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

[baron2012.livejournal.com]

Yes, they really hate the USA, not only the Government, but also common people.

[a-nimaida.livejournal.com]

1991 -2001 terrible year in Russia ...

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

And now it's better?

[qi-tronic.livejournal.com]

This is the right which needs protection more than the right to have a gun, isn't it?

www. newrepublic. com/article/120473/pregnancy-job-protection-case-highlights-limits-us-maternity-law

Russia is the best here :)

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

This article is an exaggeration! :) It's true, there are no U.S. laws which mandate it. However, most reputable organizations give paid time off. It's strange that a massive company like UPS would behave like this. For instance, my law firm gives two months of paid leave for mothers AND fathers. And you can take up to a total of six months off (four of which will be unpaid). My prior law firm gave three months paid after the baby was born. However, Russia definitely has a better maternity leave system. It makes sense, doesn't it? Seems many Russians consider the primary objective/purpose for a woman in life is to procreate. :))

[a-nimaida.livejournal.com]

are you laughing?
You read about the depression years in the United States? It was good?

Yeltsin Russian traitor.
We do not get 2 years (!) Salary. These were terrible years for Russia.
Many times I have heard Americans say that in 1991 Russia was good. Russia collapsed, drunk Yeltsin danced in the United States. For the US, it was good.

Now do not laugh over Russia. ;) Putin does not want Russia to become a colony of the United States. Therefore, the US Congress declared Russia "cold war". In a story about Ukraine only believe Americans))


I'm sorry, the US power does not tolerate competition. The US has two ways of relations. 1. If you do not submit to the US, you will be a slave (the experience of slavery forever) or you will be destroyed. 2. Russia destroy impossible, so "cold war". In the US Congress sit psychos. They probably want to destroy all.
written in the Bible "does not live by bread alone."

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

No, I wasn't laughing. I was just asking for your thought about modern day Russia, esp. with the recent and drastic collapse of the ruble.

[a-nimaida.livejournal.com]

Many times I have written to you about Russia. I do not know why you have forgotten.

Russia has never not well lived.
In the last 5-7 years - the best in Russia.
Trade with Europe 450 Millard.
It really did not like the United States.
US is now doing everything to destroy the turnover is between Russia and Europe. US wants himself to trade with Europe.
US does not tolerate competition. Let Europe buys gas from the US, and pays $ 700 per bar)

Asians are closer to us, we will cooperate with Asia. The world is big.


Russian people do not scare the fall of the ruble))
Do not forget, we lived in the Soviet Union, in complete isolation from the world and survived.
We lived at Elnitsa and survived.
And now survive.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

I have not forgotten, but the situation has changed in recent weeks. You are right - Russian people are very strong. Necessary for survival.

[a-nimaida.livejournal.com]

yes they are
because you're used to
eat a simple meal
wear simple clothes

sometimes I think God always keeps the Russian people in asceticism, that nation was strong)))

[krasnogorr.livejournal.com]

Извините, Шэнон, но по вашей ссылке видно, что в США в три раза больше заключённых, чем в России, хотя население больше лишь в два раза. И уж совсем позорное соотношение с Китаем, в котором население больше, чем в США в 3 раза, а заключённых всё равно меньше.

Как вы это прокомментируете на фоне практики казней в США, и тюрем типа Гуантанамо?

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

I support the death penalty, but only in limited cases. And what about Guantanamo? Yes, prisoners were tortured there, and it often led to useful and crucial information. Sometimes it didn't. I'm ambivalent about the military's/CIA's use of torture tactics to gather information and intelligence. Not sure how I feel about it honestly. It's a difficult subject.

[krasnogorr.livejournal.com]

Но как же соотношение заключённых на душу населения? В США оно выше, чем в Китае в несколько раз - это явный признак тоталитаризма. Либо США просто набита криминалом, как индейка ко дню независимости!

И ещё вопрос - сотрудники ФБР (FBI) регулярно убивают людей на допросе. Насколько мне известно - это около 150 человек за последние несколько лет. Не было ни судов, ни следствий - ничего. Просто был допрос и сотрудник ФБР в какой то момент считал необходимым убить допрашиваемого. И никто не выдвигал никаких обвинений против этого сотрудника - как вы к этому относитесь?

Это только начало. Дальше я начну спрашивать вас о том, как действует армия США на контролируемых ею территориях Ирака и Афганистана.

Если я кажусь вам сумасшедшим или вам неприятен этот диалог - просто подтвердите окончание диалога. Я больше не буду настаивать на продолжени.

[baron2012.livejournal.com]

I think it is a new ideology panphobia - the irrational haitred to all other nations.

[baron2012.livejournal.com]

I like your Thanksgiving diches in previous post.:)

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Yeah, so tasty! Much better than McDonald's. :))

[baron2012.livejournal.com]

When I studied in London I liked to have a a dinner at "Hollywood Planet". Is it a popular restaraunt network in the USA? Is it close to american cousine?

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

"Planet Hollywood?" :) Yes, this is a famous chain restaurant, located in most major cities. I don't really know what "American" food is because we eat all cuisines here. I guess classic American foods would be steak, hamburger, apple pie, coleslaw, baked potato. Not sure what else? :)

Have you ever had such poisoning?

[xpo-xpo-xpo.livejournal.com]

I ate much shawarma but I'm alive so far - and surely something like "Yolki-palki" is much safer than shawarma.

Quite likely many people wouldn't like to remember those times...

[xpo-xpo-xpo.livejournal.com]

It was death of a great country with great ideals (it's a different matter how did these ideals find their realization) and replacement of it by real "Upper Volta with missiles" (as now it's not quite an insult but rather quite truthful representation: 75% of exports are mineral resources). So it can be quite unpleasant to recall them one more time :)

Re: Quite likely many people wouldn't like to remember those times...

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Okay, I understand. But this still doesn't give someone the right to call me "American shit" and other insults. And many people yearn for Soviet times, including some of my readers.

Now Russia is like Greece:

[xpo-xpo-xpo.livejournal.com]

in Greece there is everything, if you remember Chekhov :) Price is the only matter :)

For some people everything (or everyone) American is shit.

[xpo-xpo-xpo.livejournal.com]

You can do nothing with this. You may look for some ban-hummer or just smile - may be your smile can change someone's mind :)

Re: For some people everything (or everyone) American is shit.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Well now I'm taking a break from LJ for a little while. For my mental health. :)

One problem with Soviet propaganda...

[xpo-xpo-xpo.livejournal.com]

Many people found now that Soviet propaganda was relatively truthful talking about the West. Surely not everything was truth but at some moment it was impossible even to believe there is unemployment in US :) Now we see it is. And we see that Soviet propaganda was right in this matter.

Probably this problem arose because people saw how propaganda lies about Soviet live - and one may conclude there is no reason to believe in liar's words :) Unfortunately, liars lie all the time only in some textbook problems :)