My journey in Russia, will hopefully teach me about its past and its future. Recently, I visited a a war museum in Moscow. It is a monument to soldiers that died in WW2. I visited an amazing room in the museum. It was being prepared for a big banquet and the large carved wooden doors were open. I had a sly look inside. I felt like I was seeing the past. The room was round with carvings in white all around the walls with each city that the Russians liberated in the war above each image. These cities stretched round the entire room. You could almost see and imagine the fat generals, with their gold medals clanking, smoking fat cigars and drinking Vodka and laughing. In the center of the round ceiling, was a red star with CCCP (USSR) under the star. I felt a little sad, although Russia is still a very powerful country, it was once so much more, feared and loved the world over. The Socialist dream was sold to the people and many believed it and hoped for it. A Utopia and an ideal. Massive buildings were built in the name of it by Stalin, statues erected in every city and town all over Russia. For what? Now Its almost like a party where everybody has left. Although it was certainly not a party and so many people died that dared to challenge the Socialist ideal.
What do we all worship now? what do we all dream of? mass consumerism, the choice to buy anything, anywhere, any day or time. That's what so many people now have, true freedom or true hell? For me, that is ugly and leads to a selfish, damaged society. Having said that, I am as guilty as the next person and am about to buy a flat screen TV, but I hope you see my point. I am not calling for a world Socialist order, but I am asking what is the alternative? what road are we all heading down? What will the coming years bring for us all in "civilized" society for man and the planet? My visit to that museum in Moscow made me think about all of these questions. Lessons from History.
We all need a dream and an ideal to hold onto, will we ever have one? that is the question! Is there more to must have, must have, must have? What "ideal" do world powers sell us now? Fear. The media speak of death and destruction and often blow things out of all proportion. They terrify us and control us, to sell newspapers. We need a dream or a hero to save us all. Where is he/she? Will a religion save us all?
I will now move to another room of thought, a brighter room, I will fling the curtains open, letting the sun shine in and and write about lighter topics, although controversy and thinking about such things is interesting, if not a little dangerous, I hope I have made you think, if only for a second. Happy 2010 dear reader.
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I have similar thoughts here in Poland. 50% of the Poles I speak to want to go back to the old system, 50% want capitalism to continue.
ReplyDeleteThe problem is there are no middle class in Poland. People seem to have everything or nothing. So it's hard to get a consensus view on socialism vs consumerism.
However, I do feel that consumerism is dissolving the boundaries between countries. Poland looks and feels a lot like the U.K.
Is this a good thing? I'm undecided.
It's my opinion that socialism failed in Poland because of the rife corruption. But corruption is still here now in the capitalist system! and it's quite hotly debated in Polish press, the corrupt communists didn't just disappear over night, they just became corrupt free-marketers!
i guess it's not a question of the system -look - English man In Moscow - he's from the UK - the capitalist country -one of the most.and what we see in his "ghosts of history" - we see a man who speaks and thinks as if he's been living in Russia for ages, he asks an eternal question of russian mind - HOW to live and What to do??? unexpectedly.. What is my answer to all these questions? here they are... I guess that we're living our lives for ourselves not for countries or governments therefore we should be responsible for what and how WE're doing here.We forgot the most important thing we're surrounded by. You know what is it? well, it's Nature. In nature everything is balanced. when you destroy the balance there should happen something that gives this balance back. if somebody wants to earn money he makes a war - war means dead people - and nature reacts - Volcano eruptions, floods, earthquakes, tornadoes etc. Nature show us her rage -we're paying the price for what we've done. We never accept Natures forwarnings never -we say it happens then we forget.we're tired of being civilized but we keep on using planes, trains,cars.Look how many people die in car train plane crashes.we're paying for all we're producing by our own lives, creating all this stuff taking minerals from the earth.Besides killing animals and trees to satisfy our needs.But we surely understand that EVERYTHING THAT WE PRODUCE BEGINS TO ROT AND GETS OLDER FROM THE MOMENT OF its APPEARANCE. but we're keeping it on.SO what's my offer? do less harm to nature and to yourself, clean your mind and your stomach at first. less car driving not eating meat and fish (yes you wont save these animals) but you wouldn't be involved you wouldn't be a part of it -be sure we can live without it. when you stop eating what you shouldnt - little by little you'll fit your health,clean up your head. no headache after noon, no tiredness ,no bad thoughts little by little you become more positive person -you begin to control yourself!!! when you feel healthy your mind become brighter. it's all very simple - do not harm. i'd add - begin from yourself, , we put the dirt into our body and then produce deconstructive thoughts and things-think about i'm not voting for vegetaranian (it's personal)or a diet -no i want us to begin from ourselves - and only after that ask where do we go down and etc. I dont have much time now to discuss (have to go now)but if all i 've written above is not clear or not acceptable for you -well be free to wrote me e-mail.
ReplyDeleteGreetings Englishman!
ReplyDeleteI enjoy your varied philosopical ruminations... from being a rooster in a hen house (I've been there... you have to let fly with a ku kiry ku sometimes) to a frustrated observer of ennui in the UK, with political motivation reduced to Fear.
Now back in the US we hear of Nigerian exploding underwear, and Chinese defiant trespass at Newark Airport. The scene there makes the UK look downright normal.
Let me know when you will be in St Petersburg, and add us to your Good Links if you want to.
All the best,
Rob MacDonald