Nice humor!!! by the way maybe you forgot? The past Feb 2 was the 70th anniversary of the defeat of Nazy army in Stalingrado one of the most important battles in the 2d WW. As is natural in this neoliberal era, there was no mention of this transcendent event in the mass media controlled by big business, whose historical amnesia and misrepresentation have attempted to ignore the role of the Soviet Union in the defeat of Germany, and hide the responsibility of the great capitalist powers in the outbreak and the peculiar development of the armed conflict. The Second World War was not only caused by the ambition of the German fascists, Italian and Japanese to impose a new division of the world, also the imperialist British, French and Americans helped to unleash the most terrible tragedy in recorded history and caused the death of over 60 million people, mostly civilians. The governments of Britain, France and the United States encouraged and enabled German rearmament; overlapped the rapid growth of its armed forces, and called a supposed neutrality fascist aggression against Ethiopia in 1935, the Spanish Republic in 1936, to Austria and Czechoslovakia in 1938 and Poland in 1939. Of course this is all history Saker but we are made of history…but do you in Rusia celebrate this date?
@anonymous:but do you in Rusia celebrate this date?
Well, for one thing, I am not in Russia. Then, speaking for myself, I think that I am acutely aware of the immense tragedy which WWII was. I do agree that the great capitalist powers have a huge responsibility in the outbreak of WWII, but no more than Nazi Germany (which to the very last minute not only hoped to ally itself with the great capitalists, but which even negotiated with then from at least 1941 to the last days and even hours of the war). As for the Soviets, I am convinced that they tried to use Hitler to weaken the capitalist powers and that they were ready to attack themselves. So I see no innocent party here and no sole culprit. The only victims on all sides were the people, including those who were brainwashed by their respective political systems and their ideologies.
The only party which really “won” the war were the Russian people who carried roughly 80% of the burden of beating back the Nazis, and who had to then further struggle in a Cold War against an enemy whose country was 100% untouched by the war, unlike Russia which was devastated. Also, the Russian people won WWII *in spite* of the Bolshevik regime which ruled over them, and while the Nazis were, indeed, defeated at Stalingrad, this was a bitter-sweet victory for the Russian people because this defeat of one of their oppressors (the Nazis) was also a victory for another of their oppressors (the Communists). And, of course, Russia did lose the Cold War, hence their horrors which befell Russian between 1991 and 2000 and the current semi-colonized status Russia lives in.
Yes, given the choice between the Nazis and the Commissars, most Russians choose the Commissars as a lesser evil, but the costs of this war were too horrendous to warrant celebrations. Commemorations – yes. But celebrations? Depends on whom you ask I suppose. When I personally think of Stalingrad or any other of these immense battles, I first and foremost feel sadness for the horrors which the 20th century brought upon the Russian people.
I am also saddened that no decent power in the West won the war. The only comparatively decent leader of this time was de Gaulle. But the rest of them? Absolute SOBs, thugs, killers, genocidal maniacs, etc. All of them, not only Stalin and Hitler, but all of them.
As for Europe, it was colonized by the Soviets in the East, and the Yanks in the West. And while the material conditions in the West were better, it was only due to a far more thieving and stealing capitalist political and economic system than the Soviet one. While the Soviets were actually sending aid to their allies, the Anglos were mercilessly exploiting to death their own “allies”.
None of that feels like much of a victory to me.
Now, the Divine Victory in Lebanon, this is one which makes my heart really rejoice. A 100% pure reason to truly celebrate.
I hope that the 21st century brings such victores both to the West and to Russia (hopefully not against each other).
Saker
Nice humor!!! by the way maybe you forgot? The past Feb 2 was the 70th anniversary of the defeat of Nazy army in Stalingrado one of the most important battles in the 2d WW. As is natural in this neoliberal era, there was no mention of this transcendent event in the mass media controlled by big business, whose historical amnesia and misrepresentation have attempted to ignore the role of the Soviet Union in the defeat of Germany, and hide the responsibility of the great capitalist powers in the outbreak and the peculiar development of the armed conflict.
The Second World War was not only caused by the ambition of the German fascists, Italian and Japanese to impose a new division of the world, also the imperialist British, French and Americans helped to unleash the most terrible tragedy in recorded history and caused the death of over 60 million people, mostly civilians. The governments of Britain, France and the United States encouraged and enabled German rearmament; overlapped the rapid growth of its armed forces, and called a supposed neutrality fascist aggression against Ethiopia in 1935, the Spanish Republic in 1936, to Austria and Czechoslovakia in 1938 and Poland in 1939.
Of course this is all history Saker but we are made of history…but do you in Rusia celebrate this date?
@anonymous:but do you in Rusia celebrate this date?
Well, for one thing, I am not in Russia. Then, speaking for myself, I think that I am acutely aware of the immense tragedy which WWII was. I do agree that the great capitalist powers have a huge responsibility in the outbreak of WWII, but no more than Nazi Germany (which to the very last minute not only hoped to ally itself with the great capitalists, but which even negotiated with then from at least 1941 to the last days and even hours of the war). As for the Soviets, I am convinced that they tried to use Hitler to weaken the capitalist powers and that they were ready to attack themselves. So I see no innocent party here and no sole culprit. The only victims on all sides were the people, including those who were brainwashed by their respective political systems and their ideologies.
The only party which really “won” the war were the Russian people who carried roughly 80% of the burden of beating back the Nazis, and who had to then further struggle in a Cold War against an enemy whose country was 100% untouched by the war, unlike Russia which was devastated. Also, the Russian people won WWII *in spite* of the Bolshevik regime which ruled over them, and while the Nazis were, indeed, defeated at Stalingrad, this was a bitter-sweet victory for the Russian people because this defeat of one of their oppressors (the Nazis) was also a victory for another of their oppressors (the Communists). And, of course, Russia did lose the Cold War, hence their horrors which befell Russian between 1991 and 2000 and the current semi-colonized status Russia lives in.
Yes, given the choice between the Nazis and the Commissars, most Russians choose the Commissars as a lesser evil, but the costs of this war were too horrendous to warrant celebrations. Commemorations – yes. But celebrations? Depends on whom you ask I suppose. When I personally think of Stalingrad or any other of these immense battles, I first and foremost feel sadness for the horrors which the 20th century brought upon the Russian people.
I am also saddened that no decent power in the West won the war. The only comparatively decent leader of this time was de Gaulle. But the rest of them? Absolute SOBs, thugs, killers, genocidal maniacs, etc. All of them, not only Stalin and Hitler, but all of them.
As for Europe, it was colonized by the Soviets in the East, and the Yanks in the West. And while the material conditions in the West were better, it was only due to a far more thieving and stealing capitalist political and economic system than the Soviet one. While the Soviets were actually sending aid to their allies, the Anglos were mercilessly exploiting to death their own “allies”.
None of that feels like much of a victory to me.
Now, the Divine Victory in Lebanon, this is one which makes my heart really rejoice. A 100% pure reason to truly celebrate.
I hope that the 21st century brings such victores both to the West and to Russia (hopefully not against each other).
Cheers!
The Saker