[Serbian Dragan in Windhoek, Namibia on 3/1/22] Only to spit it out, of course, for who wants to digest such sick meat? It is remarkable, the transformation of Russia as last and least of Europe, to the last, and most unequivocal, defender of its values, that of manliness, love of one’s native land and, of course, Christianity.
The Jews will never forgive Russia for rejecting their anal revolution. Anyone who truly cares about their country and its traditional culture should pray Russia wins and eventually the American Empire is destroyed
I really enjoyed this piece. Among other things, it puts me back in mind of all the Russian literature I've read and enjoyed over the years. In two years of university prior to my time in the military, that appreciation is one of the few things I gained from my "studies" (if one can call them that). I've been fascinated by Russia for a long time, and always wanted to visit. Now I suspect that will never happen, given my age and the retrograde trajectory of Western relations with them.
If I was to single out a favorite, I'd have to say it was "Dead Souls" by Nikolai Gogol. Why is this man traveling around Russia collecting the deeds to dead serfs? Alas, we never actually find out, since Gogol was to tell us in a sequel which in a fit of artistic rage he burned in a fire before it got published.
As an observer of the human condition, both old and new, you may find interesting Ivan Bunin, one of the last notable pre-revolutionary writers. His first novel, "The Village," is a pretty gritty portrayal of rural village life around the time of the 1905 revolution. From the jacket: "...the book follows characters sunk so far below the average of intelligence as to be scarcely human."
Anyone who is interested in Peter the Great could do worse than Robert Massie's biography. Peter was an amazing individual. Unlike our images of the typical tsars, he got off his throne and mixed it up with the common man while pursuing his modernization of the country.
Where Ingo Schulze talks about "standing in three lines for a pat of butter" I remembered how my high school Russian teacher, a Lithuanian, described it to us. When you get to the front of the first line you ask the clerk for what you want. Then you move to the second line where you pay for it. Lastly you go to the third line to pick up your purchase. My impression was that this was a Soviet "innovation"--I wonder if the practice persists? The teacher also told us that when you walked down the street, the windshield wipers blades on all the parked cars were missing--they had been removed by their owners so that they wouldn't be stolen.
Shatov’s statement reminds me of the ancient Romans, the Spartans, and the American Founders. I don’t think humans can develop the same kind of loyalty and energy based on “universal values” or some global vision. I also think of the American Injun tribes, we usually know the tribes from names given them by others, as they mostly referred to THEIR tribe as “The People” and everyone else was some kind of foreigner. I also think of the aggregating clusters of survivors becoming tribes in The Walking Dead.
Chekhov was always my favourite among the Russians. Then Dostoevsky, then Tolstoy. Just in terms of personal preference - technically, Tolstoy is probably the best writer among the three, although I can only read Russian in translation.
Linh, I don't know if you're familiar with Scott Creighton, formerly of the American Everyman wordpress (variously deplatformed 5 or 6 times), but for some reason, I think you'd like him.
China will do nothing. I know, we project our revenge fantasies and hopes against primitive Africa, India, Russia and China, whom we hope will rise and end the Mad West. Not going to happen.
We're in an existential struggle. If Washington's globalists, who run the Western world, win, the rest of the world loses. I keep waiting for China to come out from the shadows and publicly support Russia with more than just words. The minute they send in a few brigades to the ever-shrinking Ukraine border this disaster would be all over. Excellent work, Linh. Love the classy Russian music.
I loved this piece. As for Russia, is a large country and there are many points of view. I am reminded of Maxim Gorki's Childhood which is just about as bad as it gets, but had a phone call from a friend in Australia last night who was going through a bad patch and spoke of Australia in similar terms. He had a particularly horrendous childhood too, and the Australia he describes is not the one I know. Not to say that either of us is wrong, but it is possible to live in different universes which intersect sometimes. I have come to the conclusion it is all but impossible to get a rounded view of another country without spending quite a decent amount of time there. You just wind up with a hall of mirrors reading what other people write. But who can deny that Russia has contributed as much to world culture as any country? Arguably more than many countries, including the USA. One of my very favourite modern books is Le Testament Francais by Andrei Makine. Something that still amuses me is listening to commentators telling me what Putin is thinking, feeling, planning or otherwise being motivated by. Seriously? Just make it up, its free, and some of the cretins out there will believe every word.
Im not pro NATO/Ukraine or anything but isnt this idea that Russia is a bastion of tradition and general basedness kinda exaggerated? It seems pretty degenerate to me. Isnt Russia the number one snuff producer in the world or something? I get that people need hope or whatever but still, see things for what they are.
The future of Russia is Islam. Christianity died in Russia in the 1920s and Putin's FSB sham Christianity has singularly failed to lay deep roots. Islam on the other hand has very deep roots in Tatarstan, Bashkiria and the Cacauses, and cannot be eradicated. When Putin's Russia collapses in the near future, Russians will turn to Islam as the only path for an independent Russia that can lead Central Asia and the Middle East into a future free of Western or Chinese control. The Scythian heart of Russia will prevail in the end.
