Smolensk. Many women carried the bodies of children with them. June, the heat, the smell is monstrous…”. The other morning the girl came to the city military office. Having added two more years to her 14-year-old, she achieved enrollment in the Red Army and sent to the front.
This is how Katyusha Mikhailova became a combat soldier of the front line. She went into intelligence, along with the infantry fire beat the enemy’s attacks, tied the wounds of comrades. In late autumn, she was seriously wounded in the leg on the far-away approaches to Moscow near Gzhatsk, and she was hospitalized. From there, I began to ask for the front again. ′′ Let’s send you to Stalingrad, on the military ship ′′ Red Moscow “, said the military. That’s how Katya got into the Navy.
– Near Stalingrad, we took the wounded – burned tanks, pilots. Sometimes they were like mummies from bandages, only eyes and mouth are visible. We fed them from a spoon (for one duty I had to care for 900 wounded), – said Katyusha Mikhailov.
After writing a letter to Stalin, she achieved enrollment in the Marine Corps. Before her, the girls were not taken there. Before departing to the front, the battalion made a 50-kilometer march-throw. By the end of the trip, Katya had a terrible swollen leg. And then a brass orchestra sent from the city towards sailors. ′′ A lieutenant approached me and said: ′′ You’re one girl, let’s dance “. When dancing, I was dark in my eyes in pain. But it was not possible to show the view. After all, I asked for the battalion herself “,-recalled Ekaterina Illarionovna. With the 369th battalion of the Marine Corps, Catherine with battles, took place on the waters and shores of the Caucasus and Crimea, Azov and Black seas, the Dniester and the Danube, on land – Romania and Bulgaria, Hungary and Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia and Austria…
Three combat orders, five combat medals… Medal ′′ For Courage ′′ – for taking Temryuk.
The order of the Patriotic War – for Kerch. Night troopers in a storm on the desert coast. A small ′′ heel ′′ of the hand-to-hand craftsman near the villages of Zhukovka and Glake. At night, girls-pilots arrived from the Taman shore on the cracking ′′ U-2 ′′ and threw the sailors of suhari and canned food. The well with fresh water turned out between German and our trenches. At night, I managed to gain water, during the day, people were tormented by thirst. And only Katya sometimes helped out sailors.
The Germans have already learned that among the sailors defending the small bridgehead, there is one girl. They even knew her name. It used to be, during the hours of calm from German trenches shouted:
– Rus sailor! Rus Ivan! Show Katyusha! Shooting is not.
Then she, leaving her machine on the brustere, took a bucket and went to the well in full height. ′′ Katya, come back! Katyusha, they will be killed!”-shouted after the sailors. But she was walking, and the Germans did not shoot, they, laughing, climbed out of the trenches, waving their hands and played on the lip harmonica: ′′ I went to the shore of Katyusha “. The girl returned with a full bucket and sang sailors…
After the liberation of Crimea, the battalion was transferred to Odessa. The storming of Belgorod-Dniester began. He was taken at night, landing from rubber boats near the cliff’s coast of the Dnestrovsky estuary. They were planted under the machine gun fire of the enemy, with the bright glow of lighting missiles. Seven rows of barbed wire were in the water off the shore, and a five-meter cliff was raised behind them, from which machine guns were built and flew into German grenades attacking paratroopers.
The first storm, dropped from the boat where Katya was located, broke up on a mine. The second one ahead of others jumped into the water. Screaming ′′ cheers!” and their unchanged ′′ halfundra!”, sailors threw wire with shinels and cloak tents. Katya was one of the first to be under the cliff. Small, sophisticated, she, clinging to the roots and branches of the bushes, quickly climbed upstairs and, bringing down the winding, dragged her comrades to her, lifted the machine gun. Then they rushed into the attack and cleared the comb of fascist machine guns. Katya received the first order of the Red Banner for this fight.
Then there were medals ′′ For the liberation of Belgrade “, ′′ For the taking of Budapest “, ′′ For the taking of Vienna “. But of all the battles, the most memorable for her is the storming of the Ilok fortress in December 1944…
Without paying attention to the wounded hand, she tied the wounded comrades. The throat in cold December water went from tree to tree, climbed the branches to the wounded and tied them to the barrel with bandages and belts so that they would not fall down (the island they planted was under water). And then again took the machine. Out of fifty paratroopers, only thirteen are left…
Katya, who has already weakened from blood loss, covered in ice water, the survivors of the paratroopers moved to a suitable boat and sent to hospital. But soon and from there escaped – to catch up with my battalion…
Katya Mikhailov was presented to the title of Hero of the Soviet Union for the fight near Ilok…
Katya met the victory in Vienna. That night they were placed in a residential room. It was rare for Katya. It was much more common to sleep under the open air, wrapped in a raincoat. Boots on your feet, so that, jumping in anxiety, be ready for battle. The machine was even on the chest at night. Right at hand, a saninstructor bag. ′′ It was 5 am hours. Heard the automatic queues. I looked – and my sailors kiss with the Austrians and shouting: ′′ Victory!” Then the round-up of me gathered: ′′ You’re already 19. Maybe you’ll marry one of us?” And I replied: ′′ Guys, you’re my my guys brothers, and marriage is forbidden “, the veteran said.

After demobilizing, Katya graduated from medical institute and worked as a doctor all her life. And when the war started in Afghanistan, again came to the military office. But there they said: ′′ Grandma, did you win yours!” She was 50. by then.

And in 2008 The veteran survived a strong moral shock – she was stolen by combat awards. Two scammers, using the gullibility of Catherine Illarionovna, under the guise of social workers, infiltrated her apartment. Couldn’t hold them. In 2010 she was awarded duplicates of orders and medals…
And we continue to be washed by Alibasovy, Buzovy, Volochkov
and also with them 😢
We are not worthy of the memory of heroes
- BeliVuk on August 31, 2020 · at 12:23 pm EST/EDT
  
  What a great story thank you. I just read https://www.novosti.rs/vesti/kultura.71.html:865285-Decenijama-nije-bio-dostupan-javnosti-Dnevnik-Lazara-Trklje—svedocanstvo-o-obracunima-cetnika-i-partizana-i-zlocinima-nad-Srbima recently published in Belgrade. For four years Lazar was always one step from death., not in battles like (Mikhailova) but battles of human endurance, dedication, vision, and sacrifice, He was executed in 1944 by the Ustase. This is a phenomenal account that is if you can read Cyrillic
random guy on August 31, 2020 · at 4:16 am EST/EDT

Thanks Katerina for your informative essay. I agree with you and i always wondered why people have difficult to understand russians or any other nation for that matter. I mean at the core, despite our nuances of different cultures, we are similar although i do like the variety. I do not want cocacola culture wherever i travel. That would not be fun. We all are humans with same core needs as you describe, so if we all go from the base, which is common to any human, then we can understand each other and definitely understand russians. I always understood russians; at least at the base of what they want, because is the same i wanted in my life. Never was a problem for me. Just some respect, the chance to make a decent living( not neccesary luxury) and chance to love and live life in way i want it. Just a normal life and not being lectured by western moralists from their high horses, specially when they cannot even provide for their own people as we see it now. Trust me i also live in the west and traveled a lot and seen a lot. And yes the west is now in its own hell in wheels, just like russians back in the 90’s. The sad thing is that this hell for western nations is just starting. Long, long way to go before it turn to the better. They just blind and think it blow over soon, but it is not like that sadly.
Again thanks for your insights on russian mentality. Very apreciated.
Little Black Duck on August 31, 2020 · at 4:21 am EST/EDT

“But what we also have in common is a common enemy that hates humanity and wants us culled (their expression) and what’s left, subjugated. So, rather than facing each other with hands in a fist, how about we direct our attention and all our energies to fighting THAT evil, the one that wants to destroy us all.”

We need to have the courage to name that enemy.
- Bro 93 on August 31, 2020 · at 10:53 am EST/EDT
  
  Correct, LBD.
  
  Synchronistically, an organization in the West does exactly that this morning, in a brief morning Lead which reads:
  
  “The greatest threat to the safety and economic prosperity of the individual American and their family is not their fellow American who holds a different political persuasion, nor is it the Chinese or Russian citizen, thousands of miles away, who shares a different culture and history. The threat we all share is the international financial and political establishment that has fleeced nations and their economies for their own gain and interests. Register for this weekend’s Schiller Institute conference.”
  
  https://youtu.be/ujh_N7LjiDc
  
  If Our Enemy is Not Each Other or Other Nations, Who is it?
  
  https://youtu.be/ujh_N7LjiDc?t=123 I cue this same video at the 2 minute mark for this encapsulation by Harley of the problem of popular ignorance and victimization by the globalist elite, “in a nutshell”:
  
  “Now what we are being told in the United States are that the problems we face are coming from Russia and China. That’s not true at all. The biggest problem we face is that since the 1970’s there has been a plan for the “Controlled Disintegration” of the world economy ……
  
  ME, aside: The Trilateral Commission in that decade literally enthusiastically promoted their genocidal wet dream as such, by name….as a positive………… for elitist (not public) dissemination in their policy “white papers”
  
  …the global financial system, that it would be broken down, that nation states would be destroyed, people would be focused on the most narrow interests, and meanwhile, over and above, a “supra-national” regime would be set up, a globalist “New World Order”….or whatever you want to call it……..that’s what’s being (ME: attempted to be…thanks to Putin primarily..with growing awareness and help…..even from more like yourselves
  within the west and “murica”….you “deniers” ….lol……I believe it is failing!) …………..put in place. And in the meantime we are being pushed into what could become a game of Nuclear Chicken.”
  
