Russian Christmas gift ideas

[eug]

A lovely collection of Russian handicrafts, gifts and souvenirs at our web-site www.liverus.com

[mikeaverko]

Have we spoken over the phone before?

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AVERKO'S RUSSIA REPORT
http://averko.blogspot.com

Thursday - December 1, 2005 Posted 11/30/2005 @ 4:17 PM, American Pacific Coast time

CLARIFICATIONS, THANKS, A POINTED COMMENTARY & HOLIDAY GIFT SITES

By Michael Averko

The last mass e-mailed Averko's Russia Report of November 27th drew a good deal of feedback on my comments regarding Askolds Rodins and Viktor Yanukovych. Such responses make this project worthwhile.

One person suggested a whining manner of incessant complaining vis-a-vis my opposition to Rodins' smug anti-Russian tone. This individual didn't challenge my premise of anti-Russian bias at venues like Johnson's Russia List. Rather, it was suggested that I bite my lip and work within the current status quo. This isn't 1947 and I'm not Jackie Robinson in that era. I will continue to insist on a more level playing field and point out any ongoing biases. This is what a good media watchdog critic does.

Russocentric (having pro-Russian views, reflective of most Russians) perspectives continue to be restricted within English language mass media. Years ago, actress Vanessa Redgrave was nearly run out of Hollywood for stating militantly pro-Palestinian/anti-Israeli views. The same Redgrave faces little if any criticism when making anti-Serb/anti-Russian statements relating to Bosnia, Kosovo and Chechnya. On anti-Russian/anti-Putin bias, I refer to this post from one of my GUT International forums LYING ABOUT RUSSIA: http://talk.guardian.co.uk/WebX?14@1...@.77480649/760 "gritpype - 02:42pm Nov 30, 2005 BST (#708 of 709)
From the top of today's JRL

[Contents:

1. The Guardian: Jonathan Freedland, The two grand bargains being
offered by the 21st-century tsar. Many Russians accept a loss of democracy as long as they prosper. Should we give Putin respect in exchange for gas and oil?
2. International Herald Tribune/Boston Globe: Cathy Young,
Strangling freedom in its cradle.
3. eurasianhome.org: Julian Evans, The Gleb Pavlovsky Show.
(DJ: I lead with these three items in order to raise a question. There are those who feel that Western journalists are too harsh on Russia and Putin. I would like to have some concise, restrained, polite, impersonal, substantive discussion of this issue. Is that possible? Perhaps not but I'm willing to consider the matter.)"

My article on Viktor Yanukovych was intended to give another perspective on the Ukrainian "blue" leader from the one commonly stated in English language mass media. The de-emphasizing of pro-Yanukovych views is somewhat akin to how pro-Putin perspectives are muted in favor of Russian commentary along the lines of Gary Kasparov and Vladimir Ryzhkov. Never mind that the views of the latter mentioned two are within the extreme minority of the Russian population.

I want to formally thank Yuri Mamchur of http://www.russiablog.org and Matthew Johnson of http://www.rusjournal.com for posting my article on Yanukovych(http://www.russiablog.org/2005/11/ya...ce_should.html and http://www.rusjournal.com/averko112905.html). Yuri's blog was recently featured at JRL. Such appearances are becoming more in vogue at establishment news gathering outlets, which can't help but to recognize the quality analysis offered by some of those currently not so well connected. Matthew Johnson will be the main focal point of this ARR post.

A few of you out there have second guessed my guest column appearances at Matt's site on the basis that he has views which some might term as "religious extremism." I'm not buying into this as negativity subject for intellectual banishment.

I'll start with the hypocrisy factor. Jerry Fallwell, Pat Robertson and http://www.kavkazcenter.com/eng/ are sources receiving a good deal of play at English language mainstream media outlets.

My views are relative to myself. On this matter, I've nothing to be ashamed of as I'm not a racist or terrorist. Attack my views rather than the venues where they appear. Competent Washington Times and United Press International journalists don't get second guessed because of Sun Myung Moon's involvement with those media outlets. Over the years, my commentary has appeared in a broad cross section of left, center and right outlets. I've never completely agreed with everything at those venues which have posted/published my analysis. You can find me at this neo-conservative edited orange site: http://www.orangeukraine.squarespace.com.

I'm not against my becoming a regular staple at sources like The New York Times, Washington Post, Weekly Standard and JRL. I don't control the editing process at those locales. The compromising of my views isn't negotiable.

Matthew Johnson is a brilliant scholar. I especially enjoyed his article in support of an agrarian society which can be accessed via this link: http://english.intelligent.ru/articl...rn_society.htm. Kindly note this well balanced review of Matt at http://www.lewrockwell.com/baltzersen/baltzersen18.html.

To show how some otherwise divergently opposed views can find a considerable degree of common ground, I reference this article by Adrian Karatnycky entitled THE CONDESCENSION OF THE CHRISTIAN WEST at: http://www.firstthings.com/ftissues/...aratnycky.html

Some holiday gift ideas can be found at:

http://www.russianjerseys.com

http://www.russianlegacy.com

http://www.cafepress.com At this site, use its search engine to locate whatever your heart desires.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS