Russia or America II ?

[Dr_Woland]

good afternoon, everyone

Olya, I liked your comment, but I should say in fairness that I know quite a few Americans whose knowledge of both their own, and world literature is staggering, and leaves me standing at the starting-block.

to Oca:
I completely agree that the Kosovo campaign viewed wholly was a combined forces effort. It was, however, the USAF specifically who bombed Montenegro, not aware that it wasn't Serbia. And unaware that such a country as Montenegro existed. Quite apart from killing innocent civilians, this was highly prejudicial to the operation itself, since had Montenegro supported Belgrade, the US/GB/NATO force would have faced a more intensified resistance. Bombing your allies is rarely good PR. I accept that mistakes can be made in the heat of battle - but America's willingness to bomb "anyone we can blame" (like Sudan?) is viewed with alarm elsewhere.

to Disa: ya uchilsya russky yazyk "na ulitsu Moskvy" - klassy ne byli. Ya robotal v Moskve s amerikantsami turistami, a tak poluchilos, shto ya druzhilsya s russkimi :-) Nasha firma sotrudnivala s Rossii v techenie 10 let, no ya tol'ko v nachalo etogo goda pereexal vo obshem. London xoroshy gorod, naverno! A vse rovno, mne nravitsya v Moskve - nekogda skuchno, po kraine mere! Vyletil segodnya utrom iz SVO, prixoditsya mne v London na paru nedelya...

Dr W.
(in London for a few weeks now)

Dr W.

[Liev_Ramos]

Sad I guess, that could be the feeling in Russia, but yuo shouldn´t be, your nation has been a great one, it´s history is so strong, with a lot of values, a lot of culture to export, you people had an amazing background to stop fighting against the adversity, don´t give up know.
I´m a follower of the former Sovuit Union and of Russia at this moment. Russia is not trying to be the second USA, Russia is trying to still being Russia, there is just a period to restructure, you will be at the top of the world in a very short period of time.

[cepguu]

All these apparent faults in the national characteristic of the Russian people, that many of you have referred to, such as a certain inflexibility, inability to make rapid and shrewd adjustments in practical affairs of real life, excessive pride combined with a resigned acceptance of "fate", masochistic attachment to "suffering", etc. etc., are subtly, intricately and almost undistinguishably linked with a certain quality in the heart, which few comfortable members of the TV saturated "western" bourgeoisie ever had or have the ability to recognize, let alone admire or respect, that is, a superhuman ability to adhere to an inexplicable, sublime faith, which manifests itself primarily not in the forms of one lone horseman riding into the desert, but more in the deep connections between individuals who choose to suffer and triumph together. This quality has been cheapened by shallow propagandists in Russia, has been dismissed and scorned by Russia's enemies during many rounds of disasters that had befallen her in history. But these people all come to pay dearly and regret deeply for this fatal shallowness. Because of this blessing, or rather, because of this combination of heavy curse and glorious blessing, no, Russia never, ever will become America II. Thanks to all.

[oca]

Cepguu:

What a fine posting! But what does it mean in simple English?

[Dr_Woland]

I agree, an excellent and perceptive message from Cepguu. Going along with that theme though, we should not forget that there is a subtle duality in Russia's dealings with other cultures. Whilst on the one hand being cautious always to retain what is "Russian", they are rarely chauvinistic, and are always ready to embrace what is good from other cultures that they can put to some use. There is huge respect for the cultures, ideas, inventions, technologies, and philosophies of other countries in Russia.

Dr W.

[This message has been edited by Dr_Woland (edited 22 October 2000).]

[Liev_Ramos]

Russia´s relation with other countries?
You shuold see the historical background of Russia, this country has been defined by the invasions suffered, the conditions of life during tzarist times, when they constructed the former Soviet Union, they had to show to the world that they were so powerful that didn´t need anything from outside, explain this would so extense that I could spend days writing, but what I can tell you is that, you shuldn´t try to get an interpretation about russians´s behavior without turn back to their historical background.

[Petri]

Amerika, Russia? What about Europe!! Look at it, it´s thriving! =) And the future looks kinda bright with EU and all this. (I´m being positive today)
One day Russia will probably too join the EU. My question is; what is the Russians view on the EU? Is it just something very distant?

About this Amerika vs. Russia thing I want to add that Russia will probably develope past US in economy and technology in the FUTURE.

Why 1; Russia has a central position in the biggest continent on this planet. The euro-asian continent. (I think you call it in english) Most of the population of earth is on this continent. Take China or India for instace. These are countries with developing ekonomy AND technology, and they have a big population. Then there is Europe to the west. Japan to the east..

Why 2; Russia has LOADS of unused recources just waiting to be used. In the Siberian region for instace. Oil, gas, metals etc..

Why 3; Russia is now under Democracy, wich ofcourse will develope.

Why 4; Americas hamburger-coke culture and other fast food traditions will probably lower the average IQ and lifespan over time.
Unless the americans "work on it" and try to make the situatiuon better, that is.