  …which Harley describes as the phenomenon of post war fifties teenage boomer ennui and boredom and existentialism causing hot rods to race toward each other in the darkness of night……the teenage driver of the one veering away first………. being considered a “chicken” or coward…..the more insane driver being hailed as a gutsy “hero”.
  
  A kind of nut job Americana variant on Russian Roulettte??? Adding homocide to suicide……lol
  
  Anyways…..a week ago I celebrated my 20th anniversary with my native of Petersburg wife…who at 56 remains quite a bit more attractive (and not just visually)…….. than most American women half her age.
  
  No brag. Just fact.
  
  I will share this fine article of Katerina’s with her today.
  
  BTW: Harley was my Best Man at that wedding at a winery at the crest of the Santa Cruz ridge….in late August, 2000.
  
  I am optimistic that the Nuclear Chicken Game CAN be called off…that the globalist “human herd” cullers CAN be put out to pasture and prevented from harming children………themselves…….or any other adults.
  
  Looking forward to it, in fact!
  
  For those of you who axiomatically rule out even the remote theoretical possibility of a Russian-American AND Chinese Alliance of sovereign nation states that within this decade COULD protect the sovereignty of ALL smaller nations from the Globalist Vampires…..please reconsider your axioms…and do some pruning.
  
  For such axioms ARE a subset of axioms …………within the Empire set of Divide and Conquer axioms.
  
  Cheers!
Roberto on August 31, 2020 · at 4:30 am EST/EDT

уважаемая, Katerina, thank you for the heartfelt article. I hope you don’t mind if I chip in with a couple of nuances that I think are necessary for your country to win the “hybrid” war waged against it.
On the word “West”: there may have been an idea of a collective West after the partition of the Roman Empire or, prior to the Reformation after the fall of our empire to the barbarians. But now… in terms of political culture the word West really means the “Anglosphere”. The rest are sheer colonies of the Anglo order. A bit like India in the days of the British Empire. We, all non Anglos of Europe and probably of Asia are a bit like those Indians in their diversity of language, faith and caste, really serving British interests.
UK and US, you know, chicken and egg, as in two different stages of the same critter. Don’t bother being anti-American if you are not prepared to be anti-British. It’s like cutting the stalk of poison ivy without yanking out the root.
On the word “partner” (another pet peeve of mine among the words usually used by Russians): There were partners sincere enough in their mindset towards Russia form Bismark to Brandt, Mattei, De Gaulle, even that sneaky scoundrel of Berlusconi was sincere in his friendship with Putin.
Here again Katerina, our problem are the Anglos and their colonized serfs. Your officers said it best (was it in the days of the Napoleonic War or the Great Patriotic War): its better to have the Anglos as enemies than as allies.
When your country called itself the Soviet Union it could count on a network of auxiliaries known as the Communist parties of the Third International, with significant political clout almost everywhere, West of the Iron Curtain, except… the Anglosphere…
дорогая Екатерина I don’t want to try to save my own (Southern European, neo-Latin-language-speaking) from the wrath they deserve if they do not engage in a serious process of decolonization, ie out of Nato or Anglo military occupation, away from the Anglo cultural invasion. What I do want is that these Anglo descendants of Barbarians not do to the Third Rome, what their ancestors did to the First.
Sincerely Yours, one son of the First Rome to one daughter of the Third Rome.
- Katerina on August 31, 2020 · at 6:10 am EST/EDT
  
  To Roberto
  Thank you for an intelligent and informative comment, which is truly appreciated.
  Here I would like to explain something with regard to word “partner” that Russian President likes to use. The meaning of the word in russian use is not the same as in the West. Here word “partner” means someone that you closely cooperate with, in russian meaning, it is just someone you discuss things with. It’s a big difference which seems to confuse western minds. : )
  - Eduardo on August 31, 2020 · at 3:56 pm EST/EDT
    
    Grato pelo esclarecimento sobre os “parceiros ocidentais”. Eu realmente cheguei a pensar que fosse uma ironia dos russos chamar os ocidentais de parceiros…😂😂😂
    ——————–
    Google-translation from the moderator:
    “Grateful for the clarification about the “western partners”. I really thought it was an irony for Russians to call Westerners partners… 😂😂😂”
    - BeliVuk on September 01, 2020 · at 6:49 am EST/EDT
      
      I have always asked myself why does Putin use the term “partner” when speaking to and about his adversaries? I think the word “partner’ is all-inclusive creating diplomatic neutrality. In order to be an effective politician you have “to be a good, complete person” who understands that his political opponents deserve respect even if he does not agree with them. I think he respects opinions of others, but he does not respect their facts which he can verify to be false. I have only seen him use derogatory words once and that was when he was speaking about the Polish government comment in reference to Russia and WWII. He said Moscow will create the most extensive collection of WWII documents, open to all persons anywhere, to once and for all “shut the filthy mouth” of revisionists and enemies of the truth.
  - Anonymous on September 01, 2020 · at 3:54 pm EST/EDT
    
    Perhaps a better English translation for partner is “interlocutor.”
    
    “one who takes part in dialogue or conversation”
    
    Of course not many Americans will not know this word.
    And who these days takes the trouble to “look it up in the dictionary!,”
    as my mother used to make us do on a regular basis.
    Even though nowadays everyone with their smartphones can very easily look up unknown words without cracking the dictionary.
    
    But I digress.
    
    Cheers, Katherine
Oū Sī/區司/Osmanikoff on August 31, 2020 · at 4:48 am EST/EDT

One small quibble with this oterwise impressive article:
The authoress writes “(…)remember what Goebbels, Hitler’s chief of propaganda advocated – keep repeating a lie often enough and they will eventually believe you.”
I believe both Göbbels and Hitler himself first uttered those words after having admired that technique of propagandizing lies in British war propaganda, and thus admired and adopted that type of hype “PR”.
Henrietta on August 31, 2020 · at 7:24 am EST/EDT

Katerina, thank you for your essay on Russia.

The word opinion stems from believe, (L , Gk, opinor), and is therefore a belief on grounds of individual merit and subject to verification, to the rigors and freedom of thinking, and thus we have free discussion threads and all manner of individual points of view.

An attitude is based on opinions and subject to our personality, most often ego centered, so we have to fight and bring these into the light of more universal truths, facts and so on, to make them relevant to all people in a freely given manner.

The word attitude itself is witness to this, as it stems from aptitude, meaning what has ability to rightfully meet any given situation.
JackJC on August 31, 2020 · at 8:28 am EST/EDT

Thank you Katerina for an excellent essay.

I’ve worked with many Russians throughout the years and found them generally intelligent, well educated and informed, with a pretty wicked (in a good way) sense of humour. No greater friends, no worse enemies.

Cheers!
Espina on August 31, 2020 · at 9:24 am EST/EDT

Thanks Katerina, great essay and I’m proud and happy that you enjoyed your stay in Scotland.
In the spirit of St Andrew 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
david on August 31, 2020 · at 9:50 am EST/EDT

Good article and comments. Hope this is not off the subject but I would like to say I’ve been rooting for Russian success for 15 years now. I had the fortune to visit Russia twice 3 and 4 years ago, Saint Petersburg, Moscow, Sevastopol, with a side trip to Minsk and Brest. Short trips, but just enough to instill a desire to enjoy the culture which is lacking in my area of the west. The gentleman above reminds of what may be the ultimate immersion in Russian life: The Trans Siberian Railroad, an odyssey I hope not to miss. Renewing my Russian visa is not a problem in comparison to attempting travel with the Covid 19 scam, destruction of the airlines with lockdowns, social distancing, and soon forced vaccinations required for permission to travel? Now we in the USA are faced with surviving a possible civil war. Elites want to “reset” the world financial system at our expense. The West is bankrupt, the future is in the east.
Craig Mouldey on August 31, 2020 · at 9:57 am EST/EDT

