Symbols of America

[peacetraveler22]

For the past few weeks, Ilya Varlamov has published posts incorporating photos from Moscow in the late 1980's - early 90's. I love these! Amazing to see how the country looked right before the collapse of the USSR. In today's post, I saw this photo from 1990. A massive queue to enter the first McDonald's in Moscow! I can't imagine such a scene, or how this fast food chain symbolized so much to people at that time. In 1990, I was 17. A senior in high school, getting ready to graduate and enter university, and closely following events overseas.

What other places, items and things did Soviet citizens associate with America before the collapse? My aunt visited Russia in the early 1980's, and she told me stories about locals asking her for bubble gum and wanting to buy her Levi's, straight off her body. This is no joke.

This is what makes Russia so fascinating to me - very rich and diverse history, constantly shifting and changing. Sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse. Not sure how most Russians feel about the current direction in which Russia is moving...I hope you feel for the better, because it's depressing and sad to live in a place where you feel absolutely no hope or prospect for the future. I have never once felt this way about my life in America...

Comments

[mercibo.livejournal.com]

The main difference of Soviet era is that it was “economics of demand” in contrast of capitalistic “economics of offer”. So while in capitalist world to serve is privilege, in socialist world to get service was a privilege. Every capitalist merchant seeks how to attract customers. He puts up shiny signs, lavishly lights restaurant windows, trains the staff to smile. Soviet restaurants even the fanciest looked more gloomy and basic, that’s why the first McDonald’s was so attractive. Another reason: most of Soviet people had no chances to travel abroad and to see anything different from their everyday life, and ta-dam! ‘abroad’ came by itself!

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

It's really interesting what you said - "who are these Americans that they frightened us with them..." Because sadly it seems Putin's current agenda is to revert Russian mentality back to this state. Where ordinary Americans are seen as evil, barbaric and lacking all sense of values. I say this because I was recently so shocked to read about a current program on Russian news which claimed US parents routinely indoctrinate children with gay themes/porn. If this program was really shown to Russians, it's frightening because it is so completely false!! http://www.vox.com/2014/12/1/7313025/russia-gay-propaganda

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Tom&Jerry...yes, it's an American classic. :) My favorite cartoon as a child. I do not like Disney. I believe it's very evil.

[ambival.livejournal.com]

Well I guess you should respect other people opinion.
)))

It's hard. I know.

And why on Earth did you mention Stalin? "In any case say STALIN!!! -and Russian will be ashamed" - it's a great move )))
May be I should say "KU-KLUX-KLAN"? Or tell you the story of NATIVE Americans?

Or better we both stop this Cold War in LJ? ))

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

To me, freedom is the ability to live life as I please. To not feel burdened with the chores of everyday life. To constantly feel like there is opportunity to grow as a human being, and I feel all these things in America. Always have. Regarding free dentist, and safety, both exist in America. Do you know how many clinics there are that offer free medical services for the poor? Or how many American and Western doctors volunteer their skills to help the needy? Not only in America, but all over the world. Perhaps a lot of Russian doctors also do this, I'm not sure. I've never had to to deal with Russian medical or health services during any of my visits to Russia. Although I've certainly fallen on the ice and snow and busted my butt many times. :)

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Yes, cessation of the Cold War in my blog please. :) It is the opposite of the values/purpose I try to promote, where I advocate for us to better understand each other as people. Btw, you mention the KKK as if it's normal. This is such a small organization, completely reviled by most Americans. Native Americans, yes, this was over a century ago. And what about now? The U.S. government gives them so many reparations to make up for past wrong doings. So to feel sorry for them in present day is not possible, at least not for me. Native Americans are making millions off of all the white folks visiting the casinos on their reservations on a daily basis. And what land has the U.S. tried to acquire in recent times? Zero.

[onkel-hans.livejournal.com]

This AMBIVAL is shameless.

I have a friend,a pathologist, who happens to also be a Japanese. He exhumed on a UN mission the victims of the Serbian massacres in Yugoslavia. Even he, a Japanese - and you know the Japanese psyche - was deeply shocked withe the Serbian atrocities.

The US brought peace to Yugoslavia.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

I can imagine the curiosity and amazement of something new when you have been chained to the same ideology/location for so long, without the ability to explore or consider anything different or revolutionary. Btw, it seems sometimes that the socialist mentality regarding work/service is still alive and well in present day Russia, at least based on my interactions with workers in the retail sectors during my visits (restaurants, gas/parking attendants, hotel workers, etc.). Hopefully this will change in the future.

[krasnogorr.livejournal.com]

Ну, то есть, не готовы =) Лишиться джинсов ради того, что бы поднять нижнюю планку в обществе - это для вас непосильно, я правильно понимаю? Ну, то есть, пока один может жить как ему нравится, а другой ищет еду на помойке - это то, что вы чувствуете и то, что вам нравится в Америке?

