I have friends in Russia that I have known for more than 30 years! People I first met in '91 and '92, when I was living in the USSR and working at Leningrad Television. They are good people. I know them and I trust them. I will always trust them in spite of whatever hostilities arise between our nations. I am impervious to the virus of Russophobia because I am inoculated by these friends. But most people have never been to Russia and don't really know any Russians. To inoculate them, we must introduce them to Russia as we have seen it with our own eyes. I commend what you are doing, Scott. I, too, am trying to wake people up about Russia. It is a monumental task. But we will continue this important Work! Thank you for all that you are doing!
I speak Russian and I sort of get their mentality - they need an inspiration to become as one / people and I do separate Russians who believe in Orthodox Church from the Soviets who are nothing more than materialistic pigs dreaming/ salivating about 'great Russia'
80% of people live on 20% of Russia's territory, that's for starters
I have nothing against Russians or other peoples living there but I am against corruption - I'm been involved in wildlife protection for years and corruption is the main obstacle to get any results whatsoever. So, I do my homework about Ukraine situation but do not expect me to become a fan of corruption
MAYBE YOU OR THOSE YOU KNOW WOULD LIKE SOME OF MY UKRAINE-RUSSIA MEME POSTS :)
RUSSOphobia: Best Russia Invades Ukraine Memes (It's Still F*ck Ukraine!)
- Kiev vs. US cities, rebuilt Mariupol, please hurry Mr. Putin (coz we are going broke in the West), Ukraine war summed up in memes, and more Ukraine hypocrisy meme + news the West won't tell you!
Thanks for taking the time to comment on Chapter One of what is planned to be an 11-chappter (plus introduction, conclusion, and five vignettes) journey of discovery.
You make many assumptions about me, those I interacted with, and what the foundation of this journey is (you might want to read the introduction, published earlier, if you haven't already.)
I'm comfortable with the context from which this journey is being undertaken. So, too, are those who accompanied me on this journey.
That the journey doesn't resonate with you is a shame.
But it resonates with others, and I'll keep on writing about it.
But please do elaborate more on the context of your criticism. Are you yourself Russian? Do you reside there? Have you travelled extensively in Russia? I'm interested in whatever insights you can provide that extend beyond simple criticism of a journey you seem not willing to have the patience to let begin before you fire off your barbed arrows.
Hello again, Scott. I just watched your last night's stream and noticed your reference to 'context.' I suppose the extension of my point is that even being aware of a possibility of missing context is one of the few ways we have to guard against misconceptions. Those can snowball and reach a critical point, derailing a well-meaning project. Can I give you an example if you bear with me?
In one of your earlier installments you mentioned a late-night dinner arranged by your hosts upon arrival in Novosibirsk--you sounded befuddled by the timing and (to me) even a little frustrated. Here's what was probably going through the respective heads of those involved in the situation:
Scott the American: "My daughter and I have just been on a very long journey, we are exhausted and just want to go to our hotel and sleep. Isn't that obvious to all normal people?"
Russian hosts: "Scott and his daughter have just been on a very long journey and are exhausted and, after eating a crappy meal on the airplane, are starving. We must feed them immediately. Besides, we'll all sleep when we die, isn't it more exciting to talk?"
The context is that you were being treated like family. No family guest arriving after a long journey will be expected to go to bed right away--and will absolutely be fed, be it night or day. And by "fed", I do not mean the take-ir-or-leave-it "are you hungry? I could make you a sandwich" approach, it's "I knew when you were arriving and made you a dish you like which I have been keeping warm on the stove." So you sit down, eat and talk. Context.
Scott, it was not my purpose to upset you or diminish the value of your efforts and good intentions in bringing some understanding of the Russian 'soul' to the American public. You must have long since realized that Russians and ex-Soviets have a tendency to come across as somewhat harsh to a Western ear--mine weren't the words of rebuke but rather a gentle warning based on very extensive experience observing Americans navigate the post-Soviet space. I apologize.
My credentials are pretty solid (if I say so myself). I am an ex-Soviet Russian speaker, now living in the West, and was a direct participant and fly on the wall in many high-level events immediately following the collapse of the USSR (read: interpreter and translator). The World Bank, IMF, any UN agency, citizen diplomacy, American evangelical students proselitizing to the Orthodox, NGOs, Soros family members--you name it, I've lived it. I also have an advanced degree in IR from a top US university and extended family in Novosibirsk (the elders decided to stay there even after they were allowed to return home in the early 1950s after a 7-year Siberian exile) which, taken together, form a basis for a well-infomed opinion.
