Russia: Other Points of View

Citizen Diplomacy in Volgograd: June 2015

June 29, 2015

Friends,

Plans for Volgograd had changed during the final weeks. We weren't quite sure how the schedule would work out.   We arrived at 8:25 am on a bright sunny morning. The train came to a halt and we hurriedly got our luggage to the exit door.  I was among the last to deboard and emerged to see what looked like a sea of eager faces coming toward our car.  They were weighted down with flowers. 

Our women in the train cars ahead were already receiving long-stem roses and bouquets.  Running toward our car was Alexander (Sasha) Malashkin, the raging entrepreneur pictured on the front of my book,  The Power of Impossible Ideas.  Hugs and exclamations abounded. We had never had such a welcome here before!  Always it was warm, but nothing like this.  More on this to follow.   

Our Volgograd friends had rented a van, apparently not accepting our intent to travel by taxis and metros.  They whisked us off to our hotel in downtown Volgograd.  I'd been gravely concerned about this hotel, remembering it as a tired old rundown piece of Soviet architecture. Since inexpensive was "in" for this trip, I took the low price and hoped for the best. Pulling up to Hotel Volgograd the exterior appeared as before, drab brown Soviet architecture; upon entering I was shocked.  Renovated with 19th century moldings, gold leaf, walls full of gorgeous fabric and paintings, plus two sleek Otis elevators ….  it all bespoke of foreign money. Who would have invested in this old building in an outlying Russian city?  Waiting for passports, I marveled at the new stained glass behind the registration desk.  On inspection, the rooms were small but elegant––and all of this for $50 to $70 a night depending on occupancy?

Russian citizens finally going sour on America?

Dear Friends, 

The following is probably a pretty accurate description of what has begun to happen all across Russia. But after all, how would we feel if Russia had sanctioned our country, forbade others to trade with us and reduced our dollar to half its value by depriving normal trade with other countries––and fomented a war in Mexico or Canada on our borders?

Our delegation of American citizens may be going into the country next week that is having second thoughts about their original glorification of all things American.   

The email below arrived today.  First we hear from a young Simon in Russia who comments very sensitively and intelligently on the article. Next comes the article published by RUSSIA INSIDER, the brainchild of Charles Bausman.  Charles' father was the UP Bureau Chief in the USSR when he was a child. He grew up in Moscow and developed a bi-cultural mindset while there. When American PR got so twisted regarding Russia a year ago, he determined to start a private news service. RUSSIA INSIDER is the result.  In the past six months Charles has launched and has breathed life and fire into getting out what he sees to be the real information about Russia.  

 Sharon

Comment from Simon in Russia: 

I second quite a lot of this article below. Being a 20-year expat in Russia myself I have never seen such a surge in patriotism (in Russia). Many of my Russian friends are what one would consider, young, savvy, educated. And in the past most, but not all, tended to be very down on their country, and Putin too, they would often talk about wanting a new life abroad in the West. I found it embarrassing, I was always far more positive about the opportunities in Russia and the greatness of this country than they were.

But this last year and a half - what a turn around. Quite simply the majority of the Russians I know are DISGUSTED with the West. And they are rejecting it on so many levels. Not just its miltarism but Its products, its brands, as a holiday destination, its liberal values, its version of democracy. They have rediscovered that for all these things there is and was 'Nasha' version - something that is ours (Russian, or even Soviet) and belongs here, but which was previously denounced as sub-standard.

MY CORRESPONDENCE WITH AN UNKNOWN RUSSIAN WOMAN

RE: A letter received from an unknown Russian woman and my answer

Dear Olga, 

We haven't met, but I thank you for the long letter from your heart.  

I've been thinking how to bring a massive number of citizens from our two countries together to "Rebuild the Bridges" that existed in the 1990s and early 2000s.  During that period we opened up our countries to each other and traded human interests, skills and business "know how" like dear friends.  Now we need to meet again to destroy the ill stereotypes which have been created over the past few years––to determine how we can live together on this tiny planet without destroying each other.  As I read your letter I thought about using your words as the first "human bridge"––a way Americans can learn how you, an unknown Russian woman feels.  Who knows some of them may want to answer back and let you and others know their perceptions and hopes for our two countries.  Thank you for giving me permission to share your letter––I'll do just that!  My list goes out to close to 2,000 Americans, so this is a start toward our two peoples making personal contact again, sharing our deepest hopes -- and making our world a more communicative place––one in which we can share our similar and different points of view.