This was a very enjoyable article to start my day. Thank you for sharing this Katarina. I sat thinking of my much younger years when I didn’t know anything about the world. I remember as a young guy wondering why the U.S. and the west and the Soviet Union always seemed to be on opposing sides. I probably assumed, but don’t really remember, that it was the fault of the Soviet Union, aka Russia. After all, this was the west where freedom reigns. I’m almost laughing after typing that last statement.
I’m very happy and comforted to know that there really is no threat of Russians becoming bewitched by the bling offered by the west. You mentioned one saying from Hitler’s propaganda minister I think: If you tell a lie once, it remains a lie. But if you tell a lie a thousand times, it becomes the truth! There is another quote those in this bastion of free west need to ponder. This was said by the CIA director, William Casey back in the 80s. “We’ll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false”.
Everything was lovely, apparently, in my propagandized mind until 9/11! When the official story started to unravel an entire cascade of lies and deceit started to appear. This is the foundation of the west: lies and deceit. And while there are good people there who see through it all, there is a large percentage who are still under a spell. It’s the same in Canada because the same power controls us.
If I was able to right now to live in any country I choose, it would be Russia. President Reagan was mistaken though it didn’t appear so at the time. The shining beacon on the hill is not the U.S. It turns out to be Russia.
- Craig Mouldey on August 31, 2020 · at 12:50 pm EST/EDT
  
  And I spelled your name incorrectly. No doubt too early and not enough coffee. Forgive me.
- J-P (Jean-Pierre) on September 02, 2020 · at 5:51 pm EST/EDT
  
  Mr. Mouldy,
  
  Thank you for all of your wonderful comments, amongst many others, almost all equally thoughtful and informative, these past few years I have followed The Saker. Every time I am tempted to comment (not often really as there are many more informed readers who state my thoughts more eloquently) I wait first to see if you (as a fellow Canadian) haven’t already said it. Being of a very similar age (I believe you’ve mentioned 66yrs, I’m 60) we also seem of like minds as the comment above particularly highlights for me. Cheers.
Pamela on August 31, 2020 · at 10:20 am EST/EDT

Katerina – thank you for your essay – well written and informative, a pleasure to read.

I just wanted to add my own words to those of others, from a perspective tat might resonate with you. Please, dont think that the nastiness of “bloody Russian” you received is purely because you are Russian.

They – this type of English – have a problem with anyone they see as “different”. I grew up and went to school in England, but I’m not English. I am what they call “Welsh”, or Cymraeg. I too, when it was learned, got “Oh, bloody Taffy are you”? A Taffy is an old word for a thief – which the Saxons, who invaded our land, drove us into the Western mountains, and proceeded to desecrate in order to steal our coal for their Industrial Revolution, decided to label us.

However, I also speak English with what is called a “Received English” accent. i.e. I have no regional dialect. This got me labelled a “snob, thinks she’s better than anyone else;” and mimicked mercilessly.

It’s been one of the pleasures of now living in Ecuador, as it was for the 9 months I lived in Russia – neither my nationality nor my speaking voice matter a damn to anyone !! :-)

So – take heart. You were not alone. :-)
- William Williams on August 31, 2020 · at 10:34 pm EST/EDT
  
  The English, as we all know, are Best:
  
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vh-wEXvdW8
  - Pamela on September 01, 2020 · at 5:59 am EST/EDT
    
    Lol. They were a brilliant duo, weren’t they? Nobody like them around now, sadly.
    
    It’s interesting, isn’t it, that that “We English are so much better than anyone else {as Cecil Rhodes put it, “to be born English is to win the lottery of life”}, that it was the subject of a satirical song. Like all good satire, it has it’s kernel of truth, and many sharp stabs from reality.
    
    Thanks for that, – good to find something to laugh at at 4.30 a.m. :-)
jose castaño on August 31, 2020 · at 10:31 am EST/EDT

Good afteernoon,

It’s also important let you know… better say: let know the people in Rusia that ¨the people in the world don’t hate them¨..
what do I mean…
I’m Catalan, I travelled in Rusia, in Ukraina, I’ve been in khavarovsk, in Baikal, I was in Moscow in 91 , in august.. since then I’ve cried a lot for the rusky narod.. I love them-you, I know them-you, I have several friends..
When you’re in Catalunya politician and the media they tell you : people in Madrid hate us, in Andalucia also..
when you’re in Madrid there they tell you: Catalans hate us, when you live in Bilbao, you make jokes on the people who lives in Donosti: when you live in Donosti you make jokes on the people of Bilbao..
But when people have the posibility to know each other… then… everything changes..
It’s true, non stop media and the mediocrity of our so called politicians are blaming everything on russians, on B.B.Putin.. but we are not idiots, at least, not all….
And as you say, we all want the same, love, a family, a roof, a live to live the best with the beloved… the rest, the rest is… murder…..
Charles on August 31, 2020 · at 10:47 am EST/EDT

Katerina,
A welcome essay in the age of insanity. I was raised on a farm in Illinois and taught to fear/hate Russians from an early age. I found myself in Berlin, a cog in the American military machine, defending the free world in the early 1960s. I traveled to East Berlin occasionally, both recreationally and as part of my military duties, so had occasion to meet some of those terrible Russians.
Imagine my shock to discover that the Russian soldiers were open, friendly, and actually human. We were able to communicate in German and they were mostly interested in trying our cigarettes and taking pictures. Some even ask if we had any Playboy magazines. Twenty five years of indoctrination destroyed in one afternoon.
As far as Russian Immigration Services being inundated with applications, if I wasn’t so old I’d be one of them. Though Russians probably think of them as rats fleeing a sinking ship.
If allowed a small criticism of your writing, it would be that you were generous to a fault in not speaking of the greed and outright evil existent in the western “leadership:”.

Charlie
Tom Barros on August 31, 2020 · at 10:54 am EST/EDT

Спасибо большое
Very Nice explanation…
Stop Empire Anglonazisionistawahhabi
Anonymous on August 31, 2020 · at 11:14 am EST/EDT

I am also Czech. I think that if the Czech policy is forgiveness and reconciliation with the Germans, we should have the same view of the CCCP and I think of the socialist regime in our country. Anti-Russian and anti-communist propaganda has a purpose ….. It is necessary to know the past but not to be limited. The future is in cooperation, friendship.
Dr Livci on August 31, 2020 · at 11:20 am EST/EDT

As an American who has been lived in Russia about a year now I hope I can stay the rest of my life. Having lived in England for 5 months and most my life in the US I haven’t the slightest clue why any Russians would pick either country over Russia.

I really can’t say I miss anything about the Anglosphere. It’s true that Russians smile less but in practice they are more helpful and patient (except in traffic) than Anglos. Cheap food here would be considered expensive healthstore quality in my native California. You see ethnic Russian children all over the place where I live, in my old neighborhood good luck spotting any White Americans under 40. You can buy excellent designer quality clothing for dirt cheap made in Belarus and Russia, stuff that would be about 8 or 9 times as expensive in the US and only available at Nordstrom. Gas is cheap, I had an injury that required several trips to the hospital and it cost me less than 50$ for all the treatment and checkups. In the US I would have been out a few grand probably for lesser quality treatment and longer waits.

It’s not just economics either, I know wherever I go here I’m pretty much safe, I’ve seen acts of everyday kindness that would absolutely never happen in the US or America. For example I’ve seen fruit vendors give old lady’s free fruit if they come up short at the register, or guy who works at a concession stand at a park gave a bunch of kids free popcorn. In the US this would have been literally thrown away before given to anyone for free. Than there are the gorgeous churches you see everywhere, sadly they are mostly empty but still they are a great sight compared to the ugly architecture and bill boards all over my old home town.

You also see very young kids playing alone in large groups in all the apartment courtyards, Russians leave their bicycles and sleds unlocked in all the building courdoors because everyone knows the kids are safe and so are people’s possessions. Also another big difference here is that people generally don’t hate the site of the police. Here the police are not perceived as simply annoying system lackeys looking to give you tickets for petty infractions. No one worries about having to bow to Africans in the street, their kids meeting trannies at the library, etc etc.

I could go on with stiff like this forever. God willing I can make this my permanent home. Simply for the sake of balance I’ll throw in the only 2 negatives that spring to mind, Russian roads are awful outside the big cities and Russians aren’t as scrupulous about cleaning up after their pets as upper middle class Americans or brits. That’s it.
Sandra Hassan on August 31, 2020 · at 12:05 pm EST/EDT

I have always been fascinated with Russian history and culture and had the opportunity to travel there and with luck will go back sometime. Much of what this writer has said, including history,is credible, including American exit to safer grounds which I read occasionally from different views. I first became aware of this exit when I was visiting a Central American country and spoke to Americans who left. I am also aware of Americans wanting safer countries for their families in Russia but Russia is becoming difficult to go to. Putin impresses me as very intelligent and capable but let us not overlook, he is no angel. Yes, I fully agree and have deep concerns for the future of USA, this wonderful country that is going down the drain. Read enough different books and you piece the puzzle together. I see people fleeing from major cities and purchasing land for outrageous prices in remote areas for protection. Unfortunately, they created these problems, have little or no insight and take their warped thinking with them. Another misfortune is Americans believe all the dangerous propaganda being peddled on media and they will fight to defend the nonsense. I have also become fully aware how so called experts abuse their professional stances by saying things not truthful, including God. OK, so you are agnostic or atheist, I respect that but don’t ridicule me for thinking something else. USA is becoming a scary place that I no longer recognize and I believe we are to far advanced to turn back and what is worst, Americans are sleep walking
- siljan on August 31, 2020 · at 12:57 pm EST/EDT
  
  Articles like this is why I check out The Saker website on a daily basis. Thank you Katerina! Your contribution will go to to my ‘save file’. Here are a couple of quotes from this file that I think is appropriate to your ‘Relentless march’. It sums up, better than I could, one of the main points for me, about Russia:
  
  “Christianity in Russia has always been more authentic than the American’s Christianity, which quite naturally led to two different dead ends — prosperity theology and pop culture nihilism — both of which are fairly compatible with the mood of Zionism. The individualism, love of money and constant elections endemic to American self identity also weakens it against viral infections such as AIPAC. When was the last time Putin had to kiss someone’s ass to pay for disingenuous mass media marketing campaigns? Such behavior is basic to the American politicians’ (I won’t call them “leaders”) way of life.
  
