Originally posted by faust+Apr 12th, 2004 - 4:33 pm--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(faust @ Apr 12th, 2004 - 4:33 pm)</div><div class='quotemain'>
Originally posted by Softee@Apr 12th, 2004 - 4:13 pm
<!--QuoteBegin-faust
@Apr 12th, 2004 - 2:14 pm
I think it's more fair to compare how the same stratas of society dress in different countries (i.e. rich in US and Russia, middle-class in US and Russia, etc).
Yes, I agree it would be more accurate.
But the article talks about how Russians are dressing (or starting to dress) in general, doesn't it?
And what I meant by propaganda, is that the Western world had not yet switched from it's cold war mentality, a lot of jounalists are still operating on the anti-soviet propaganda mode...
Hmm, I hate to disagree again. I think that it's not cold war mentality anymore, I think it's a different kind of apprehension. I think many western journalists regard Russia as the big and powerful unknown, it's not the Enemy anymore, yet it's not Western. The country's importance can not be overlooked, whether it is politics or art or science - it's unfamiliar, hence the apprehension, and first rule of defending of an apprehensive feeling is condescendence. Witness the buying and star-studding of Chelsea Football Club by Abramovich - who in the world could've guessed 10 years ago that a Russian (Jew
) can come to London, by a premier football club for 100 million euros, add another 40 million in players and treat all of it like pocket change? The Brits are in uproar (well, except the Chelsea fans
), but everything would be nice and neat if that was George Soros.
I understand where you are coming from - I've had my share of these arguments with the ignorant, but trust me, you will find a much more educated, interesting crowd on this website - so tread lightly and don't be so hot-headed. People don't post here to offend (see Alejandro's signature
). And by the way, welcome to tFS
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faust
I think that post cold war mentality is mixed with xenophobia. Sometimes it's hard to tell which one is acting out... But the sad part is that people don't want to know, it's a lot easier to spit an article like that than to do some research.
I'm sorry, but I see your example with Abramovich, as rather irrelevant. A lot of Western companies have their posessions in Russia as well, that's just int'l finance.
The uproar of the British public, once again, shows their zenophobia. I wonder if it would be OK, if Abramovich went to school in England (just like Greek Soros did)... It's funny, really...
& thanx for the welcome.
softgrey
You think it's paranoid? Watch CNN, keeping in mind how Americans stereotype other nations, including Russians. You'll see a lot of stereotypes, a lot of negativity, and exaggerations. If you keep your mind open to this idea, you might just see how many ignorant reports and articles (like the one in question) are out there...