I do not disagree with you. I was making fun of those people, the theory being that they are more afraid of being ridiculed than anything else.
I also think making them look foolish takes away their mystique and power. Case in point, Mel Brooks’ send-up of Hitler in The Producers. Ditto Charlie Chaplain’s farce in The Great Dictator.
Know that clock watching feeling all too well. Reminds me of waiting impatiently at the ferry dock on a tiny island having exhausted its possibilities in a couple of hours
The folks living in post-Soviet space though are mostly glad to see the back end of the Cold War. Life wasn’t so fun for them. The poverty, vacations in the gulag, no work, a life of propaganda (though much of the older Russian cheloveki, and some of their grandkids, are also sad it’s gone).
Living here in Europe, much time in the Baltics since the late 1990s, having seen these people rebuilding their societies, industry, education, infrastructure, lives, including undoing the damage of 50 years of Soviet occupation and total destruction, I’d say these folks are happy to have the Cold War over, and to have rejoined the civilized West/ Europe, with a life of opportunity and security.
Of course, with Putin and Russia’s history, we see those days reappearing. And that someone special to yell Nyet in your face… well, he’s still there, in Russia!
That's mostly been my experience too, although there are definitely folks--especially older ones-- who miss the days when, as one person described it to me, "everyone was equal and you knew where you stood." And Transnistria seems to have a higher proportion of them than many.
I do not disagree with you. I was making fun of those people, the theory being that they are more afraid of being ridiculed than anything else.
I also think making them look foolish takes away their mystique and power. Case in point, Mel Brooks’ send-up of Hitler in The Producers. Ditto Charlie Chaplain’s farce in The Great Dictator.
I'm right there with you, Bill--and got the sentiment. ;)
This feels like the start of a Twilight Zone episode! Fascinating to think about all the factors that contribute to making a place feel alive vs. not.
Ha, Twilight Zone is exactly the right description!
Great piece, Lisa.
Thank you so much, Erika!
Know that clock watching feeling all too well. Reminds me of waiting impatiently at the ferry dock on a tiny island having exhausted its possibilities in a couple of hours
Hooked from the beginning. Also, you made me go down a Transnistria rabbit hole.
Thanks for letting me know. It's a good one to fall into!
Thanks, very interesting
Thank you for reading!
Great stuff. Thanks.
Thank you for reading!
I’m just wrapping up a post on how much I miss the Cold War. You must be only other person who understands how life kinda sucks since it ended.
There really isn’t a lot going on anymore. Where is that special someone to arrest me after shouting NYET in my face?
The folks living in post-Soviet space though are mostly glad to see the back end of the Cold War. Life wasn’t so fun for them. The poverty, vacations in the gulag, no work, a life of propaganda (though much of the older Russian cheloveki, and some of their grandkids, are also sad it’s gone).
Living here in Europe, much time in the Baltics since the late 1990s, having seen these people rebuilding their societies, industry, education, infrastructure, lives, including undoing the damage of 50 years of Soviet occupation and total destruction, I’d say these folks are happy to have the Cold War over, and to have rejoined the civilized West/ Europe, with a life of opportunity and security.
Of course, with Putin and Russia’s history, we see those days reappearing. And that someone special to yell Nyet in your face… well, he’s still there, in Russia!
Pashli!
That's mostly been my experience too, although there are definitely folks--especially older ones-- who miss the days when, as one person described it to me, "everyone was equal and you knew where you stood." And Transnistria seems to have a higher proportion of them than many.
Dammit. I should have overstayed my allotted eight hours just to get the NYET