  I think you can see a difference between American and Russian Christianity in the way it has influenced the national self image. America’s messianic historical mission has largely revolved around the Monroe Doctrine, Manifest Destiny (a strange kind of New World Zionism no less hypocritical than the Old World variety) and an holier-than-thou exceptionalism hell bent on spreading its ideal of “freedom.” It is just such empty Western concepts such as “freedom” that many Russian intellectuals in the 19th century saw the faith, mysticism and tradition of Mother Russia, and especially its long suffering, mythic peasantry, as being a bulwark against, and ultimately a savior of.”
  
  http://dxczjjuegupb.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/ollies-macbookuserso-richdownloads18342146_11.jpeg
Marie Genko on August 31, 2020 · at 12:41 pm EST/EDT

Thank you for your article.
I agree to most of the ideas and facts you described here.
Please remember that nothing is won for ever.
And if Russia has been successful in most (but not all) of the wars, she had to fight, the price for victory was often a terribly heavy one.
Who can forget the 27 millions lives that were the cost of WWII ?
I totally aggree with your conclusions.
If Humanity wants to survive it is time to face the darkness of our nature.
This evil part of mankind that wants to destroy as many as possible of us.
As an Orthodoxe christian, I believe that only prayer for God’s mercy can help us to change despair into Hope and Darkness into Light…
Zidar on August 31, 2020 · at 1:04 pm EST/EDT

Mighty NATO trainingsomewhere in Europe, close to Russian borders. Putin and Shoygy are in danger of dying from laughter.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvJdw_s8qh4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soQulLVbZyI
M. Kazerani on August 31, 2020 · at 1:12 pm EST/EDT

wonderful essay Katerina. send you my warmest greetings. didn’t expect such a thoughtful piece of writing at this time in our common human history. your thoughts could really change the world’s destiny. by the way it shows how well educated people from the former USSR are. please continue writing more essays.
Crazyczar on August 31, 2020 · at 1:26 pm EST/EDT

Dear Katerina,

Although Russia has made great strides and is beginning to resemble the Russia you portrayed in your article. Unfortunately, it is not as you describe it.

I recently returned from Russia, visiting Moscow, St. Petersburg, Ufa, Saratov, Kazan, and Togliatti. What you describe applies largely to Moscow and St. Petersburg. Once outside the two major city centers, the “Real Russia” begins. Unlike the two largest cities, the infrastructure is not at “Western” standards. Not even close! Roads between mid-small sized cities In some areas resemble 19th century Russia. City sidewalks and parks are in shambles. The disparity of old towns and newly built construction couldn’t be any stark. There is no city planning to speak of.

While visiting Ufa and Saratov hot water service was turned off for weeks at a time. The public transportation, while adequate, was old and smelly, spewing black exhaust fumes. In some cities its hard to breath due to air pollution from trucks, buses and autos.

Yes, Russia has made great strides since the collapse of the Soviet Union, however, it still has a long way to go to catch up to German or Swiss levels. Hopefully, Russians will elect a young motivated patriot as the next president who will defend Russia and make it an economic as well as military powerhouse it should be.

With the wealth of resources both natural and human Russia should be in the top 3 economies in the world.

For the record, I immigrated from Russia in late 70s, I speak, read, and write as a native and visit relatives in Russia every two or three years.

Respectfully,

Crazyczar
- Andalusian Musician on August 31, 2020 · at 3:38 pm EST/EDT
  
  Well Russia is still recovering from the disease of shock therapy. 1990’s were terrible.
  
  https://yasha.substack.com/p/america-and-russia-in-the-1990s-this-096
  
  In 1990’s, United States arrogantly kicked Russia to the curb and robbed it. Like Master and hapless slave! And bragged about it with no shame. It takes some time, particularly in the face of hostility from the west to fully recover. But at the very least efforts are being made. In the west, especially in the US no effort is made whatsoever!
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdvJSGc14xA
  What is America’s excuse? The supposedly wealthiest, affluent nation in history. And supposedly the most powerful, with trillions of dollars on war and “defense” spent, or more appropriately wasted cannot fix its infrastructure? Well even the third world countries are not as bad as this!
  American propaganda loves to portray Russia as weak, with GDP size of Italy, less than 1/10 military spending. And yet somehow we are told this country “interfered” in US elections. I have to say that I do not buy into this at all. First of all Russia has no interest or intention, second of all Putin stated that it does not matter who sits in the white house. My third and final point is this: Even if Russia interfered as these Intelligence agencies claim, I want to ask a question: What does it say about American Intelligence officials and defense? It demonstrates utter incompetence.
  After all Russia is so much weaker than US, according to US officials. Is it not??? Late Senator John McCain called Russia “Gas station masquerading as a country”, and yet Russia managed according to Intelligence influence one of the most important events in America. Choosing a face of America for 4-8 years! If this is true, US is not as powerful as propaganda portrays. Clinton, and establishment are making themselves a laughing stock, and are very dumb, and just cannot do their job properly, and were clearly asleep at the wheel. After all according to American government officials Russia is a “shithole”. US wastes 100’s of billions annually on so called “defense”, and what do they got to show for it????? That they so incompetent. This propaganda fails test of logic!
  
  In conclusion, I will say this: there will come a day when having a faithful ally will be something that America will cherish above anything in this world! Once the world turns its back on US. American people: Wake up!
  
  I think we need to retire “western standards”. West is not a gold standard for the world!
  
  http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/52205.htm
  
  The West Oppressed the Third World for So Long It Became the Third World Itself by Andre Vltchek
- Katerina on August 31, 2020 · at 5:17 pm EST/EDT
  
  To Crazyczar,
  My dear friend, please understand that Russia has been rebuilding itself for ONLY the last 20 or so years, after the unimaginable devastation. What Russia went thru in 90s would not be survivable for many lesser countries. So, please give it a chance, it’s just the beginning. : )
  - Anonymous on August 31, 2020 · at 8:32 pm EST/EDT
    
    Dear Katrina,
    
    I wholeheartedly agree with you regarding the deep hole that Russia had to climb out of.
    
    What I am referring to is the lost decade of 2010-20. When oil prices were above $80 p/b. Putin should’ve pumped as much money as he could in infrastructure.
    
    The main reason the U.S. became economic powerhouse is the Eisenhower’s interstate highway system. It allowed commerce to flourish.
    
    Putin’s military rebuild was the correct path. Now it should be all about the economy.
    
    I’m hoping that one day It is Russia the is the shining beacon on the hill.
    - Katerina on August 31, 2020 · at 10:10 pm EST/EDT
      
      To Anonymous
      
      That is EXACTLY where VVP is concentrating his efforts now. First, he had to PROTECT his country.
      After all Rome wasn’t build in a day..
Larchmonter445 on August 31, 2020 · at 1:41 pm EST/EDT

Katerina,

Your comments here are always cogent and informative. And now, this elegant essay—.

You represent the Russian civilization well, and bring Russian culture and education with grace.

How do we in the West meet up with Russia? Through its literature, music, cinema and newsreel footage of wars. If we are lucky, we meet real Russians or get the chance to befriend some in a virtual plaza like the Vineyard.

It is splendid to read your essay. I’ll be sending it to friends and relatives. It is a primer, warm, scented with an offering of friendship, and classically Russian, elevated above the storm and dust of the Infowar and libels in the news, media and in the history books.

спасибо
- Katerina on September 03, 2020 · at 10:52 pm EST/EDT
  
  Thank you. One comment in particular that I wanted to see was to be from you! Appreciate it!
James Wood on August 31, 2020 · at 1:53 pm EST/EDT

Sounds like he has nailed the basic point. There is an evil in the world that wishes humanity dead. Currently it occupies the Western governments. This is fortunate because one must first identify an enemy before you can fight him. Yet you have to fight him in the end. I think war is coming no matter how many would prefer to avoid it.

Both domestic repression and foreign aggression are growing. The governments of the West ever more clearly stand out as the source of the trouble both to domestic populations as well as to nonwestern governments abroad. We face a situation of the Western governments against the rest, both populations and governments.

