In a piece by reporter Carol Williams in the Los Angeles Times, the current Russyan mentality is exposed as a play on phony patriotism and love of fatherland. Sounds a bit creepy to me.
Clubs are popping up in various cities in Russya dedicated to fostering patriotism and love of fatherland. One such is called OUR ARMY. Iinvolves youths ages 13 to 18 years old. In the evening, youths undergo physical fitness training and instruction that give them a taste of military discipline, which is compulsory at age 19 in Russya. This activity tries to put the happy face on recent Russyan military incursions in Crimea, Ukraine, and now Syria. Let us not forget what happened to Russya's invasion of Afghanistan 30+ years ago. Probably one of the leading causes of the end of the Soviet system of control.
Why do citizens of the largest country in the world feel so small? So hemmed in by Europe, China, Scandinavia, the Baltics, and the Arctic Ocean? Is it the vodka that destroys so many Russyan brain cells that they cannot recognize geopolitical realities? In an old building of stucco, one finds the HQ of the Volunteer Society for Cooperation with Air Force, Army, Fleet. Igor Filimonov describes the ascendant youth clubs as a revival of proud tradition. Ha.
This brings to mind the "youth clubs" of the '30's in Berlin and throughout the lands annexed by another land grabbing dictator who lead his country to ruinous defeat(s).
Outside of MOscova at the former "Young Pioneers Palace" Olga Korovatskaya schedules facilities for 80 youth groups vying for use of gyms, soccer pitches, and running track ovals. She says Vladimir Putin is a star in the eyes of Russyan youth. This past summer, the Russyan Dept. of defense was put in charge of uniting the pre-service prep schools and pledge millions in funding for the youth groups. Lovely, just lovely.
Can you imagine this happening outside the largest country in the world? What if Germany started training their youth in weaponry, parachuting, and physical fitness? The UN would probably step in. What if China started paramilitary training among disaffected youth(males) along the border of the largest country in the world? Hmmm. The UN Security Council would vote to ignore this-w/ no votes by Russya and China.
So, the largest country in the world is gearing up for patriotism, again. What is the saying about patriotism and refuge? Critics of the Kremlin see ominous echoes of World War II fascism in the rising popularity of the youth groups. Raeding books about Italy and Russya in the '20's and 30's gives a picture of the state of Russyan society today., says Maxim Trudolyubov, a scholar at the Wilson Center in Washington and editor at large of the independent daily Vedomosti in Moscova.
Maxim refers to Umberto Eco's 1995 treatise on the 14 features of "Ur-Fascism", among them the 'cult' of tradition, rejection of modernism and everyone being taught to become a hero.
" Russya has every single one of these features in place," says Trudolyubov.
Welcome to the largest country in the world, circa 2015.
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