Scary, scary, scary.... -- Politics and Society in Russia and its Neighbors

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Date Posted: 20:38:01 01/27/02 Sun
Author: Patrick
Subject: Scary, scary, scary....

Wow, I just finished the reading for Lenin's Tomb and I gotta say - the Soviet Union was a pretty scary place... I am pretty much understating but I am just in awe of how easily a state can turn on its own citizens..(hint, hint Mr. Ashcroft..) :)
Well, in Austria we learned just the basics of Soviet and Russian history, well mainly about how they defeated us in numerous battles throughout the ages, not really uplifting by itself.. :)
Austria was decades on the front line of the cold war, actually, if anyone of you out there wants to know... some documents were found recently that show that the possible attacks of the Warsaw pact countries on NATO held Germany and the rest of Western Europe would have started with a quick advance through Austria!
Scary isn't it? I was reminded of a poster that still hangs in our garage, it's from the Soviet City Commandant posted during russian occupation in 1949. It says: On stealing and looting: Death!
Now, comparing this harsh judgement to the various examples of ridiculous and cruel punishment for missing work or just being a doctor of important and powerful members of the Communist party that are discussed in the book we're reading.
What's even more disheartening is the apathy of relatives, friends, and collegues of the victims during Lenin's, Stalin's and other cruel leaders.
As I see it - the old garde, traditionalists, Stalinists hang to the basic meri that Stalin had - defeating Hitler, sadly they do not recognize that Russia had a "Hitler" of its own in Stalin. When the author toasts with the grandson of Stalin I was really starting to wonder if there will ever be a time on this earth when people recognize true evil and stop changing history so it pleases the minds of today. The heroes of his book ( as far as i can tell from 140pages) are historians and their heroic effort to lay open the past for all to see.
alrighty, enough rambling on...:)
Seeya

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