So you think you know us

[Frame57]

Ahhh yes. I actually got quite drunk with some Russian submariners. We treated each other like brothers. We understood our roles in our respective navies. They were like me. They like poontang and all the other good things in life. They all were dsirous to have the liberties I enjoy. Not one wanted a new Soviet empire, but a strong Russia that is a place to envy and live a free life in. Freedom I have found is universally bred in most of mankind. The governments we allow screw it up for the people.

[Letum]

The only Russian I know personally speaks about the racism and homophobia
in Russia. It seems to be common in many parts of the '2nd world', but I
understand it is slowly changing.

[Jimbuna]

I'm anything but an expert on Russia...the few I have met were just as ordinary and natural as the majority of people from other countries I have met.

There are good and bad in every society in life....I tend not to believe the viewpoints many politicians try to impose on us.

Speaking from personal experience is far more accurate IMO.

[Freiwillige]

http://english.pravda.ru/russia/hist...ussian_women-0

too funny today I came across this.

Although I have to say I hope the situation for Russian women has improved since the early -90's and there are no stories like the one coming up anymore.

[Sailor Steve]

I was born into a racist society (Dallas, Texas in the 1950s) and grew up hearing bad things about people of color. I also grew up in the wake of World War 2 and saw and read a lot of bad things about Germans ("They're all Nazis"). It was also the time of the Cold War, so of course all Russians are Communists and therefore evil (are even all Communists "evil"?)

My experience, however, is that people are people. There are ones who will step on anybody to achieve whatever goals they have at the moment, ones who will enslave others because they feel superior, or inferior, or just because they can do it. But by and large people just want to get along and make their lives better. I've met people from all over the world, and for the most part I've liked them, and vice versa. Anybody I don't like is because I don't like them personally as individuals.

And the Russian government? I don't trust any government, including my own. I've read what other people have had to say about the Russian government over the years, but I don't know anything really, so I can't say anything one way or the other.

[Letum]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

I was born into a racist society[...]

[...]My experience, however, is that people are people.[...]

There seems to be a juxtaposition in saying that you grew up in a society that
had a particular property, but then claiming that people the world over are
generally the same and it is the individual and not societies or nations as a
whole that are good or bad.

[Freiwillige]

Sounds like a punk song from the 80's

"I was born in a Racist society, Did not feel anything inside of me
If only i could teach the world to see, that society has done pissed on me!

My middle finger became my weapon of choice, In this land where nobody has a voice. Cant you see 50's mom is in decay, Atom bombs well make them all pay!

Cause I was born in a Racist society, feel the wrath of overflowing empathy, of this land thats rotting in its own decay, the youth of tommorow never has a F@#%ing say!"

Sorry for the tangent just my past catching up to me.

Ushankas are awesome hats.

[CaptainHaplo]

The "average" Russian is little different from the average European or American, or any other person for that matter. Many see good and bad in their government, they celebrate family and friends, etc.

Old prejudices die hard, and unfortunately they perservere not so much in the common person, but more often in the halls of governance, on all sides. For example, the missile defence shield is used as a reasoning for national rallying, when Russia could instead be a PART of the process. But for those in power, it is easier to create tension to focus attention, or as we say in America, allow the tail to wag the dog. American politicians do the same, just so there is no misunderstanding or "America is better" claims (though in the traditions of freedom it undeniably is).

In many ways, the two countries are more similiar than they are different at the "grass roots" level of people. Many would say that corruption is more of a problem there, but I would say that jerrymandering, pay to play and other such government corruption shows that America is just as politically corrupt. Business corruption however is more rampant from what I have seen. Local corruption is worse, but that simply is based on the fact that the people themselves have no true control over who runs the local show. However, the "worse-ness" is a matter of degrees, not huge jumps.

I have no problem with the average russian, european or american. I will repeat something I got from my dad, and I have said more than once to my son. We all bleed red. Judge a man on his actions, not his background.

To that end, I have little to judge, as my direct experience immersed in Russian culture is limited. However, what I have observed shows me little difference in reality between them and anyone else.

I was born after the Cold war and thus there is no prejudice toward Russians, would love to even live in Russia and learn Russian some day.

Of course my beautiful girlfriend gave me other plans then to live in some nice cold country...

[TLAM Strike]

Originally Posted by Kapitan

Russia has the capability to ending america right now and america also has the same capability to end russia now these new missile shields, which a treaty was signed i do believe in the 1970's stating a missile shiel could not be constructed as it would give an overall impunity to one side and the effects of MAD would deminish making one side a supreme power rather than just having two super powers this was signed by the americans who now amazingly u turn on this.

poland and check rep are due to have the missile barriers installed who's missiles are they going to target should a launch occour? Iranian missile dont have the range to strike the EU let alone american and north korea can just about hit japan so of course it leads to only one other country capible of nuclear launch Russia.

Sorry Kap but you got a few things wrong there. That treaty (the ABM Treaty) allowed both sides to field a system that would protect only one target in each nation, the Russian deployed a system to protect Moscow (and its ICBM bases near by), the US was to have one to protect NORAD and the ICBM silos near it but it was only operational for a few months (called Safeguard). Also we followed the treaty when we withdrew (6 months notice).

Also Iranian missiles can hit Greece, Cyprus and Bulgaria which are all part of the EU. In the space of a few years Iran has gone from being able to only hit targets in the Mid East to targets in Southern Europe. What range will their Missiles have in 2020? Paris and London maybe? Interceptors based in Poland and the Cech Rep make sense in that case.

Many countries are devloping ABM systems, India for example is devloping both Endo and Exo Atmospheric interceptors... oh and India has Nuclear Weapons and is building an SSBN too... In 20 or 30 years could India be a threat to the US or Europe? Who knows, as Larry Niven wrote "But you see in intelligence work we have to go by capabilities, not by intentions. If a potential enemy can do something to you, you have to prepare for it, without regard to what you think he wants to do."

[nikimcbee]

I've got my degree in Russian and went to school there in the mid-90's.

The people are nice but the politics are goofy, but so is ours.

[XabbaRus]

When in the 90's and where did you study?

[TLAM Strike]

Originally Posted by GoldenRivet

I dont care if she speaks english or not...or if Russia is hell bent on conquering the world... fine... as long as i get to surrender fully to her.

EDIT: what happened to the russian sailor girl image?!?!

Seems to show up if you cut and paste the link.

Before you surrendering don't forget what we got defending the good old USA...