Having grown up and lived through the last 20 or so years of the cold war, I remember all too well the tension and fear caused by saber rattling.
That is why news like this causes some long buried unsettling feelings to resurface.
Terrorism is quite bad enough, thank you very much. I hope our children don't also have to grow up with another cold war as we did.
Showing posts with label Russia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Russia. Show all posts
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Sunday, April 15, 2007
April 16 - Trouble in Paradise
Happy Income Tax day.
It seems that there is unrest in Russia. Current Russian politics gets little press in this country since it stopped being the evil menace, the U.S.S.R. However, there has been a growing autocratic trend with former KGB agent Putin at the helm. As an example of this, Putin has initiated a change to their governmental structure whereby their equivalent to American state governors are appointed by the President, subject to approval or disapproval of the state residents. The somewhat violent suppression of this peaceful demonstration is another example.
As the wall fell, while we were cautious, we were relatively quick to embrace Russia as a new global partner in democracy. As time has passed, we've seen their democracy troubled by war, insurgency and crime. Putin has a very high (approximately 80%) approval rating. The populace of Russia became dis-enchanted with the idea of democracy as violence and crime and corrupt decadence rocked their world. Putin represents a return to the old ways which, from a short term perspective, are seen as better. We may yet again square off against the communist menace.
In other news, the paternity of Daniellynn has been determined. The father of Anna Nicole Smith's daughter is Larry Birkhead. I hope you can rest easy, now that that is settled.
It seems that there is unrest in Russia. Current Russian politics gets little press in this country since it stopped being the evil menace, the U.S.S.R. However, there has been a growing autocratic trend with former KGB agent Putin at the helm. As an example of this, Putin has initiated a change to their governmental structure whereby their equivalent to American state governors are appointed by the President, subject to approval or disapproval of the state residents. The somewhat violent suppression of this peaceful demonstration is another example.
As the wall fell, while we were cautious, we were relatively quick to embrace Russia as a new global partner in democracy. As time has passed, we've seen their democracy troubled by war, insurgency and crime. Putin has a very high (approximately 80%) approval rating. The populace of Russia became dis-enchanted with the idea of democracy as violence and crime and corrupt decadence rocked their world. Putin represents a return to the old ways which, from a short term perspective, are seen as better. We may yet again square off against the communist menace.
In other news, the paternity of Daniellynn has been determined. The father of Anna Nicole Smith's daughter is Larry Birkhead. I hope you can rest easy, now that that is settled.
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