23 May...Pravda means truth in Russian...but
Russian news reporting is getting pretty interesting. I am not
sure how true it is of late (except for the weather). By the way,
the
weather forecast is always more accurate for Moldova from Russian
sources than others. Problem, in my American mind, is that the
Russian media, and Pravda in particular, is running some interesting and
disturbing propaganda as news. Perhaps this is politically
motivated, because Putin (like Bush) is trying to shore up an internal
political base. Perhaps, there is a sense of lost identity for
Russians in a post-Soviet world. Perhaps Pravda is right and I am
wrong. Here are some links so that you can make your own mind up:
- Title Page: Axis
of Evil is Located in Washington...with stories about how the U.S.
implementing Israel's strategy, What the Real Reason was that
the U.S. Invaded Iraq and Why the U.S. is Thinking of Invading Iran
(basically to have 50% of the world's oil supply in our control), and,
of course, why the true Axis of Evil is Located in Washington.
- Title Page: It
was Only the USSR that Defeated Nazism...with stories on the 61st
Anniversary of the End of the War, How Stalin was Poisoned, and how
NATO Nurtured Latvian Fascists.
The headlines tend to me more sensationalized than the stories.
But the effects are interesting as I have friends here that worry people
in the U.S. forget that the Soviets lost more troops and suffered much
greater damage than we did in WWII. This is true the suffering was
great but I find the second headline suggests that the U.S. suffered no
losses! Egads! Yes, the Soviets sacrificed much in WWII but
so did the Americans, British, French, and others--we fought the war and
won together and it seems wrong to me to suggest otherwise. A few
weeks ago President Putin suggested that a second cold war was
starting--why? Maybe because Vice President Cheney made a speech in
Vilnius, Lithuania that the U.S. supported her allies in Eastern Europe
in their rights to retain control over their territorial boundaries. I agree with
the Vice President. But our Vice President should have the wisdom
to realize that this statement fuels the perception that the U.S. is trying to
surround and contain Russia rather than to engage her. Media here
suggests that a growing gap is emerging between the U.S. and Russia.
Some Moldovans interpreted the speech as a clear sign that the U.S.
would support Moldova if a conflict emerged over Transnistria (a
conflict that I doubt the U.S. would become involved in and one that I
hope will not emerge again).
I find the rhetoric, both Cheney's and Putin's, disturbing and
irresponsible. I do not believe that the broad interests of people
in the U.S. or Russia or anywhere else would be well served by a second
cold war--I am sure it makes for good political rhetoric but it makes
for bad policy. It is unfair to lead Moldovans and Georgians
to believe that the U.S. will support their sides against Russia if a
hot war were to break out.
Further, such ideas stir up nationalist sentiments for among certain
sectors of the Russian population living both in Russia and abroad.
My students seem to get much of their information about world affairs
from Russian sources (even the Romanian speakers). This is
worrisome when you look at how sensationalized it is. I know
American media is less-than-perfect but it is competitive and in most
cases (even Fox News) attempts some objectivity. The media in the
U.S. is responsible for opening our eyes to many ills in our society and
when they get it wrong we are quick to jump on them. I say
GOOD--responsible consumers help to create more responsible media and
that helps to create more responsible government. The more critics
the better but I am grateful to have information that in general helps
us to find truth rather than lead us away from it. Pravda was the
largest newspaper in the USSR and many people in the former Soviet
Republics continue to read it as if it were truth...alas, it does get
the weather right.
A montage of May 9th celebration themes. May 9 is the day the
former Soviet Union celebrates the end of WWII and on the right a
retired Soviet Mig jet that is now housed in a park in Chisinau.
 |
