EDITORIAL: On Russian Ignorance and Hypocrisy

EDITORIAL

On Russian Ignorance and Hypocrisy

One of the most striking impressions left upon those of us who have spent time living in Russia is that, while Russians portray and imagine themselves as erudite, cosmopolitan and educated they are in fact among the most crudely ignorant people on the face of the earth.  Racism, including open lynchings of blacks, flows through Russia is it were still mired in the last century.  The Internet is repressed, political life is non-existent, and the great artists who once characterized the upper echelons of Russian society have long since passed from the scene.

It may be for this reason that Russians hate foreigners so much, and constantly tell themselves that foreigners hate and misunderstand them right back.  In reality, nothing could be further from the truth, as three news stories from just the last week alone clearly show.

In a Branson, Missouri middle school, Russian traditional culture was on display.  In Kalamazoo, Michigan, an entire week was devoted to exploring Russian life.  And in New York City, a Russian film festival was opening.

Russians, of course, won’t be told about any of this by state-controlled Kremlin TV, the only source of news for most people, because the Kremlin has a strong interest in portraying Americans as morons who know nothing of Russia and hate Russia out of simple blind ignorance.  Ironically, of course, it’s the Russians who remain the morons.

Try — we dare you — to find similar examples of Russians reaching out to explore American culture in last week’s news from Russia.  You won’t find a single one.  You’ll find instead only the propagation of stereotypes and ignorance about America — indeed, you’ll find many Russians scoffing at the notion that America even has anything worthy of the name “culture.”  At the same time, of course, you’ll find Russians scurrying as fast as ever they can to purchase blue jeans, Michael Jackson CDs, Big Macs and I-phones.

This is Vladimir Putin’s Russia.