An American tourist in Russia
Today let’s talk about the history of culture as a history of choices or the subtle beauty of The Thief and the Cobbler versus straightforward shine of Aladdin. Yesterday I saw the Thief and the Cobbler animation film for the first time in my life. And I am pleasantly surprised. Despite its messy production history, … Read more
Yesterday was International Holocaust Remembrance Day and there was quite a bit of chatter about the killing of ethnic Germans in Poland. Some people were mentioning this historic fact honestly to point out that, contrary to how Polish nationalists portray themselves, they weren’t innocent during World War II. Some trolls also suggested that Nazi Germany and the Russian Federation are the same (how creative). It’s unfortunate, because the well of WWII history has been so thoroughly poisoned, it’s almost impossible to have an honest conversation about the role of the western allies in provoking Hitler and starting WWII. That’s why I felt I needed to talk at length about the subject. In this answer, I’ll explain the historical context of the feud between Germany and Poland, including the deaths of ethnic Germans, and how this history was falsified in the Cold War to erase traces of British meddling.
As you know, we have recently visited Armenia, in particular, Yervan (the capital) and Vagarshapat. Below are several pictures I took there. To me, Armenia appeared mixed, relaxed, on the slow side, unconcerned, dreamy, clad in its rich history. Food is their forte, being punctual is not). I loved local sweet and semi-sweet wines. Paying … Read more
Probably it is time I write something about the USSR. I am 40 (born in April, 1982) and I am a survivor of…not communism, but of the collapse of the USSR. I also consider myself a Soviet person, because the first ten years are crucial to forming a personality and because I was a Young … Read more
