August 26, 2008 06:13 pm
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What the experts are missing about Russia
I have been following the events between Russia and Georgia through the media. I have heard almost every explanation of what is going on. I have heard comparisons of Russia and the former Soviet Union to help explain the event happening. I feel that the experts are missing a greater concern that we all should take notice and that is the comparison of Modern Day Russia with that of 1930 Nazi Germany.
Like Germany, Russia suffers from humiliation caused by a defeat. The Germans suffered the humiliation from post WWI and the war guilt imposed upon it by the victors. The Russians went from a Superpower during the Cold War to a third world country. Take into the account that the Germans lost WWI in 1918 and by 1936 they were reoccupying the demilitarized zone in its western providences. That is a span of 18 years. The Russians lost the Cold War in 1989 and the Soviet stock market crash of 1991 ended the Soviet Union. As of a week ago, the Russian Army attacked a neighboring country, a span of roughly 17 years. The main importance of the time frame is it gives a whole generation of Russians, like their 1930 German counterparts, no recollection of past events. This allows the aggressive nationalism to flourish within the population.
Like Germany, Russia is under a quasi dictatorial control, the prior being of greater severity. Russia’s Putin has brought back Russian pride. Hitler brought back Germany’s pride. Both leaders were and are loved by is citizens.
Like Germany, Russia is in a unique situation that gives it the benefit of time. Russia is on the up while the western powers are in a down. The current economical environment in the west leaves it weak to deal with Russia. Like 1930, Europe, the west, is doing everything diplomatic to avoid confrontation.
Like Germany, Russia is saying to the world that the Georgians were mistreating the ethnic Russians in Georgia. Hitler’s Germany said the same thing in 1938 when it invaded neighboring Czechoslovakia: that the Czechs were mistreating the Sudetenland German minority. Like Georgia, 1937 Czechoslovakia was seeking support from the west to keep its independence, and now the West is too passive to support the former.
Like Germany, Russian society is primarily nationalistic. Hitler’s Nazi agenda was one of Darwinian makeup, a Godless government and 40 years of anti-religious socialism has created the same government in Russia. Without the moral hierarchy of a God, the state itself becomes God.
Like Germany, Russia is already threatening Poland. The Russians are upset about the U.S. defense shield and one of the Russian ministers is threatening war if Poland continues cooperation with the U.S. After invading Czechoslovakia in 1938 the Germans turned to Poland as their next target by 1939.
Finally like 1930 Germany, Russia will find an equal axis ally in China as did Germany in Japan. Like Germany and Russia, China and 1930’s Japan also suffered from the same humiliation complex. There is a national holiday in China to commemorate humiliation from the west. That is one reason the Olympics is so important to China, to prove to the world that China is great. All of these countries have commonalities; in that they were or are Godless, and more in important, they’re all looking for natural resources with their growing economies.
What should be done by the western states is a strong forceful condemnation of what Russia has done to Georgia. They also should make no concessions to Russia over Ossetia and Abkhazia. The former soviet countries that are fearing Russian aggression need to make clear alliances of defense to prevent attack by Russia. NATO needs to accelerate each country that wants membership; this would ensure that the west would come to the aid of any one of the countries threatened. This would isolate Russia and it would be forced into cooperation with the west. Finally, to prevent Russia from further resentment they need to be brought closer to the west by the west giving openness for Russian integration to the west as an equal power.
There are many, many, many, more correlations that can be made between now and the 1930s. Americans need to take note of what is unfolding before our eyes. The current environment is perfected for War. I hope that the strong correlation with a black time in history is just that and we will not see history in the future.
— Jameson Bledsoe, New Albany
Thanks for Rockin'
I would like to thank all of the participants of this past Saturday's Rock the River event for our community's youth. Over 170 kids came out to see what the commmunity has to offer. The local organizations that provide youth programs were well-represented. I talked to several middle schoolers who came away knowing that there is more to do in this community than just hang out. I hope that they and many more will become involved in some of the positive, nurturing programs that our community has to offer.
Thanks again to all who helped make this first annual event possible.
— Steve Harris, New Albany
Reader: McCain is out of touch
Sen. John McCain is completely out of touch with our economy and the way people are suffering as a result of the failed economic policies of President Bush. He has stated that our economy is fundamentally strong. His chief economic advisor has called us a nation of whiners and stated that the recession that we are experiencing is all in our heads. How can anyone be so out of touch?
At the Saddleback Forum, moderated by the Rev. Rick Warren, Sen. McCain was asked to define rich. His response was those making $5 million. This he said as if to suggest those making a mere $3 million a year are middle-class. This becomes understandable when you consider that, just days ago, Sen. McCain was asked how many houses he owned. His response was that he was unsure and that he would have a staff member get back to the reporter. The staffer said “at least four.”
I only have one house and I have lived at only four addresses in my lifetime, so it’s not to difficult for me to keep track of the number of homes I have or have lived in. But to not know how many houses he presently owns makes me wonder if Sen. McCain is not only out of touch with the economy, but with reality as well. And, in case you were wondering, Mr. Editor, the actual number of houses Sen. McCain owns is seven. No wonder he has trouble keeping track of them all.
Sen. McCain has stated that we have made great progress economically under President Bush and that he intends to continue to give Americans more of the same. I suppose if I were someone in Sen. McCain’s middle-class making $3 million per year and owned seven homes, and enjoying the tax breaks President Bush gave me, and Sen. McCain has promised to make permanent, things would seem pretty good to me as well. But as I do not, my family and I cannot afford four more years of the same, and millions of Americans who are suffering as a result of the failed economic policies of President Bush cannot afford four more years of the same either.
We need a change and we need it now.
I hope that you will join me in supporting Sen. Barack Obama and vote him into the White House in November.
— Jeffrey Knoebel, Charlestown
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