For a country with such a rich history, it is often distressing to be reminded of the paradoxes that exist in contemporary Russia. While I can only speak about Moscow, with its thriving theater, ballet and opera scene, a few recent news articles have been very upsetting. Not to mention the adventure I had to Metropolis - the gargantuan mall complete with bowling alley - in order to purchase a bag. While a successful shopping trip, I encountered this complicated Russian identity.
The saleswoman who helped me (she, the English speaker, was called into action when my eyes glazed over at the rapid-fire speech pace of the other woman, who did not slow down, despite my request of медленне, пожалуйцта) explained how she lived in the UK and wanted to move back to a country where English is the primary language, as she "felt freer" speaking in English, and liked that Americans are loud.
Having this pleasant exchange turned ugly when she said that she wanted to move here but there were too many Africans. I gave a dumbfounded look since I could not believe this had escaped her mouth; she took my momentary silence for misunderstanding and repeated, "you know,черный (the Russian adjective for black)." This only went downhill when she said how her Russian friend in Canada said there were so many "men with men and I don't understand it, man and woman is natural." She asked me if I liked the US, and I said yes, and because I can do and think and be who I am there, and despite our issues, of which there are many, it is OK to be of different ethnic, religious, gender and sexual identity backgrounds.
To Continue on a Larger Scale:
There has been a resurgence of Cossacks, those Russian of legend, in the Southwestern part of the country, as well as stopping smaller arts events in Moscow. I thought the Moscow stunt was a gimmick, but this is all too real. It screams of fascism and religious/ethnic persecution. And while I may be an historian, living this is absurd:
The Cossacks Are Back. May the Hills Tremble.
By ELLEN BARRY
Published: March 16, 2013
And in even more absurd news, author/comedian/actor/gay rights' activist Stephen Fry recently met with Vitaly Milonov, the (going to exclude the expletives and not-so-nice terms I would like to insert here) deputy in the St. Petersburg legislature who authored the law against homosexual propaganda.
Russia's Fertile Grounds for Homophobia
18 March 2013 | Issue 5089
For Vitaly Milonov, a deputy in the St. Petersburg legislature and author of the law against homosexual propaganda, his meeting with author and gay activist Stephen Fry on Thursday was, in his words, "fascinating, like contact with an alien civilization." Milonov is probably the only regional politician in Russia with nationwide name recognition. Now, his nonstop war against Russian homosexuals has given him worldwide notoriety.
The Moscow Times
It is times like these that I am reminded that Russia never had a Renaissance. Truly, they were only painting Christian iconography up until 1736!
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