One of Linh's best.
The Jews will never forgive Russia for rejecting their anal revolution. Anyone who truly cares about their country and its traditional culture should pray Russia wins and eventually the American Empire is destroyed
I really enjoyed this piece. Among other things, it puts me back in mind of all the Russian literature I've read and enjoyed over the years. In two years of university prior to my time in the military, that appreciation is one of the few things I gained from my "studies" (if one can call them that). I've been fascinated by Russia for a long time, and always wanted to visit. Now I suspect that will never happen, given my age and the retrograde trajectory of Western relations with them.
If I was to single out a favorite, I'd have to say it was "Dead Souls" by Nikolai Gogol. Why is this man traveling around Russia collecting the deeds to dead serfs? Alas, we never actually find out, since Gogol was to tell us in a sequel which in a fit of artistic rage he burned in a fire before it got published.
As an observer of the human condition, both old and new, you may find interesting Ivan Bunin, one of the last notable pre-revolutionary writers. His first novel, "The Village," is a pretty gritty portrayal of rural village life around the time of the 1905 revolution. From the jacket: "...the book follows characters sunk so far below the average of intelligence as to be scarcely human."
Anyone who is interested in Peter the Great could do worse than Robert Massie's biography. Peter was an amazing individual. Unlike our images of the typical tsars, he got off his throne and mixed it up with the common man while pursuing his modernization of the country.
Where Ingo Schulze talks about "standing in three lines for a pat of butter" I remembered how my high school Russian teacher, a Lithuanian, described it to us. When you get to the front of the first line you ask the clerk for what you want. Then you move to the second line where you pay for it. Lastly you go to the third line to pick up your purchase. My impression was that this was a Soviet "innovation"--I wonder if the practice persists? The teacher also told us that when you walked down the street, the windshield wipers blades on all the parked cars were missing--they had been removed by their owners so that they wouldn't be stolen.
Shatov’s statement reminds me of the ancient Romans, the Spartans, and the American Founders. I don’t think humans can develop the same kind of loyalty and energy based on “universal values” or some global vision. I also think of the American Injun tribes, we usually know the tribes from names given them by others, as they mostly referred to THEIR tribe as “The People” and everyone else was some kind of foreigner. I also think of the aggregating clusters of survivors becoming tribes in The Walking Dead.
Chekhov was always my favourite among the Russians. Then Dostoevsky, then Tolstoy. Just in terms of personal preference - technically, Tolstoy is probably the best writer among the three, although I can only read Russian in translation.
Linh, I don't know if you're familiar with Scott Creighton, formerly of the American Everyman wordpress (variously deplatformed 5 or 6 times), but for some reason, I think you'd like him.
"Did NATO Sabotage NORD Stream Pipelines in Retaliation for Ukraine Referendums?" https://youtu.be/e-gfiLRYsdE
China will do nothing. I know, we project our revenge fantasies and hopes against primitive Africa, India, Russia and China, whom we hope will rise and end the Mad West. Not going to happen.
We're in an existential struggle. If Washington's globalists, who run the Western world, win, the rest of the world loses. I keep waiting for China to come out from the shadows and publicly support Russia with more than just words. The minute they send in a few brigades to the ever-shrinking Ukraine border this disaster would be all over. Excellent work, Linh. Love the classy Russian music.
I loved this piece. As for Russia, is a large country and there are many points of view. I am reminded of Maxim Gorki's Childhood which is just about as bad as it gets, but had a phone call from a friend in Australia last night who was going through a bad patch and spoke of Australia in similar terms. He had a particularly horrendous childhood too, and the Australia he describes is not the one I know. Not to say that either of us is wrong, but it is possible to live in different universes which intersect sometimes. I have come to the conclusion it is all but impossible to get a rounded view of another country without spending quite a decent amount of time there. You just wind up with a hall of mirrors reading what other people write. But who can deny that Russia has contributed as much to world culture as any country? Arguably more than many countries, including the USA. One of my very favourite modern books is Le Testament Francais by Andrei Makine. Something that still amuses me is listening to commentators telling me what Putin is thinking, feeling, planning or otherwise being motivated by. Seriously? Just make it up, its free, and some of the cretins out there will believe every word.
Im not pro NATO/Ukraine or anything but isnt this idea that Russia is a bastion of tradition and general basedness kinda exaggerated? It seems pretty degenerate to me. Isnt Russia the number one snuff producer in the world or something? I get that people need hope or whatever but still, see things for what they are.
The future of Russia is Islam. Christianity died in Russia in the 1920s and Putin's FSB sham Christianity has singularly failed to lay deep roots. Islam on the other hand has very deep roots in Tatarstan, Bashkiria and the Cacauses, and cannot be eradicated. When Putin's Russia collapses in the near future, Russians will turn to Islam as the only path for an independent Russia that can lead Central Asia and the Middle East into a future free of Western or Chinese control. The Scythian heart of Russia will prevail in the end.