Again, no hard feelings, I hope. It was a case of резать правду-матку.
ah, but as i am french, i can tell you that France through out centuries had millions of immigrants from around the world. What ever the cause of leaving their country , they were happy to become French and adopt the French way of life and culture.
Only since shortly , immigration from the african continent cause problems France never had before
Finally, I belief the world can be a better place again with people like Scott Ritter and his wife doing their best to reveal the truth to the ordinary people in the world 🌎
MAYBE SCOTT HAS A RUSSIAN SOUL? Scott's search for the Russian Soul is much like the concept inherent in the primary title of his piece, "waging peace." It is an expression of himself as conundrum, as a consummate WARRIOR and a natural-born DIPLOMAT. But what is a soul - or a Russian Soul - anyways? Perhaps a soul is that metaphysical manifestation within a person of the trinity of human time, perceived by us humans as past, present and future - and very much ingrained in our language. Perhaps in that which is the soul, that immortal aspect of being a human, expresses our essence within the terms of time and space through humans as physical beings. And Russians, as a people, may just be more cognizant of their soul, better express themselves within their construct of time and space, having such historical extremes as a people, spanning the spectrum of human (individual and collective) experience unlike many other modern civilizations. Maybe Russians just feel more connected to their essence, their history, their culture, to their pain and suffering as well as to their glories, maybe feel their existence more strongly as persons in unitary terms, blending the past, present and future - at least maybe more vividly than others do today. Russians glorify their past (the good and the bad), unlike Americans in the modern US, where Americans seem to prefer cancelling and denying (or maybe prefer to hide from) American history and our culture in an effort to make what we are more palatable for our kinder-and-gentler, everyone-gets-a-trophy society. The Russian Soul, that incarnation of the immortality of "Mother Russia," is evident in Russian people, who, almost instinctually, proudly convey in all that they do, their art, architecture, literature, conversations and other forms of expression, their "Russianess," without apology. Scott described this Russian-Soul phenomenon well in his description of Valery Brodsky, the Assistant to the Director of the Novosibirsk Opera and Ballet. He described Valery as "not so much as a man, but as a being—something more than human, beyond simple flesh and bone, but rather a collection of experiences gathered in the shape of a man, but in their totality, so much more." That description of Valery is an outstanding insight into the Russian Soul, where he transcends time and space by projecting a unitary essence of being one with his people who have realized a beautiful vision, an epiphany, though times infused with endless tears, suffering and seemingly insurmountable obstacles. His description of Valery MAY ALSO BE A MIRROR INTO SCOTT'S SOUL. To be sure, it is apropos that the Russians completed the Novosibirsk Opera and Ballet during WWII - and that its first performance was held on May 1945, in honor of the victory over Nazi Germany. To show the brilliance of humankind during the darkest of times manifests the Russian soul. Such horror. Such glory. Such pushing to limits of the spectrum of feelings to blend opposites into one. In this, the Russian Soul seems like a conundrum or an oxymoron, so counterintuitive, much like what "waging peace" evokes - forcing oneself and/or everyone, to do that which each person or every person should do willingly, even instinctually. May Scott, in his quest to wage peace and in his search for the Russian Soul, be like those to whom he has often turned, be "blessed with the gift of putting into words the ideas that best define life." Although he is questing, he already knows the secret of the holy grail. Scott is already at home in his 'American-Russian Soul," ever so passionate about humanity and the way humans we order our human affairs writ large.
Of course, I salute Scott for his insights and his sharing his journey with those of us who can only visit Russia vicariously, like through Scott. I hope my comment above is not considered as critical. Scott's search and journey is not above his pay grade. His words paint a vision that, to me, is humbling and I am very proud that Scott is a patriotic American.
It has been very sad to witness the deterioration of US-Russia relations, after the hopeful era of Detente and the negotiation of arms control treaties, such as the one in which Scott was involved, the INF Treaty. As the late, great historian Stephen F. Cohen stated, the chance for a durable Washington-Moscow strategic partnership was lost in the 1990s when the Soviet Union ended and the Clinton administration decided to pursue a winner-take-all stragegy vis-a-vis Russia, thus ending the path that Gorbachev and Reagan had given us. Even sadder is the absence of voices in the government, media, and think tanks calling for a rethinking of such a destructive policy.
Perhaps it is long overdue to publicly state and restate that we have been and are in the middle of largest US conspiracy ever.
