To me, an American, Russia is the country nothing like my own yet everything like my own. Unlike most countries, we were multiracial from the beginning. We are like continents unto ourselves. Not so long ago, we ruled the world between us. Alas, we always seem to be going in the opposite directions, and always at the same time. For example: when Russia was to the Left and atheist, America was to the Right and Christian. Now Russia is to the Right and Christian and America is to the Left and atheist.
We Americans do see ourselves as superior, even before we won the Cold War. Not only are we inarguably richer and more advanced, but we fancy we are morally superior… though we have our doubts recently.
Americans are fascinated by Russia, even as enemies. Not only did Russia survive a genocidal invasion, suffering countless deaths, but it came out of the war more powerful than ever before. Though Russia lost the Cold War against us, it seems to be making a comeback.
To me, personally, regardless of my nationalist bias, I see Russia as a real place of real people trying to live their real lives. They are human, first and foremost. Russia is my brothers and sisters, in every way before and beyond culture and politics.
I am saddened by the plight of the Russian people. They drink or commit suicide because every day is a struggle. We Americans would do the same in their situation. We do when we are in their situation.
The Americans won the Cold War… but are losing the peace. We forsook Russia in her hour of need. As an American, I told my countrymen at the time that we must rebuild Russia, like we did Germany and Japan. Wonderful things would come out of a prosperous Russia, as they do from Germany and Japan. I warned that to forsake Russia, while she was crying out to us for help, would make Russia a worse enemy than ever before. The USSR was a rival, but the Russians of the USSR did not hate us. The Russians we left to rot would.
I do want Russia to thrive and prosper, and not merely to be friendly with my country. I want the people of Russia, the human beings who live there to be happy. I want them to imagine and create wonderful things. The whole world shall be blessed by a happy Russia. It shall be cursed by an angry Russia, and not because of weapons. They are our people, and if our people are miserable, we are miserable… and that is a bad thing.
God Bless Russia!