If the clarity of this identification grows then the Western governments may yet isolate themselves sufficiently to allow effective action against them. Perhaps everyone outside these governments will eventually unite against them as the common enemy.
Nussiminen on August 31, 2020 · at 2:38 pm EST/EDT

”Lots of them, having seen the West’s insane, reckless and criminal behavior such as what it has done to Ukraine, hysterics regarding Crimea going back to Mother Russia, MH17 hideous crime, made-up Scripal garbage, expulsion of Russian Diplomats, criminal seizing of Russian diplomatic property, endless sanctions and relentless demonization of Russia and it’s President – feel it’s enough to start a war!”

Absolutely justified reaction. So much mendacity, imbecility, and depravity on display to conclude — seriously — that the Soviets were right: Bourgeois ideology merits mental hospitalization, especially of the West’s ruling circles and what passes for the ”intelligentsia”. When Russia has strong, perspicacious leaders such as Stalin and Putin, the West’s ”leaders” and vassals are seen for the mental and moral midgets that they are.

”No, Russia does not consider NATO a big threat. Just a nuisance.”

This is the one and only passage that I have to (slightly) take issue with. While of course NATO is rotten to the core fleecing the taxpayers by purchasing military junk, it is first and foremost committed to continued imperialism. Thanks to the neoliberal putrefaction — wholeheartedly at its own discretion — the West has lost its erstwhile productive and fiscal base. So now it has no other means to sustain its ”post-industrial” parasitism than plunder and war. Russia and China had better take action.
- Katerina on August 31, 2020 · at 5:33 pm EST/EDT
  
  To Nussiminen
  You must have heard of the one very wise saying – why disturb your enemy when it’s destroying itself?
  - Nussiminen on September 01, 2020 · at 4:23 am EST/EDT
    
    Sure I have, Katerina. And this is why I laud Putin both for the arrest warrant against Soros (it was immensely popular!) as well as the results achieved: the swine correctly decided to stage colour revolutions at home instead — with far more impressive results. The nonsense with NEXTA, BHL, and the silly housewife in Belarus underlined the point further still.
Serbian girl on August 31, 2020 · at 3:14 pm EST/EDT

You’ve gotten so many great comments here Katerina, well done and well deserved!

What I wanted to tell you regarding your run-in with the English ticket seller…my own feeling about Westerners is that many are kind people, and negative reactions are sometimes due to them being in a bad situation. These every day people have no control over their government and they are being robbed blind by their central banking system (as we all are…lol).

I am very critical towards the educated elites, the so-called intellectuals of the West …their arrogance & moral superiority is used to justify the crimes of their government. They hide their racism behind a thin veneer of ultra political correctness…they have some sort of crazy messiah-complex that fuels their irrational zeal for “humanitarian” interventions. The problem in the West lies with these people…

These “intellectuals” do not just hate the people in other countries, they even hate their own… hence their disdain for the Deplorables, Brexiteers and Yellow Vests.
Ann Watson on August 31, 2020 · at 3:33 pm EST/EDT

Not a word about Israel. I don’t get it though. Israel has all US high technology because Bill Binney’s work was privatized and then sold on the ‘free market’ – and Russia is best buddies with Israel because of millions of Israelis have also Russian passports – so why are US and Russia fighting ? I think its a plan by the ‘deep Israeli state’ that the humans in each country think they are at cold-cultural-war but in reality its all a scam. That’s the only conclusion one can come to
- Tyson B on August 31, 2020 · at 7:22 pm EST/EDT
  
  In WWI people from majority-Christian nations which fought and killed people from other majority-Christian nations, an estimated 17,000,000 were killed
  
  in WWII (except for Japan’s invasions & occupations in E. & S-E Asia) people from majority-Christian nations which fought and killed people from other majority-Christian nations, an estimated 55,000,000 – 60,000,000 were killed.
  
  Since the 1991 collapse of the USSR, (now for almost 30 years!!!) across N. Africa and the Mideast, people from majority-Christian nations have been fighting & killing people from majority-Muslim nations.
  
  Cui bono? (Who benefits?)
  
  Regards
  - Ann Watson on September 02, 2020 · at 12:16 am EST/EDT
    
    haha – yeah – not funny stats but funny comment for some reason. Thanks Tyson
Jean-Marie on August 31, 2020 · at 7:26 pm EST/EDT

Comments from a person who only has “attitudes” since I’m far from having the depth of your analysis, but I can say for a guy who plans to go to Russia next summer – if travellings are allowed- your text is just wonderful. Will keep it, naturally, and even savor it many times to have a significant in-depth perception of your country.
Kouros on August 31, 2020 · at 10:04 pm EST/EDT

“RUSSIA, a nation that NEVER lost a war”

I think this is quite debatable. Starting with the Kievan Rus, destroyed by Cumans and Pecenegs and other Turkic origin tribes. There are songs and legends about it.

Then there is the Mongol invasion that for some hundreds of years made Russians vassals to the Khans.

And there were quite a few other fights and wars that Russia, as a nation, lost. To Poles, to European alliances (Crimean War), to Japanese, First World War, and lastly to the Afghan Mujaheddin. And then they lost the ideological war, when their sclerotic leadership called it quits.

I am not trying to antagonize here, just to show that Russians also knew how to loose a war.

I have profound admiration for the immense sacrifices the Russian (Russians, Ukrainians, Belorussians) people made during WWII, destroying the mighty German Military. The Western Front is basically an afterthought, that in its entirety cannot be compared with Stalingrad…

However, Russia was an Empire and has subjugated populations and nations, and for this deserves similar buckets of poo that French, English, Spanish, Dutch, Portuguese, Turks, US are getting for their colonialist, imperialist past. While President Putin decried the dissolution of USSR, I think many people rejoiced. Nationality was always stronger than Ideology. I give Mr. Putin the benefit of the doubt, because I truly admire him, that he in fact decried the separation of Slavic population within USSR and the fate of Russians not in the Federation.

Coming from a nation persecuted for centuries by the imperialistic designs of Russia/USSR, I can say that national pride is not necessarily bigger or should be proportional to the size of the country… People being the same, that pride is as big in a Norwegian as in a Russian.
- Katerina on August 31, 2020 · at 10:28 pm EST/EDT
  
  Re Kouros
  
  Here is exactly such troll like creature that I have mentioned at the beginning of my essay. Encapsulates it.
  - Kouros on September 01, 2020 · at 12:40 am EST/EDT
    
    Katerina,
    
    I truly believe that The Saker squirmed in shame at your pathetic response.
    
    First, nothing that I have stated in my posting is false. You, in your submission, fast-forwarded over the entire expansionist era in Russian history, both west and east. That was empire at its worst in many instances and had nothing to do with Russian National defense. I have yet to see a half mouthed admission from all like you praising Russia, that there were nations that suffered under the Russian yoke. One reads Tolstoy’s monumental “War and Peace” and encounters lamentations on how Polish peasants multiply faster than the Russian encroachments can cope with…
    
    In the Russo-Turkish war of 1877-78, Russia allied itself with Romania and after it defeated the Turks in Bulgaria, it started chasing the Romanian King all over southern Romania in order to extract territorial concessions from Romania as well, country that was presumably allied with.
    
    So the trolling you refer to might apply to other individuals and posts, but definitely not to my posting. Next time when you post something be more carefully what you write, because it might bite you back and “troll, troll!” is a shameful answer.
    
    I will close with a 150 years or so old poem from the old country, in which the Russians are not held at high esteem:
    
    Doina by Mihai Eminescu
    
    From Tisa to the Nistru’s tide
    All Romania’s people cried
    That they could no longer stir
    For the rabbled foreigner.
    From Hotin down to the sea
    Rides the Muscal cavalry;
    From the sea back to Hotin
    Nothing but their host is seen;
    While from Dorna to Boian
    Seems the plague has spread its ban;
    Leaving on our land a scar
    That you scarcely know it more.
    Up the mountains down the dale,
    Have our foes flung far their trail.
    From Sacele to Satmar
    Only foreign lords there are;
    While Roumanians one and all
    Like the crab must backwards crawl.
    And reversed is everything:
    Spring for them is no more spring,
    Summer is no longer summer,
    They, at home, the foreign comer.
    From Turnu up to Dorohoi
    Does the alien horde deploy
    And our fertile fields enjoy.
    With their rumbling trains they come
    Making all our voices dumb,
    And our birds so much affray
    That in haste they fly away.
    Nothing now but withered thorn
    Does the Christian’s hearth adorn.
    And the smiling earth they smother;
    Forest-good Romanian brother –
    You too bend before their tide,
    And the very springs they’ve dried.
    Sad is this our countryside.
    