Conspiracy led by Hillary DNC team (including St. Obama, Pelosi, Biden, Schiff, etc.) and Deep State (FBI, CIA, NSA, etc.) and also select RINO GOP collaborators.
The unprecedented and on-going CONSPIRACY includes
• Russia-gate 5-year hoax and major election interference,
• coup in Ukraine and attempted coup against elected US president,
• Hunter laptop premediated lies, silencing of US president in social media and resulting stealing of 2020 election,
• protection of Biden and Biden’s family major corruption,
• Jan. 6 armed insurrection set-up (with almost ten dead according to AOC),
• Building a major censorship apparatus led by CIA and FBI executives in State media, Internet, major universities and technology giant firms – that is still maintained
• Persecution, prosecution, and silencing leading 2024 presidential candidates who are opposing the US War uni-party
It is all very depressing. How do we encourage people to forgo propaganda; become better informed on the history of US-Russian relations; and lobby for a rapproachment before it is too late? Again, echoing the words of Professor Cohen, this New Cold War is more dangerous than the old Cold War: "The epicenter of the earlier Cold War was in Berlin, not close to Russia. And that there was a vast buffer zone between Russia and the West there, in these satellite countries in Eastern Europe. Today, the epicenter is literally on Russia's borders in Ukraine. It is Ukraine that set this off, and Ukraine remains the ticking time bomb politically. And this is not only on Russia's borders, but it is through the heart of Russia's and Ukraine's "Slavic civilization."
- that we should stand with Russia in its fight against Nazi-dominated government of Ukraine, against re-emergence of racism in Europe, and against bipartisan uni-party US fascism.
Scott you know how to tell an enthralling tale complete with history, culture, tension, intrigue all combined into one good and meaningful story--even if it is perhaps a tad long.
I am Russian and I disagree with everything Scott says, Putin is as much responsible for the deterioration of Russia-West relationship as the West. Scott is too afraid to criticise Putin or willingly blind.
Andrey Zvyagintsev, Russia's best movie director was born in Novosibirsk. 'Loveless' is a masterpiece of classy darkness. Sadly, he, like several good directors, is in exile over the war.
I have friends in Russia that I have known for more than 30 years! People I first met in '91 and '92, when I was living in the USSR and working at Leningrad Television. They are good people. I know them and I trust them. I will always trust them in spite of whatever hostilities arise between our nations. I am impervious to the virus of Russophobia because I am inoculated by these friends. But most people have never been to Russia and don't really know any Russians. To inoculate them, we must introduce them to Russia as we have seen it with our own eyes. I commend what you are doing, Scott. I, too, am trying to wake people up about Russia. It is a monumental task. But we will continue this important Work! Thank you for all that you are doing!
give them as present " a russian journal" by john steinbeck ( pinguins)and tell them nothing really changed.
Ordinary people just want peace.
I speak Russian and I sort of get their mentality - they need an inspiration to become as one / people and I do separate Russians who believe in Orthodox Church from the Soviets who are nothing more than materialistic pigs dreaming/ salivating about 'great Russia'
but what is wrong with ' great russia' ? It is a huge country with centuries old cultures. Surely to be respected
And the geography /climate dictate very much the mentality or the soul of its inhabitants
80% of people live on 20% of Russia's territory, that's for starters
I have nothing against Russians or other peoples living there but I am against corruption - I'm been involved in wildlife protection for years and corruption is the main obstacle to get any results whatsoever. So, I do my homework about Ukraine situation but do not expect me to become a fan of corruption
well good luck with your crusade against corruption, because no country is spared.
Not even churches prescribing how to behave.
But Ukraine' s government has a certain reputation, i am sure you are aware of
MAYBE YOU OR THOSE YOU KNOW WOULD LIKE SOME OF MY UKRAINE-RUSSIA MEME POSTS :)
RUSSOphobia: Best Russia Invades Ukraine Memes (It's Still F*ck Ukraine!)
- Kiev vs. US cities, rebuilt Mariupol, please hurry Mr. Putin (coz we are going broke in the West), Ukraine war summed up in memes, and more Ukraine hypocrisy meme + news the West won't tell you!
https://covidsteria.substack.com/p/best-russia-invades-ukraine-still-f-ck-ukraine
FOR MORE UKRAINE STUFF: https://covidsteria.substack.com/t/ukraine-nazi-memes / https://covidsteria.substack.com/t/ukraine-hypocrisy-memes / https://covidsteria.substack.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-memes etc
Jack,
Thanks for taking the time to comment on Chapter One of what is planned to be an 11-chappter (plus introduction, conclusion, and five vignettes) journey of discovery.
