You know, when the famous Russian fighter, former UFC champion Khabib Nurmagomedov publicly renounced his “Russianness” perceiving this as an offense, at first I simply waved my hand, but then I realized that I still had to speak out, since in many ways this is a personal story for me.
Very interesting view and it would be nice if Europeans start to feel like 'being an European'. Since that won't happen soon, Europe is likely to go under due to lack of European identity. In earlier days I thought that what is emotionally divided should come together rationally. That is obviously not working and the result will be that what came together rationally will fall apart due to emotionally induced nationalistic feelings. One can't replace identity.
It is a nice insightful article and I thank the author for showing his feelings about national identity.
The “European identity” does not exist. If it existed, it would also include Russia as a beacon of culture, civilization and art. We just have a bunch of arrogant, well-paid bureaucrats, imposing repugnant "values" and hysterical Russophobia from Brussels. European identity is the sign of the stupidest of self-destructions and I totally reject it.
Some people may think Fyodor Tyuchev's famous little poem is trite, but I love it. I am a lifelong Russophile with not a drop of Russian blood myself, and I believe this wholeheartedly:
1. Swimming in the SF Bay, when I occasionally get to... watching the pelicans....
2. Around a grateful dead show, in times past, when Garcia was still with us. I have not been to any ungrateful dead shows, the thing I'd go for is gone for now, unless I myself am playing too....
3. Around people speaking Russian. Which I don't understand again yet, except a few words, like ...
Blogodotnoye.... gratitude.
To me most of all being Russian means being with God and my dead Russian mother who tried, she took me out of Russia but couldn't take Russia out of me....
Nailed it. Although born Irish, in Dublin, Ireland, I was fortunate that my father through his work travelled the world, including the former USSR, many but not all Soviet Republics. He travelled the Northern and Southern hemispheres from the mid sixties until he died a few years ago. He brough The Whole World into my home, and shared his experiences and impressions. He loved Russia especially, and raved about the viniculture in Bulgaria - Vinprom - and so on. Spiritually he identified as Russian, and I was lucky enough to be imbued with this through out my upbribging/formation. I am Irish by birth/nationality but Russian in my spirit.
Thank you for your really interesting and illuminating, thought-provoking essay.
Very interesting view and it would be nice if Europeans start to feel like 'being an European'. Since that won't happen soon, Europe is likely to go under due to lack of European identity. In earlier days I thought that what is emotionally divided should come together rationally. That is obviously not working and the result will be that what came together rationally will fall apart due to emotionally induced nationalistic feelings. One can't replace identity.
It is a nice insightful article and I thank the author for showing his feelings about national identity.
The “European identity” does not exist. If it existed, it would also include Russia as a beacon of culture, civilization and art. We just have a bunch of arrogant, well-paid bureaucrats, imposing repugnant "values" and hysterical Russophobia from Brussels. European identity is the sign of the stupidest of self-destructions and I totally reject it.
Some people may think Fyodor Tyuchev's famous little poem is trite, but I love it. I am a lifelong Russophile with not a drop of Russian blood myself, and I believe this wholeheartedly:
Умом Россию не понять,
Аршином общим не измерить:
У ней особенная стать —
В Россию можно только верить.
Places where I feel like I am at home, sometimes.
1. Swimming in the SF Bay, when I occasionally get to... watching the pelicans....
2. Around a grateful dead show, in times past, when Garcia was still with us. I have not been to any ungrateful dead shows, the thing I'd go for is gone for now, unless I myself am playing too....
3. Around people speaking Russian. Which I don't understand again yet, except a few words, like ...
Blogodotnoye.... gratitude.
To me most of all being Russian means being with God and my dead Russian mother who tried, she took me out of Russia but couldn't take Russia out of me....
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2oYVhs6sqHc
MariGolds above....
Nailed it. Although born Irish, in Dublin, Ireland, I was fortunate that my father through his work travelled the world, including the former USSR, many but not all Soviet Republics. He travelled the Northern and Southern hemispheres from the mid sixties until he died a few years ago. He brough The Whole World into my home, and shared his experiences and impressions. He loved Russia especially, and raved about the viniculture in Bulgaria - Vinprom - and so on. Spiritually he identified as Russian, and I was lucky enough to be imbued with this through out my upbribging/formation. I am Irish by birth/nationality but Russian in my spirit.
Thank you for your really interesting and illuminating, thought-provoking essay.
Slán go fóill. Le cúnamh Dé. Is mise le meas.
It was taught to me that "Russian is a state of mind".