    Who has sent them to these parts,
    May the dogs eat out their hearts;
    May the night their homes efface,
    And with them this shameless race.
    Stephen, mighty emperor,
    You in Putna reign no more.
    While his holy Prelacy
    Guards alone the monastery,
    Where the priests in fervent prayer
    Of the saints take pious care.
    Let them toll the bells away,
    All the night and all the day,
    And the gracious Lord invoke
    That he come and save your folk !
    Stephen rise up from the ground,
    And your battle trumpet sound
    All Moldavia gathered round.
    Blow your trumpet just one blare,
    All Moldavia will be there;
    Let your trumpet blazed two
    That the forests follow you;
    Let your trumpet blazed three,
    That our foes demolished be
    From the mountains to the sea,
    That the crows may hear their knell
    And the gallows-tree as well.
    - Katerina on September 01, 2020 · at 1:15 am EST/EDT
      
      Kouros
      
      Against my decision to not answer twice to provocative and troll like comments here is what I would like to say to you: get a life..
      - BeliVuk on September 01, 2020 · at 7:29 am EST/EDT
        
        Katerina he provides evidence and forget the Russo Turkish Wars where Russia freed most of the Balkans from the Ottomans. Congress of Berlin decided the future of Roumania and Istanbul. His epic poem is understandable and well written as is THE BALLAD OF IVAN PETROFSKY SKEVAR https://lyricsplayground.com/alpha/songs/a/abdulabulbulamir.html
        
        Invaders of Russia
        
        Vikings
        Mongols-several wars
        Teutonic Knights
        Swedes-several wars
        Poles-several wars
        Turks-several wars
        Britain-several wars
        France-several wars
        Germans-several wars
        Japanese-two wars
        USA Canada, Britain France
        Cold War
        
        Fought 392 Battles Won 297
        
        FOR 250 YEARS OF THE EXISTENCE OF RUSSIAN regular army of the 392 battles that in which Russia fought Swedes, Poles, Iranians, French Germans Turks, Poles, Tatars, Finns, Caucasians, Japanese, Chinese, Austrians, Hungarians, British, Italians, Central Asians, Americans 279 were won by RUSSIAN TROOPS.
        
        Lost three of the thirty-four wars
        
        1. CRIMEA 1865
        2. RUSSIAN-JAPANESE 1904-05
        3. Polish-Soviet 1920. Lost parts of Ukraine Belorussia and the Baltic States
        
        Katerina on September 01, 2020 · at 8:52 am EST/EDT
        
        Crimea is now once again part of Russia, which was won in hard war against OttomanEmpire. Japan has been defeated and Kurills Islands are Russian, as for Poland, it was also defeated and was pushed back into much smaller borders and not only that, at one time it was even part of Russian Empire. As for Ukraine, Belorussia and Baltic states – those became republics of the great USSR. Please read the history properly.
        
        Kouros on September 01, 2020 · at 11:47 am EST/EDT
        
        The Baltic States, or Moldova, were re-occupied again after WWII. They didn’t join willingly USSR, or Russia for that matter, there wasn’t a Plebiscite / Referendum to seek that… It was done under threat of death, with a gun at their heads.
        
        What is so hard to recognize this simple truths? That Russia got so big by conquest. Germany got big by the unification of tens and hundreds of little independent entities, with prodding from Prussia, of Germans. Russia didn’t get this big by bringing together all the Slavs that were out there.
        
        Maybe you should study your Mother country’s history a bit better…
        
        BeliVuk on September 01, 2020 · at 1:14 pm EST/EDT
        
        I enjoyed your article. I have read history extensively and I can see in the comments that others have read it as well. You seem to read Russian history through what we call in the West “rose-coloured glasses.” The information that I provide above was presented here on the Saker by a Russian Historian Dmitry Orlov in a very extensive article dealing with Russian experience when it comes to military history. Look for it, it will illuminate you. You seem to see Russian history (events) as a Potemkin Village which is a disservice to an otherwise great article that you wrote.
        Yes, we can trace the conquerors of Crimea from generation to generation including Mikhail Kutuzov defeat of the Turks and Potemkin’s construction of the port of Sevastopol and the gift of Crimea to Ukraine by Khrushchev but you cannot separate the part from the whole which the present Kiev government is doing and you are falling into the same trap.
        
        The West would love to partition Russia to what it was like when the Slavic tribes occupied the Pripet Marshes, From the Vikings to the present, Russia expanded by defending its territory. The Slavs, once occupied the land west of the Urals to and including Berlin which was a Slavic village but geography, wars and religion divided them and now many are reinventing their own origin to suit their myths.
        
        Katerina on September 01, 2020 · at 3:09 pm EST/EDT
        
        I am not looking at Russian history thru “rose-coloured glasses”. When country loses some war it also loses some territory or some soveregnity, or both. Russia throughout it’s history has lost neither! In fact it gain some territory in reparations from wannabe invaders. That is how I see it.
        
        BeliVuk on September 01, 2020 · at 5:00 pm EST/EDT
        
        I tend to side with Orlov, and with some of your detractors here. Russia lost Alaska as a result of the Crimean Wars not because the Tsar, as some historians suggest, had to settle a Monte Carlo debt. You think Afghanistan was a victory? Do you think Kiev was a victory when Batu Khan destroyed the forces of the Rus vassals? Yes (Ivan the IV, Great, Terrible) did a number on the Kazan Khanate and opened the gates into Siberia but there were many losses before. You think that Trotsky won when Russia gave up huge areas on its Western border. You think that the Battle of Tsushima was a win? Do you think that the recent breakup of USSR was a win or does this nullify all the other past victories and land gain while defending the homeland?
        
        Katerina on September 01, 2020 · at 6:58 pm EST/EDT
        
        BeliVuk
        
        For a while I was debating with myself – do I bother to reply to this your last comment or not. Well, first of all the only detractor I see here is one “Kouros”. He is one of these west europeans, with an obvious and hard-wired anti-Russian mindset. I did not bother to discuss anything with him. You, on the other hand, did provide some informative comments, but with this one, you, unfortunately, got to the stage, where one has lost the ability to “see the wood for the trees”. Yes, it’s always tempting to show off your “knowledge” on some subject, in your case I take it’s Russian history. Dmitry Orlov’s informative piece on it, which you seem to use as an example, wasn’t in the slightest denigrating Russia’s military archivements or Russia itself. Dmitry, like me, loves the country he was born it. Some things are not perfect, but that’s life. Your approach to this Russian history is detached and therefore dry and souless. Yes, you know the various parts of that history and can list these but that knowledge does not give one anything. And some of it is actually incorrect. You talk about Kievan wars or Mongols but I hope you do realised there wasn’t at the time a “Russia” as such, just a collection of small russian principalities. Tzar Ivan IV did not have “many losses” going East as it was hardly populated there. And what exactly these “huge areas on it’s Western borders” that Russia has given up?! It’s western bounderies are pretty much unchanged, few insignificant losses here, few gains there but on the whole it’s pretty much the same territory. So, I am at loss to understand what EXACTLY you are trying to prove here. Russia might have lost some battles but it has NEVER lost the war. It is still here, still strong. This will be my last reply to you. Cheers.
        
        BeliVuk on September 02, 2020 · at 1:26 am EST/EDT
        
        Why is it that you do not allow me to respond to Katherine on her comment
        
        Maybe you should have ignored my comment and not responded. The fact is, if you have read the comments you would have seen that several people, including Kouros, agreed with the evidence that I provided, while you provide zero evidence in your responses to me.
        The trees make up the forest Katerina. I am not attempting to show off my knowledge of Russian or world history I let the facts speak for themselves and if you have other facts I would appreciate if you would provide them. I was a teacher of history and my main object was to have my students become critical thinkers. You must have missed that lesson.
        Orlov’s article on Russian history was magnificent, not because he loves Russia and has a Russian soul, but because he provided evidence which can be versified.
        I subscribe to the fact that knowledge without understanding is useless. You write that my knowledge is incorrect, but you do not provide evidence why I it is incorrect.
        You did not read my post on the origin of the Slavs and Kievan Rus the original Russian state. If you had read my post you would have read that I understood that from Berlin East to the Urals the land was populated by Slavic tribes ruled by princes where some united and expanded into a strong Russian state. With Ivan Kalita to Peter to Catherine Russia grew. .
        The losses in the West were significant particularly after WWI which were regained in WWII and lost recently by Yeltsin
        I am not trying to prove anything to you. I told you that I liked your article but then you lost it in the analysis of Russian history. I have pointed out battles lost but that was inconvenient for you, so you ignored them. I am sure I can provide reasons why Russia lost in Afghanistan or against Japan but you don’t see the Russian fleet at the bottom of the Sea of Japan or the 15,000 Russian young men and women who died in Afghanistan as a loss I find that very sad and I am not a Russian, I am not Chinese, or African or American. I am a citizen of planet Earth and Russia is my home just as much as Canada.
        