Yes I know about the Roerich Pact and the Banner of Peace signed in our White House and ratified by our US Senate in 1935––and by 21 other American states.  And yes, it needs to be held irrevocable in our 21st Century.  Thank you for the photos at the end as reminders of what can happen during wars to irreplaceable objects of art from our civilizations.

Thank you again Olga, let's keep in touch,   Sharon 

On Oct 25, 2014, at 12:53 PM, Olga Kudzoeva <[email protected]> wrote:

Dear Sharon,

Let me introduce myself: my name is Olga, I am from St. Petersburg, Russian Federation. I have come to know you through Galina Ermolina (URI). The purpose of my writing to you is the following. About a week ago Galina sent me your letter, asking to translate it in order to forward it to those of our friends, to whom it may be of interest. It was that very letter wherein you spoke of our Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's speech at the UN, dated Sept 27. Your understanding of the fact that the United States must urgently stop their policy towards Russia and other countries and your ardent enthusiasm about contacting your Congress members, demanding to stop this reckless policy of the US, inspired me to write you this letter.  

RUSSIAN RESPONSES: IS RUSSIA READY FOR DEMOCRACY

LETTERS FROM RUSSIA

by Sharon Tennison

Dear friends,

In November you were sent my article on: Is Russia ready for democracy? Thanks for the wonderful feedback you provided!  The same article was translated and sent to numerous Russian entrepreneurs. Their feedback is about as mixed as if numerous Americans had been asked a single question.  Enjoy and have a great Holiday Season!   

EKATERINBURG

This is an interesting article about Russia and if it is ready for democracy. My answer is - yes, we are ready, but not right away, and I agree, that we are not a fully democratic country, which is impossible to turn into overnight. It will take years, years of development, of learning what democracy is. It is not an anarchy, as the Russians thought initially. And we were tired and afraid of anarchy and people were asking for more control. All Russians want freedom - to travel, to choose jobs, to do business, freedom of press, to say what they think. I am sure, it is getting better, but slowly. The crisis hit the country a lot and slowed down the process. I can call Russia a relative democracy.

Now we have a new Governor in the Sverdlovsk oblast - for the better or for the worse? I think, for the better - less corruption, new people are coming into the government, new ideas, new management style. We'll follow the process and see how it will develop.

OBAMA DRINKS RUSSIAN TEA - THE AFTERTASTE

REPRINTS

The Future of Russian-American Relations as Seen From Colomna and San Francisco

Summary Statement: The following is an article from a Russian newspaper Espresso which includes a Q&A that gives a bit of insight about the questions Russians are asking about Obama and Medvedev meetings. -- Sharon Tennison

by Tatiana Trishkina

Tatiana: Even if the leaders of our nations have a liking for each other, we can not ignore the views of political elites of both countries. The agenda of the Moscow summit was prepared by “elders”, whose intrigues go back to time of Reagan and Bush (father). Exactly 20 years ago, Robert Gates was preparing «propaganda bomb for Gorbachev» – the abolition of the Jackson-Vanik amendment. The amendment is still alive. Don’t you think that Obama was sent to Medvedev with a similar “bomb”?

LETTER FROM RUSSIAN ENTREPRENEUR

LETTERS FROM RUSSIA

from Andrey Davidovich

Kolomna, Russia 

I can not insist that my position is shared by the entire population of the Russian Federation, but I am sure my opinion is  that of the majority of economically active Russian citizens taking interest in today's foreign policy.

For most Russians the victory of Barack Obama at the U.S. presidential elections was quite desirable. Although, frankly speaking, at the beginning of the pre-race, I predicted Obama's loss because of the color of his skin. I thought that racist attitudes are still too strong in the United States, but, fortunately, Americans were wiser and more democratic than I expected. Like Americans, we hoped that Obama's victory would bring some update, if you want, the reincarnation of America, which in recent decades has been viewed by the world community not as a bastion of democracy, but rather as "the world's policeman" guarding the interests of "golden billion."

Letters from Russia

Sergey Kolsanov is among CCI most successful entrepreneurs who started from scratch and has built an extraordinary business "Konsultant Plus. Information technologies" providing information service.  His letter is a response  to a CCI request to share thoughts and ideas on the improvement of US-Russia relations.