Russia Never Wanted to be Part of the West
When the Soviet Union started to break up in 1991, many people thought that it was the end of an era. Finally, Russia, the “heir” to the Soviet Union, will return to its rightful place in Western history. After a quarter of a century, Russia will return to its rightful place as part of the West. The country boasts of such artistical giants as the writer Dostoyevsky and the composer Tchaikovsky; it is home to the world’s largest art museum, with paintings by Rembrandt and Matisse; and for much of its time it was very much involved in European history.
But in time, it seems that Russia steadfastly holds on to its communist past. Cities named after communists, such as Kaliningrad and Kirov abound; even though Leningrad was renamed St. Petersburg, the name has remained as such in the oblast surrounding it. The Russian name for beautiful, “Krasny”, has also been the word for “red”, as in communism. Red Square and Krasnodar Krai are manifestations of this. Victory Day, celebrated on May 9th, the day Germany surrendered to the allies in WW2, is also celebrated in Russia, a legacy of the Soviet era, complete with a pompous military parade.
It seems that Russia never gave up its Communist nostalgia. As late as the present decade, many Russians look favorably to communist nostalgia. The Russian elite is not afraid of invading neighboring countries such as Georgia and Ukraine, contrary to the laws of the West. Most statues of Lenin, the first leader of the Soviet Union, are still in Russia.
Personally, I am speechless. Exactly when did Russia decide that Western values are not for them? Such a waste on a country who contributed much to the Western world. Why waste your time on Europe if you do not want to be part of Europe any longer?