        Kouros on September 02, 2020 · at 12:42 am EST/EDT
        
        Peter Turchin – War and Peace and War The Rise and Fall of Empires – looks at the Russian expansion through the need of defense…
        
        The author of the present essay is not able to defend her position and then it moves the goal posts – winning territory despite losing wars, forgetting of the dissolution of Russian Empire and of the USSR – and then the final argument that Russia NEVER lost a war is the fact that Russia is still here. So it is Germany that lost two World Wars… Some people…
        
        Katerina on September 02, 2020 · at 4:04 pm EST/EDT
        
        This is in reply to couple of people who for some strange reasons have taken an exception to my statement that Russia, as nation, has NEVER lost a war. One has immediately wheeled out a list of all the wars Russia had to fight and pointed out that there are three that were “lost”- Crimea, Japan and Poland. In my reply to his comment I reminded him that Crimea is still Russian, war with Japan eventually resulted in Russia gaining extra territory in the East and as for Poland, well.. what can one say.. these were going on for centuries. So, no, Russia did not lose anything in these wars, except, sadly, people, as that is inevitable in ANY war. I have also pointed out that for a country to lose a war also meant losing sovereignity as well as territory – none of that can be applied to Russia. In case of “some” lost territories after the collapse of USSR (besides, that cannot be comparable to war), well, it might have lost little Baltic prostitudes (no big loss there) but it still has Kaliningrad (i.e. Konigsberg), which is much more strategic! As for Ukraine, Russia has got back what was Russian, including not only Crimea but also Donbass – which de-facto is being part of Russia once again, with same currency, pensions, education, etc, not to mention Russian passports. The rest of what used to be called Ukraine, as far as Russia is concerned, can go to blazes. So, NO real loss there. To my statement that Russia is still here, still strong after all it’s wars it had to fight, one of them brought an example of Germany.
        Bad example. Germany, after WWII, was split in half and occupied, one half by USA, the other by USSR. After couple or so decades Russia ended it’s occupation and has ALLOWED Germany to re-unify. USA occcupying it still, with over 20 thousand troops stationed there and several military bases. Germany might have rebuilt itself structuraly, but politically it has no sovereignity. All their foreign policies are dictated to them from above, as for their domestic policies, well, Nord Stream II is a good example.. So, all I can say to these two that, indeed, “knowledge” without understanding is useless.
      - Anonymous on September 01, 2020 · at 8:23 am EST/EDT
        
        Let’s add a corrective. The same Mihai Eminescu, the Romanian national poet who was also a political journalist, wrote in an article of 1876, commenting on Nicolay Danilevsky’s “Russia and Europe” (1871):
        “[Russia] is the only power who, winning, grew, defeated, lost nothing, or almost nothing, because inside everything was done slowly, without jumps. No lost battle made her lose sight of the target set one thousand years ago, she doesn’t see [now] but with the same eyes she had at the foundation of her gigantic power…
        [Danilevski’s] theories don’t lack a certain grandeur and show a manner of looking at the universal history in a specifically Slavic mode. It seems strange to us, that we Romanians, who live next to the Danube, are completely immersed in the ideas of the Occident, when from all parts that surround us pulsates a historical life which in its general dispositions differs so much from the history of the Occident. Sometimes we must see that we are on a dividing edge between two completely different worlds, and that it is in our interest to know both worlds. We know the Occident enough. Its mission in the Orient is economic conquest, proletarization of the oriental races through foreign industry, through enslavement to foreign capital. We see on the contrary the other part of the world moved not by an economic current, but by a historical and religious one, which cannot fail to exercise a strong attraction for the less economically developed peoples of the Balkan Peninsula, for whom the church beliefs and historical ideals are still sacred, unsullied by modern materialism”.
        
        Eminescu was in fact known more for his aversion for Austria-Hungary (only Romanians who know their own history – and there are unfortunately very few – understand why Eminescu invokes Putna), which facilitated the infiltration among Romanians of a certain population from Galitia (a non-censured version of the ‘Doina’ says bluntly: ‘Şi sub mâna de jidan/Sunt românii lui Ştefan/…Cine ne-a adus jidanii/Nu mai vază zi cu anii/Şi să-i scoată ochii corbii/Să rămâie-n drum ca orbii).
        
        Kouros on September 01, 2020 · at 11:39 am EST/EDT
        
        Eminescu was one of the best journalists Romania had.
        
        And Romanians did understand the dangers of Slavic/Russian encroachment. Not for nothing they changed their alphabet from Cyrillic to Latin and started importing a lot of French words in their vocabulary…
        
        My response to Katerina was respectful and recognizing Russia’s past and prowess, but she needed to be brought to reality that it wasn’t all a long series of victories, and that some of those “victories” were tragedies for nations falling under the Russian yoke. As an Empire, Russia was no different than any other Empires. It was oppressive for the conquered / occupied people. What is so hard to recognize these simple truths?
        
        Serbian girl on September 01, 2020 · at 3:54 pm EST/EDT
        
        Kouros,
        
        “As an Empire, Russia was no different than any other Empires.”
        
        Actually, no….I do agree imperialism is a bad thing but as far as empires go, the Russian one was anodine compared to other colonial projects.
        
        Russian empire: 1721 -1917. We can add in the Soviet years if you like. ..it’s duration was still shorter than the British or the Turkish empire.
        
        Ottoman empire: 1300 – 1922
        British Empire: 1500 – 1945.
        
        The Brits killed millions, some even say the victim toll is in the hundreds of millions. The Ottomans even went as far as genociding their entire Christian populations..Armenians, Assyrians, and Greeks.
        
        I am not minimising victims of Russian imperialism, but they need to be placed in a historical context with the other reigning empires of the day.
        
        As for wars won/lost….Russia is such a huge country …(8 time zones?)..They did forfeit territory in war on the edges of their empire absolutely…but how many armies marched on Moscow? And won?
        
        Serbian girl on September 01, 2020 · at 5:04 pm EST/EDT
        
        Btw, Kouros,
        
        Romanian is not a Slavic language. You imply that the adoption of Latin alphabet by Romania was somehow politically motivated, but actually Romanian is a romance language. It is almost entirely phonetic when written in Latin and this was the main reason they adopted Latin script.
        
        Kouros on September 01, 2020 · at 7:34 pm EST/EDT
        
        Serbian Girl,
        
        I am very well aware that Romanian is a Romance Language. While it is phonetic in character, transition to Cyrillic and back to Latin were political in nature.
        
        Anonymous on September 02, 2020 · at 12:28 am EST/EDT
        
        Didn’t have anything to do with (anti) Orthodoxy? Uniatism had a great contribution in creating the false idea that Romanians are an island of ‘Latinity’ in a sea of aggressive Slavdom who forced them to abandon their primary ‘Catholicism’ for the ‘Greco-Bulgarian-Serbian-Russian’ schism.
        
        Anonius on September 02, 2020 · at 12:39 pm EST/EDT
        
        Kouro (sorry in Greek we drop the “s” as is in your case because of grammar), Roumanian (not Romanian) notice in Greek Ρουμανία as in Polish Rumunia, means that they have nothing Roman about them. THeir language is not Romance it’s an archaic Arimenian Greek idiom (dialect). I refer you to two books written by Mr. Grammozis, who is Vlachos and as it happens spent his life studying the subject of Vlach Greeknes.
        First book (I’ll say it in English only):
        Hellenes – Arimeni Vlachi and the hidden truth. The trutch is that they are the Archaic Hellens, hence the expression Protogoni (Firstborn) .
        Second book:
        ΕΛΛΗΝΕΣ Αρχεγονη πρωτολαλιά Γλωσσα – Διάλεκτοι – ιδιώματα ΝΩΙ ΑΡΙΜΕΝΙΪΕ εμείς οι Αρειμένοι
        Hellens Firstborn (Archaic) First spoken Language – Dialects – Idioms we the Arimeni (In idiom and Hellenic)
        
        What he means is that Vlachoi just like Sarakatsani happen be the oldest Humans in Europe with history going back no less than 200,000 years. No they are not Indo-Europeans (no-no) Indo’s have Hellenic roots as well.
        Vlachi happen to be the mythical Κένταυρος (Centaurs)
        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centaur
        Their name was assigned to them because of the sounds they make when they gather the sheep, by early (Δορεἰς – Thrakians, Spartans, Cretans, Pontians)
        Which in Doric dialect simulations of the sheep’s sound Βλαχάω (I Vlachao) would be the actual sound Βλαχιά.
        Check this famous Vlach song called Skaros
        Beautiful Klarino: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeViPtLnItY
        This is where Roumanians are from (Pindos Epirus and Thessalia):
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxzLZ1KRNJ8
        
        Here they make noises: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liRDXcBSuI0
        Well, this is the real Greek music. The dogs you see here are unique Greek sheep dogs.
        
