Russian National Anthem?

[Shai-Hulud]

G. A:
I know Soviet culture was mainly influenced by Russian, but it was a different nation. The fact that Soviet Anthem was reinstated just proves how weak the Russian culture is and how strong Soviet culture still is. Russian is not equivalent to Soviet Union, they're two nations based on completely different ideologies, although cultures naturally resemble one another.

[G.A]

Originally posted by Shai-Hulud
G. A:
I know Soviet culture was mainly influenced by Russian, but it was a different nation. The fact that Soviet Anthem was reinstated just proves how weak the Russian culture is and how strong Soviet culture still is. Russian is not equivalent to Soviet Union, they're two nations based on completely different ideologies, although cultures naturally resemble one another.

Nothing to do with culture at all. The Soviet anthem represents nothing else, but the Imperial Ambition

And Russian culture... How can it be strong? And how can it dominate? Russia is still a huge multinational empire with Russians not being a clear majority there. So, your implication about weak culture has no point here at all. The "national" identity thing can only be used in a country with clean national majority. And don`t give US as an example. Cause the 50 states weren`t conquered by Washington DC over centuries, like the most of Russian territory was by small kingdom around Moscow

[G.A]

Also, there was no Soviet nation, that you refer to. Unlike USA, the Soviet Union actually failed to unite the 200 something large ethnical groups on it`s territory into one powerful nation, and that`s why it fell.

[Lars-E]

G.A, I know that the Soviet Union treated The Ukraine harshly for many years. Even in the fifties The Ukraine was bombed by Soviet planes. There has been civil war conditions there.

So there was much unrest in The Ukraine and probably the place where there was most organized resistance against the atrocities of the communists.

One downer is strong fascist movements though.

I'm reading a book called "The Black Book of Communism - Crimes Terror Repression" (1997) which is based on newly open Soviet archives - 1990s. It's very interesting to find out that Lenin was a murderous thug. His own signed orders proves it.

I have been to Belarus which comes across as poor and grey, but The Ukraine is supposed to be worse off. The ppl of Belarus are very suspicious of foreigners - westerners? Their neighboring countries are not very fond of Belarus. Due to the dictator? And you find the mafia here as well. Who? The guyz with the money.

[Shai-Hulud]

Nothing to do with culture at all. The Soviet anthem represents nothing else, but the Imperial Ambition

Anthem has nothing to do with culture at all?

And Russian culture... How can it be strong? And how can it dominate? Russia is still a huge multinational empire with Russians not being a clear majority there

True. Although the Soviet culture was still stronger than Russian despite of the fact that it was mostly created by Russians. So, it's possible to have a culture stronger than Russian - there was one before it. Of course, the Soviet culture never was THAT strong either, just a lot more influential than Russian.

Unlike USA, the Soviet Union actually failed to unite the 200 something large ethnical groups on it`s territory into one powerful nation, and that`s why it fell.

Failure of planned economics and dictatorian oppression might have something to do with it as well. Ethnic groups made it impossible for USSR to fully integrate but for all we know - it would have fell even if the integration had happened. And the minorities never really threatened Soviet power, it always found solutions to silence dissents.

[The Vagabond]

Originally posted by G.A

Nothing to do with culture at all. The Soviet anthem represents nothing else, but the Imperial Ambition

And Russian culture... How can it be strong? And how can it dominate? Russia is still a huge multinational empire with Russians not being a clear majority there. So, your implication about weak culture has no point here at all. The "national" identity thing can only be used in a country with clean national majority. And don`t give US as an example. Cause the 50 states weren`t conquered by Washington DC over centuries, like the most of Russian territory was by small kingdom around Moscow

The Soviet anthem primarily symbolizes continuance of the Russian history.

You doubt the strength of the Russian culture?? It is even more odd to hear this from a citizen of a country that is overwhelmed by the Russian culture and struggles for its own identity.

BTW, there are about 80% of ethnic Russians in Russia. But I don't see your point. As any other major culture, the Russian culture is created and reproduced by and attracts people of various ethnic backgrounds. A kind of "cultural imperialism".

Originally posted by Shai-Hulud

True. Although the Soviet culture was still stronger than Russian despite of the fact that it was mostly created by Russians. So, it's possible to have a culture stronger than Russian - there was one before it. Of course, the Soviet culture never was THAT strong either, just a lot more influential than Russian.

I don't see the point in contraposing the Soviet and Russian cultures. The Russian culture is something that originated many centuries ago and passed through several major periods of its development. The Soviet period was one of those. In this sense, the best of the Soviet culture is now a part of the Russian culture.

BTW, the Soviet culture was not so bad. It was somewhat one-sided due to various taboos. But in what was allowed, it was really great.

Originally posted by Lars-E

G.A, I know that the Soviet Union treated The Ukraine harshly for many years. Even in the fifties The Ukraine was bombed by Soviet planes. There has been civil war conditions there.

So there was much unrest in The Ukraine and probably the place where there was most organized resistance against the atrocities of the communists.

What you are writing about concerns Western Ukraine, a relatively small piece of land annexed by the USSR following WW2 and "given" to Ukraine. Therefore, Ukraine as a whole was not a victim here. It was rather a beneficiary. What you wrote is therefore misleading. It overvictimizes Ukraine and overdemonizes Russia.

[G.A]

80% ethnical Russians is of course bollocks

It`s the same as here - just in Soviet times it was "fashionable" to write your nationality as "Russian" if in doubt

I call myself "Russian" too, though only quarter of my ancestors are actually Russian

Under "culture" I meant not that culture, that you mean, but what the foreign guys meant

And who is overwhelmed? You only talk about Eastern Ukraine, just like that guy only talked about Western one

Also the way which that "overwhelm" was done - simply moving Ukrainians to Siberia and settling other peoples to their place is not exactly the "cultural influence"

They can`t understand the anthem issue here, cause Russia never had truly "national" anthem. Only "State" ones

Oh, and the main point - isn`t Russia really demoniac???

[Eli]

Weeeeeeee, we have an influx of Russians here!
Do we open a Russian thread?

[Shai-Hulud]

The Soviet period was one of those. In this sense, the best of the Soviet culture is now a part of the Russian culture.

Russian culture integrated into the Soviet culture and after the dissolution of USSR the Soviet culture integrated to "newly found" Russian culture. These cultures have a lot of similarities but I dare not to speak of them as one. The Soviet culture was designed and enforced by the party, although greatly influenced by Russia culture. CPSU's mission was to create a new socialist man and such project demanded a socialist culture which took over traditional culture. I think Russia has a major identity crisis and because of it a decayed sense of moral. Much because Soviet culture was enforced and not independently created by the people themselves. Russians were left only with the remnants of bygone national culture when USSR fell.

BTW, the Soviet culture was not so bad. It was somewhat one-sided due to various taboos. But in what was allowed, it was really great.

I'm not so sure about that

[G.A]

Originally posted by Eli
Weeeeeeee, we have an influx of Russians here!
Do we open a Russian thread?

Isn`t this one already? Discussing national anthem, who else has such thread!

Then the "Russia is evil" and "Commies are the reason of all the world`s troubles" threads will follow soon