Dear CCI Friends,
There is an article by a new (to us) commentator circulating on the internet titled, “The Soul That Cannot Be Conquered: Endurance and Destiny In the Russian Spirit,” by Kautilya the Commentator. We have no idea who the author is but he or she has produced a thoughtful, respectful and eloquent analysis of the character of the Russian population as it has been molded by history.
The piece also paints a slightly romanticised version of the Russian ‘national character’ so we asked a long-time friend of CCI who lives in southern Russia for her opinion – on the subject, the author, and whether we should share it with you.
Here’s the article:
https://substack.com/inbox/post/176381076
– and here’s our friend’s take on it. I hope you enjoy them both and let us know your thoughts.
Dear Paula!
Of course the article is written in too pretentious and metaphorical language. However, it’s interesting to read. Besides, I can’t say that I agree with all the conclusions and statements, but I do agree with many points.
What I didn’t like and don’t agree with:
- With the conclusion that “Russian culture transfigures suffering into meaning”. It used to be like that in the past, but nowadays nobody wants to suffer. The idea that people must suffer is promoted by the authorities and elite who benefit from keeping the ordinary people for unrequited, long-suffering slaves and trailer trash;
- With the idea that «suffering binds generations, turning history itself into a form of strength» – This is an excuse for interested parties. Besides, not everyone in modern Russia accepts Dostoevsky’s philosophy that every person should suffer. Why would that be?
- With that part – “Russia endures because she draws her strength from realms the West has long forgotten – faith, destiny and the collective memory of suffering. Her people do not live for comfort but for meaning.” Again reference to suffering. Enough of suffering! Stop suffering already!
- As far as I remember the lives of my parents, grandparent, and mine own – all the time we were told and taught to think that we need to be patient a little more, suffer, tighten our belts tighter a little more, and very soon we’ll live a great life! However, everything, including patience and willingness to suffer, sooner or later comes to an end. How long can they feed people with fables?
- With the installment, “The Song of the Plains” – it seemed to me that this part was superfluous.
I liked it and I agree :
- With the description of “the morality, the values of the Russian person”
- With the idea explaining the essence of “Russian aggression,” – they forget that most of Russia’s wars have been defensive – wars of survival against foreign coalitions”
- With that concept – “Two Romes have fallen,” wrote the monk Philotheus in the early 16th century, “the third stands, and a fourth there shall not be”.
- With the contents and descriptions of the Chapter “History as Teacher and Witness”
My father participated in the Stalingrad Battle, where he was seriously wounded, so I heard a lot of truth from him about those times. My grandfather went through the whole war and returned home only in the fall of 1945, he liberated Hungary from the Nazis.
My grandmother and my mother survived the horrible famine in the USSR in 1933. Also, they survived the occupation of Krasnodar by the Nazis in 1942, they even spent some time in the basements of the Gestapo, as their neighbor who served as a polizei after German fascists invaded their town, informed the Germans that my grandfather served in the Cossack Army Сorps of the renowned General Pliev and fought at the front. (Sure, there were traitors during the war). After that betrayal, they were captured by the Gestapo. That’s why I know a lot about those times from people who witnessed those events.
- With that statement, “The soldier who falls at the front does not die for ideology but for the Rodina, the mother who gave him life”. Similarly, when Western commentators interpret Russian patriotism as propaganda, they miss its spiritual dimension. To a Russian, love of country is not performative; it is a sacred duty’.
- You can’t but agree with this statement – “To understand Russia is to understand that it carries its history as a living presence, a memory passed from grandmother to grandson, from soldier to student. The dead are not forgotten, they walk beside the living. Every village has its war memorial, every family its story of loss”
My Dad told me that the Soviet soldiers, including him, shouted For the Motherland, for Stalin, when they got up from the trenches to attack fascists. That’s true.
- I believe in the idea that “the Russian soul remains the nation’s central armory”. That’s correct!!!
However, patriotism in Russia was greatly shaken after the betrayal of Yeltsin and Gorbachev, who destroyed the USSR. And it is sad.
PS It’s up to you to decide whether to send it out but I think — WHY NOT?
Sincerely,
Love,
N
We are looking forward to hearing from you as always.
The Center for Citizen Initiatives