Quote Originally Posted by Hanna View Post
At least you live in Russia. More than Eric or 14Russian who sometimes display amazing ignorance while spitting out their daily installment of anti-Russia propaganda.

But I must say that I wonder about the motives, of somebody like you, who feels the need to frequent an international forum, and convince others that his country is bad. Is your life in Russia so bad? Have you got a better solution?

Nobody thinks Russia is an ideal society. Clearly corruption, criminality and bureaucracy is a problem. My point is that it isn't an aggressive country that Europe needs to fear.

And I also wonder what your ideal is. Is it the EU that you admire? Or the USA is your ideal society? China maybe?

People take an interest in your country and language and you try to discourage them. It seems like very strange behaviour to me. There is a time and place to be critical to ones country, primarily among ones own countrymen.

I think it's a mistake on the part of the forum to allow people like Serge, Eric and 14Russian to dominate the political forum. Maybe it's a deliberate choice as a result of the events in Ukraine.

One or two people who are critical is good, but right now, all the Russians who love their country stopped posting in the political forum.

If I want to read anti-Russia talk, I don't need to go to a forum, I can turn on the TV or open a newspaper here in England. I come to the forum for the alternative view.
You`re completely missing the point.

I`ve never discouraged anyone from learning russian. It is widely spoken in New York, eastern Europe, post Soviet-Union countries. Only half of those 300 millions who are proficient in russians live in Russia.

Another advantage for learning russian is that finally when the political regime changes (in 10-15 years?..) - our country wil be eager for foreign investments. And profits here wil still be much higher than anywhere else. While you can make maximum of 15-25 % in western business - a year income of 50 (or even 100 and more) % is still possible in Russia. Less competition here, since the entrepreneurship culture came here recently.

At the same time, I feel disappointed how many foreigners got really naive about the current situation. You grew up in comfortable EU state. You become bored, see no changes in the way your nation lives. You begin watching Russia Today channel constantly looking for a better world, with kind and brave people, who still have imperial ambitions even in 21st century. Those who occupy the largest teritory in the world, produce rockets, nuclear submarines and presume to bark at other powerful countries with no consequences. What an illusion that is...

You have never seen the reality of our, russian world. With poverty, meanness, unreasonable cruelty, sufferings. Which much rarely happen anywhere else. Which are not the cause of USA`s politics or anyones else, but just our habit of living.

Our famous rock band "Aria" sang in 1995:

В этой пьяной стране есть для каждого кнут
Здесь поют о душе и в нее же плюют
Как назло, как назло, как назло
Я понял слишком поздно...

(song itself Паранойя — Ария. Слушать онлайн на Яндекс.Музыке)

Moreover, we are agressive. Occupied two countries in the last six years. And already spread our influence in Latvia as well.

We are good at making shows. We are good at even decepting ourselves.
And I don`t want anyone from abroad to got into trap of falling in love with some populated symbols of our nation.
You invest in russian economy - you may loose all you money. Because it`s unpredictable.
Russian rulers are far from being the brightest people in the country. Ordinary Russians themselves - no comments.
They have already agreed to earn less and pay more. No protests in Moscow these days as you can see.

If you come here to live - you may get stabbed for the colour of your skin or sometimes just for having an accent.

I want all the people from the west to be proud of their nations. You are the example for the rest of the world and always have been.
Most notably: our most beautiful city - St Petersburg was designed by your, european, architects. Anything else in russian culture, in paintings, music, literature is a heritage of your culture. We don`t have our own culture ourselves, that`s a great myth.

Your problems such as Guantanamo scandal are nothing comparing to our lies.

And concerning the "alternative view" - that`s a complete nonsense. There is always only one existing truth. Many just get used to disguise their lies with words like "different opinion", "another point of view" etc. etc. Especially propaganda channels like Russia Today.