        Check this Roumanian group called Pindu (Pindos get it?)
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CK3Z0RgYndk
        If you listen carefully he says “Mavromata – Girl with black eyes in Greek)
        
        I have bad news for whoever, everything started in Sunny Hellas. This is why India has our gods:
        Strange Similarities Between Greek And Indian Mythology (Strange? Only to the people who do not possess the right knowledge)
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVaHEY_14ZU
        
        Anonius on September 02, 2020 · at 2:48 pm EST/EDT
        
        Kouro(s) Notice I drop the s? I agree with Serbian Girls, as Roumanian is neither Slav nor romance language. They use archaic Greek Arimenian idiom. The reason, why the romance is being pushed it’s because if they agreed to the Greekness of their language and roots they would have to become part of Greece.
        First their roots: They are archaic Thrakiotes and I am talking about their imaginary roots from Dacia.
        Prof Chatzigiannakis explains that in his video:
        
        In this video he explains the archaic origins of their imaginary Romance language, remember they use Vlach language.
        Το πρωτογενώς αρχαιοελληνικό γλωσσικό ιδίωμα των Αρειμένιων Βλάχων – Κωνσταντίνος Χατζηγιαννάκης
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7we2x90k38
        CH
        Archaic Greek dialects (this does not show Vlach idiom, because their idiom was only spoken, forcing Roumania to scramble in 1860 and create their Latinized alphabet, before then they used Greek language and alphabet), just like Turkey which was using Greek alphabet until ~1920’s?
        Οι διάλεκτοι της αρχαίας ελληνικής γλώσσας και η ετυμολογία – Κωνσταντίνος Χατζηγιαννάκης
        Here he is explaining Greek alphabets the table is right at the beginning.
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oSDqNG9etk
        In one of his many videos regarding written records about archaic Greek history he explains how Dacia and Scythia was created.
        Vivi Mitrou (linguist) shows Latin being Greek:
        ΜΑΘΗΜΑΤΑ ΑΡΧΑΙΩΝ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΩΝ – ΤΑ ΛΑΤΙΝΙΚΑ ΕΙΝΑΙ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΑ
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmeoLsh7wAw
        Once again indo-european is fiction of imagination.
        
        BeliVuk on September 02, 2020 · at 2:01 am EST/EDT
        
        Romanian is an Indo-European language just like Serbian, German or English and all the other European languages excluding Hungarian, Turkic and Finish which are Fino=Ugric
        
        Anonius on September 04, 2020 · at 10:48 am EST/EDT
        
        BeliVuk, (Mod: let’s keep it calm)
        This is the real Romance language this beautiful Ode is called “Romania Parthen – Romania is taken (Constantinople-Byzantium 1453): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpIhgMSp9tE
        
        Also, for those who continue to insist on fictions, I am providing a page from Russian dictionary:
        https://translate.academic.ru/βληχή/el/
        which says and I quote:
        βληχή – bleating: fem dat sg (attic epic ionic)
        Last entry is:
        βλαχᾷ — βλᾱχᾷ , βληχή bleating fem dat sg (doric aeolic)
        
        As you see nothing to do with some German’s dreamed up => Volcae the supposed root for the name Vlachos.
        
        Oh yes this is Turkic language, which has nothing to do with Hungarian and Finnish:
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orStA96tbfo
        Listen: Journalist talks about Rumja, Romeika – means Roman = Greek
        Old people speak Greek, sorry.
        Spreading the stories was easy in the days when we had not access to internet.
        
        Anonius on September 04, 2020 · at 11:35 am EST/EDT
        
        Short comment, regarding Ugro-Finnish group of languages.
        Excellent map, and the Turks are nowhere in site.
        https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Finno-Ugric_languages
        You can’t but love Internet, I can’t stop thinking of my old days where I would have to spend endless hours at the University library researching the subject.
        BTW, I remember not to long ago Slovak Prime Minister insulted Victor Orban calling “Hungarians Turk/Tatar …” forgetting that Sobieski just like Stefan Batory, both kings of Poland who were actually Ungars (Hangarian Nobles) who fought Turkish Invading armies (particularly Sobieski destroyed them under Vienna and thus saved the Western Europe, the event of which would most likely include Slovakia). Erdogan is trying to do the same but with more modern methods.
        
        Kouros on September 01, 2020 · at 7:43 pm EST/EDT
        
        Serbian Girl,
        
        It is no debate on the more “benign” nature of the Russian Empire. They dealt with more nomadic populations in Siberia and more peasant, rural populations elsewhere. However, the greater the push-back against the Russian occupation, the greater the violence Russians provided. Their history with Chechens is long and bloody and captured in their classical literature…
        
        Getting to acquire territory was a sport and as long as they could, everyone did it, large and small. It was an orgy of acquisition. That now has stopped almost entirely and the fight is on “spheres of influence”. I do have the feeling, watching Putin and Lavrov very closely, that they pretty much want to be left just be and not be threatened…
        
        Josep on September 04, 2020 · at 3:03 am EST/EDT
        
        Russia is such a huge country …(8 time zones?)
        
        There’s 11 time zones, last time I checked.
Anonymous on September 01, 2020 · at 2:39 am EST/EDT

“Living in Russia they feel they can be free to be a normal family with normal family values, not parent1 and parent2, but Mum and Dad and where their children can grow up in a normal environment, without being subjected to creepy gender selections.”

Exactly this! I showed my wife an report on Putin’s settlement policies and opening immigration. So now we have a little “joke” every time we see the latest ridiculous articles that pour out of the MSM. We look at each other and say “I think its time to move to Russia”. Every time it becomes a little less of a joke. Of course that is a big move and neither of us speak Russian… but who knows?
Slobodan Cekic on September 01, 2020 · at 4:44 am EST/EDT

Thank you for a nice article, I enjoyed reading it, and so have many others, I would say, judging by the number of the comments in a single day. I read them as well, some were interesting reading, too.
Anonymous on September 01, 2020 · at 9:11 am EST/EDT

People come up with all sorts of advises of what Russians, or Putin, or whoever will succeed him, should do, or shouldn’t do in order to ‘survive’ the onslaught of the West, mostly very mundane. Well, there should be no other advise that that given by Solzhenitsyn:
“But if I were asked today to formulate as concisely as possible the main cause of the ruinous revolution that swallowed up some 60 million of our people, I could not put it more accurately than to repeat: “Men have forgotten God; that’s why all this has happened.”
Remember God and that will not happen again. “For the Gentiles strive after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you”. Russians seem to be on the right path. Pray God not to stray away again.
Yoni Reinon on September 01, 2020 · at 10:47 am EST/EDT

Sorry, but Russia lost a few wars (Remember Port Arthur?) but the fact you emphatically claim that it didn’t happen just show that there is a strong chauvinist jingoistic feeling back in Russia, which by the way I cannot blame, considering the totally cuckoo fascist imperial hysteria against anyone opposing their imperial colonial slavery designs. It is sad to acknowledge that anyone wanting to protect their land and people is compulsorily forced to talk the gun language, rearm, and increase its military expenses. Once they realised they couldn’t just grab Siberia and tear Russia apart in 4 or 5 states as they had planned, a secondary goal was to reboost the military-industrial complex, a huge source of revenue for the rotten-to the-bone imperial oligarchy. But don’t forget that what you call The West is nothing but a bunch of vassal states which are being sacked themselves. Making those craters you mention could just help the empire achieve their goals, creating the no-man’s dead lands that the empire wants to keep the bear away from its fading European colonies. If Russia doesn’t hit the powerhouses of its enemy it will not be able to win long-lasting peace. And the empire will strike again.
- Katerina on September 01, 2020 · at 3:50 pm EST/EDT
  
  This “empire” you mention is collapsing in front of our eyes. We can only hope that it will go with a wimper and not with the bang.
- Anonymous on September 01, 2020 · at 8:22 pm EST/EDT
  
  @Port Arthur
  
  I remind the sentence of Eminescu: “Winning [in wars] Russia grew, defeated, lost nothing, or almost nothing”.
  The Russo-Japanese war ended actually in a draw. It lost Port-Arthur which was concessioned by the Chinese for 99 years to Russia, to the Japanese who would keep it until 1945 when it was returned to China. Russia kept the northern part of Sakhalin and after WW2 occupied it entirely, adding the Kuril Islands.
  Soviet Union reoccupied all the territories lost in WW1. All the territories it lost after the dissolution of the Soviet Union will gravitate again towards Russia. It retook Crimea so far.
  - Kouros on September 04, 2020 · at 9:47 pm EST/EDT
    
    Maybe the Slavic speaking ones, like Belarus and Ukraine, but not more. Nationalism will grow stronger and will become a backbone of political Russian discourse.
    
    The Baltics will not return to Russia and the Russian minorities will be too weak to matter. Moldova is also off the books and the Stans, Georgia & Armenia are not coming back either.
Peter Langan on September 01, 2020 · at 6:59 pm EST/EDT

I am English, though somewhat de-tribalised after living and working overseas for many years in different countries. I have to agree about the UK governments pathetic attitude towards Russia. The Skripal case was obviously cooked up to anyone with a couple of spare brain cells! The worst thing is the bombastic pronouncements from London, acting like it was still Empire days. Threatening Russia without any means to carry it out is plainly idiotic. Russia however could obliterate England very swiftly.
I would agree with the comment about the western politicians, they are mostly midgets and Russia is very fortunate to possess a very smart statesman in Putin. They bluster, but they come short against him every time.
I enjoyed your article and wish you well.
Roman Doroszuk on September 02, 2020 · at 7:10 am EST/EDT

An excellent level headed article that rings of Truth and honesty. Well said. Bravo.
JJ on September 02, 2020 · at 10:24 am EST/EDT

What is also great re this article is to see many new names contributing to the discussion. Fab. Great to read them too.
And yes…probably 80% UK people very antirussian. Its like instant hatred. Yuk.
Bruce Maclean on October 01, 2020 · at 10:37 pm EST/EDT

Brilliant! Thank you so much.