Или волонтёры вместо системной медицины - это элемент свободы? Ты не достаточно обеспечен - этот врач тебе не поможет. Иди к волонтёру, может он анальгин выпишет.

А как вам перспектива стать наркоманом? Если отказаться от модных шляпок, но убить наркоманию - на это вы готовы?

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

He's entitled to his viewpoint, but we don't have to agree. :) I just find it a bit hypocritical when everyone bitches and complains about evil America, without remembering the history of their own nation. Including the present day war. I've never claimed the U.S. has bloodless hands either, people just jump to this conclusion at times. This is why I stay away from politics in this blog.

[ambival.livejournal.com]

Btw, you mention the name of Stalin as if it's normal. This was a period of the history of the USSR yes, this was over a half a century ago.
)

You know, most of all I hate double moral.

"And what land has the U.S. tried to acquire in recent times? Zero."

I remember US troops in Yugoslavia, Vietnam, Iraq, Iran (operation Delta), Afghanistan. They killed. Yes. They killed people. Did they occupied these countries? Let's see. Troops are still in the Middle East, in Japan, in Europe.

If you are saying about Crimea - just find a good history manual. This land was Russian as long as Alaska was American.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Sorry, I don't really understand your point. I feel absolutely no guilt for anything I own, or my prosperity in life. I worked hard my whole life, having a job since my teenage years, putting myself through university and a doctorate program. I've always financially supported myself, and buy what I want. Regarding drug addicts, the bottom of society, the less fortunate...I constantly help those in need through charitable work. I've written about it in my blog before. However, you can NEVER help people who are complacent in their misery and don't want change. These people exist in America, and many, many exist in Russia. To accept a shitty life as commonplace or the norm - it will never be me. Necessary to work to effect change - Americans are good at this. Our history has proven it.

[elena-88888.livejournal.com]

I can realize that people shouldn't like every cuisine. We are always different. I just meant by answering that previous comment that "haute couture" cousine is something different than daily one.

I mixed up myself:))) I thought you answered mine comment)))) Sorry)))

Re: Mussolini ha sempre ragione!

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

This looks like apple cider. :)

[harlampiev.livejournal.com]

For me it was simbol of crushing of my country. In center of the capitol - simbol of the enemy- winner. Hate mcducks till now. All food there smells by carton,that packed by. But they make wonderful coffee, its true.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

American people - we are not your enemy. Never have been, and never will be. Yes, McDonald's has decent coffee. It's the only thing I will order there. :)

[elena-88888.livejournal.com]

I followed this story more than a year ago... And completely agree with you. Moreover I can admit that there were cases with gay parents in the USA BUT they never - never would even admit these children who were left and who live in Russia to tell their real stories about their lives in orphanages.
As for seeking for evil and enemies it's just a way to retract their attitude from that things happened between them, in Russia...
By the way, my daughter now is more understandable and clever than I was in her age :))) She doesn't let propaganda to come into her brains... But a lot of people in Russia just trust Putin and all this bullshit... :(((

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

It's good you have raised an open-minded and smart daughter! :) Yes, there are gay people in America, some of them are even parents. I have several gay friends, and they would never promote their lifestyle on their children. And the video of the gay posters on the little boys wall which is depicted in the Russian program comes from an American comedic scene, not reality. Btw, is there absolutely no sex education in Russian schools?

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

No problem! I'm communicating with so many people here, that I often get confused also. :)

It is exactly the case

[onkel-hans.livejournal.com]

If Russians had considered themselves Human, they would not have been so hostile to the humans.
Look what they are doing in Ukraine! What they have done in Chechnya.

Russians have a deep inferiority complex. To compensate they consider themselves Superhuman.
As the Russian vernacular says: русские видят себя пиздатыми (1), а все другие видят их хуевыми (2).
(1) means precisely the perceived Superhuman
(2) means not human at all, just the semblance.

[elena-88888.livejournal.com]

Frankly speaking I don't know about nowadays situation in Russian schools. When I studied in school we had it but our school had very clever team of teachers and it was quite progressive-minded...
My daughter also had some classes at school from time to time.

Re: Mussolini ha sempre ragione!

[onkel-hans.livejournal.com]

This is a regular eau de cologne. Kind of similar to the famous 4711.

[harlampiev.livejournal.com]

American people - we are not your enemy. Never have been, and never will be.

(With horrorble russian accent) When me and my TOVARISHs with vodka on our bears with TOPOLs will appeares at Washington, repeat this to me, cApitalist whore!!!HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!(playing KATYUSHA at BALALAYKA=))))))))

Cold war, dont remember? Then it was true,Ronald Wilson Reagan and his "Evil empire",remember?
Now our countries are in different levels. Enemy could be only equal. For sample I havent any viewing point at Americans- too far from me.=) And bout coffee and MCduck- dammit, we have similar tastes.

[harlampiev.livejournal.com]

"Blast from the past"- yesterday wife asks to find it on torrents=)

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

This is a horrible movie! :))