Why It Matters : Fear and Loathing in Moscow

Fear and Loathing in Moscow
Newsweek
By Anna Nemtsova
Moscow, Russia -- As the financial crisis deepens, the Russian government has been amplifying its anti-American stance, and Robert Schlegel, the youngest deputy in the Russian Duma, is leading those efforts on the streets. On a recent day, Schlegel was standing along the Garden Ring avenue in Moscow, across from the U.S. Embassy, looking for a convenient place to set up a video screen. The screen will come in handy during the anti-American protest that Schlegel, in cooperation with the Nashi, a militantly pro-Kremlin youth group, will hold there on Nov. 1. He expects 15,000 young Russians to show up in Halloween costumes, holding pumpkins and candles and shouting slogans like "Stop your Big American Show!" and "Revolution Now!"

What irony. The Russian citizen dressed up in US Halloween costumes protesting the US? Do you see how Schlegel is using the poor citizen for his benefit?

Schlegel lived most of his life in authoritarian Turkmenistan. A former activist for the Nashi, Schlegel is best known for organizing street protests and pranks targeting Putin's few domestic critics. Now he drives an Alfa Romeo, wears an expensive coat and goes on business trips to London and Germany.

Here is the best example of Russian greed and corruption. He films ordinary Russian citizens who are hurting by using them to keep him in power. To allow him to drive an Alfa Romeo. What is the matter with a Russian car? He wears an expensive coat and goes on trips while the ordinary Russian can hardly pay for all of the new Putin inspired government charges. He probably makes these trips to put his dollars into Western Banks that are safer than Russian Banks. And you elected him. He is just a good example of some of our American Politicans and Bankers. He is the enemy, not the US.

In other words, people like him are no longer marginal. In his role as a Duma deputy, Schlegel is responsible for Moscow's “information policy.” He’s founded a government-supported television channel for youth, BL (which stands for “Beautiful Life”), which has produced a video for the protest.The video has high production values and makes a good effort to rile up viewers. It features a computer-generated cartoon of President Bush, who wears cowboy gear, slurps whiskey and revels in American power. At one point, the cartoon Bush says, "I control the world's oil, economy, wars, culture, science and information. I will tell you how we achieved that. I call it ‘A Big American Show.’”

This is actually so funny that I would dismiss it completely but I know that some Russians actually believe this garbage. You control so much more oil than America does. You control so many resources that the future would be bright if you could only get rid of the oligarch's and the new Russians and the Mafia. You are the guys going to war against little bitty countries that can't fight back. Pop culture will always be more powerful than any culture on this planet. It is the culture of youth, not America. Your culture is safe and strong and the Church again is beginning to grow. To blame the greed of your bankers and the mafia and the new Russian on the US is misplaced. We have the same greedy people as you do. Turn your anger on them. They have hurt you even more than our bankers and greedy politicians have.

Graphic images of World War I, Nazi Germany, the Vietnam War, and September 11 set the tone. As Schlegel says, “The American Empire Show, as we call it, is threatening Russia's stability. We young Russians have to put an end to it.”

Then do not buy dollars, keep your falling Ruble and see where it gets you? Ask your parents why they do not trust the Russian Banks and why they hoard their money in American currency? Stop looking for excuses for your anger and turn them instead on the great leaders that have led you into this pit. You elected them, not American voters. lol

And young Russian are heeding the call. As Russia grows richer and nationalism grows, the size of pro-Kremlin patriot youth movements crescendos. Nashi involves at least 200,000 activists. The Youth Guards have another 100,000 activists. The New People and Young Russia each attract tens of thousands of young patriots.But of all youth movements, Stal, or Steel, a Nashi submovement, most fully reflects the new nationalism fostered by Vladimir Putin. “We are going to change the world from knowing nothing about Russia to respecting and even recognizing Russia as a new fashion,” says Nadezhda Tarasenko, 23, the leader of Stal. “It is important to consolidate around our leader, so nobody inside or outside the country can damage our stability and unity. One thousand activists in my movement are not afraid of using tough methods to stop America's influence on Russia.”

Sorry Nadezhda, American influence is all over Russia and it has been adopted and integrated into you society years ago. You can't take back democracy and capitalism. We can tell lies about Russia in America too but having married a wonderful Russian I do not want to go back to that period where each lie is countered with one from the other country. It is no longer a military conflict Nadezhda but an economic one. Focus your thoughts and your energy in making Russia a bit less beaucratic and a bit more productive. Why has the rest of the world had less of a loss on their stock markets than Russia? Russia has great wealth and oil resources, it should not have taken a harder blow. It is your inefficient, state controlled and media biased institution. Wake up Nadezhda. The average American is just like the average Russian. We like the Russians. We admire the culture. We want to visit your beautiful country and talk with an average person and talk about the same problems that we both have. Greedy Politicians, Greedy Bankers. How many bribes have you had to pay this month just to survive? That is what is destroying the country, not the American citizen. We are in the same bad pot as you are.