4 ms·

The meaning of "Russian soul" is secretly adoring and mimicking the West (for centuries), while overtly threatening to burn it to the ground. The wives and prog

The meaning of "Russian soul" is secretly adoring and mimicking the West (for centuries), while overtly threatening to burn it to the ground. The wives and progeny of some of the most ardent haters live in Europe and give birth in the United States for American citizenship. Case in point: https://www.reddit.com/r/RussiaUkraineWar2022/comments/1116eh0/solovyovs_son_daniel_lives_in_london_and_shows/ https://www.reddit.com/r/RussiaUkraineWar2022/comments/1116e...

ativzzz 3y ago
> "Russian soul" is secretly adoring and mimicking the West Pretty sure it's not secret at all. St Petersburg founded in the 1700s (and then made the capital of Tsarist Russia) was literally an attempt to westernize Russia. I think the "Russian soul" is more of an inner conflict between the desire to live a Western life while under the heavy influence of non-Western traditions and culture
- renegade-otter 3y ago
  I am not sure what "non-Western culture" means in this context. The only culture I see is the culture of cruelty and sadism.
  - cmrdporcupine 3y ago
    It's not clear what "western culture" really means, other than as a demagogic slogan (used by either side). There are "western" cultureS, plural. Many traditions. And that's the precise strength.
  - ativzzz 3y ago
    Western in the early 18th century referred generally to the cultural reaction of (mostly Western) Europe to the enlightenment that was happening at the time. Russia did not have that movement, so Peter the Great attempted to "Westernize" by bringing some of the ideas into Russia via St. Petersburg, while still maintaining the traditional non-Western Russian Tsarism (I don't know of a better word than non-Western because Eastern doesn't really correspond to a broad culture similar to Westernism as thought of in Western Europe) This is the internal conflict of the "Russian soul"
thriftwy 3y ago
The problem with Kremlins ("ardent haters of the West") is that they are a) In for money or because it is a part of their job description. b) Not too Russian. It's a distinct ethno-political subgroup. The latter would be apparent from reading the "Early Life" section of Wikipedia, or any source of the same effect. A Russian will not want to harm Europe unless it's kill or be killed situation - because Russia is a part of Europe and is not viable without it. A Russian will also not want to hurt Russian people or the country. Kremlins talk about the former and do the latter, all the time.

ativzzz 3y ago

> "Russian soul" is secretly adoring and mimicking the West Pretty sure it's not secret at all. St Petersburg founded in the 1700s (and then made the capital of Tsarist Russia) was literally an attempt to westernize Russia. I think the "Russian soul" is more of an inner conflict between the desire to live a Western life while under the heavy influence of non-Western traditions and culture

renegade-otter 3y ago
I am not sure what "non-Western culture" means in this context. The only culture I see is the culture of cruelty and sadism.
- cmrdporcupine 3y ago
  It's not clear what "western culture" really means, other than as a demagogic slogan (used by either side). There are "western" cultureS, plural. Many traditions. And that's the precise strength.
- ativzzz 3y ago
  Western in the early 18th century referred generally to the cultural reaction of (mostly Western) Europe to the enlightenment that was happening at the time. Russia did not have that movement, so Peter the Great attempted to "Westernize" by bringing some of the ideas into Russia via St. Petersburg, while still maintaining the traditional non-Western Russian Tsarism (I don't know of a better word than non-Western because Eastern doesn't really correspond to a broad culture similar to Westernism as thought of in Western Europe) This is the internal conflict of the "Russian soul"

thriftwy 3y ago

The problem with Kremlins ("ardent haters of the West") is that they are a) In for money or because it is a part of their job description. b) Not too Russian. It's a distinct ethno-political subgroup. The latter would be apparent from reading the "Early Life" section of Wikipedia, or any source of the same effect. A Russian will not want to harm Europe unless it's kill or be killed situation - because Russia is a part of Europe and is not viable without it. A Russian will also not want to hurt Russian people or the country. Kremlins talk about the former and do the latter, all the time.