You make many assumptions about me, those I interacted with, and what the foundation of this journey is (you might want to read the introduction, published earlier, if you haven't already.)
I'm comfortable with the context from which this journey is being undertaken. So, too, are those who accompanied me on this journey.
That the journey doesn't resonate with you is a shame.
But it resonates with others, and I'll keep on writing about it.
But please do elaborate more on the context of your criticism. Are you yourself Russian? Do you reside there? Have you travelled extensively in Russia? I'm interested in whatever insights you can provide that extend beyond simple criticism of a journey you seem not willing to have the patience to let begin before you fire off your barbed arrows.
Again, thanks for your comments.
Scott Ritter
Hello again, Scott. I just watched your last night's stream and noticed your reference to 'context.' I suppose the extension of my point is that even being aware of a possibility of missing context is one of the few ways we have to guard against misconceptions. Those can snowball and reach a critical point, derailing a well-meaning project. Can I give you an example if you bear with me?
In one of your earlier installments you mentioned a late-night dinner arranged by your hosts upon arrival in Novosibirsk--you sounded befuddled by the timing and (to me) even a little frustrated. Here's what was probably going through the respective heads of those involved in the situation:
Scott the American: "My daughter and I have just been on a very long journey, we are exhausted and just want to go to our hotel and sleep. Isn't that obvious to all normal people?"
Russian hosts: "Scott and his daughter have just been on a very long journey and are exhausted and, after eating a crappy meal on the airplane, are starving. We must feed them immediately. Besides, we'll all sleep when we die, isn't it more exciting to talk?"
The context is that you were being treated like family. No family guest arriving after a long journey will be expected to go to bed right away--and will absolutely be fed, be it night or day. And by "fed", I do not mean the take-ir-or-leave-it "are you hungry? I could make you a sandwich" approach, it's "I knew when you were arriving and made you a dish you like which I have been keeping warm on the stove." So you sit down, eat and talk. Context.
Scott, it was not my purpose to upset you or diminish the value of your efforts and good intentions in bringing some understanding of the Russian 'soul' to the American public. You must have long since realized that Russians and ex-Soviets have a tendency to come across as somewhat harsh to a Western ear--mine weren't the words of rebuke but rather a gentle warning based on very extensive experience observing Americans navigate the post-Soviet space. I apologize.
My credentials are pretty solid (if I say so myself). I am an ex-Soviet Russian speaker, now living in the West, and was a direct participant and fly on the wall in many high-level events immediately following the collapse of the USSR (read: interpreter and translator). The World Bank, IMF, any UN agency, citizen diplomacy, American evangelical students proselitizing to the Orthodox, NGOs, Soros family members--you name it, I've lived it. I also have an advanced degree in IR from a top US university and extended family in Novosibirsk (the elders decided to stay there even after they were allowed to return home in the early 1950s after a 7-year Siberian exile) which, taken together, form a basis for a well-infomed opinion.
Again, no hard feelings, I hope. It was a case of резать правду-матку.
Wonderful Read. May your effort to disarmament succeed!
The problem is usually people, but the solution is ALWAYS people. Wise is the person who in brotherhood points towards the solution.
Thank you. hat an interesting journey well told
Scot,
Gonna throw this out to get opin.
The French are French
The Germans Germans
The Chinese Chinese.
But America?
We are multipolar ethnic nation of of the world dyspora.
So what is our national identity other than a collage of many nations swirling in multi national identities.
So we should be called
The Multinational States of America
MSA NOT USA.
United we're not
but multicultural we are
Multi genreational
ah, but as i am french, i can tell you that France through out centuries had millions of immigrants from around the world. What ever the cause of leaving their country , they were happy to become French and adopt the French way of life and culture.
Only since shortly , immigration from the african continent cause problems France never had before
Bon jour Moon.
That's my French.
Cheers
Finally, I belief the world can be a better place again with people like Scott Ritter and his wife doing their best to reveal the truth to the ordinary people in the world 🌎
MAYBE SCOTT HAS A RUSSIAN SOUL? Scott's search for the Russian Soul is much like the concept inherent in the primary title of his piece, "waging peace." It is an expression of himself as conundrum, as a consummate WARRIOR and a natural-born DIPLOMAT. But what is a soul - or a Russian Soul - anyways? Perhaps a soul is that metaphysical manifestation within a person of the trinity of human time, perceived by us humans as past, present and future - and very much ingrained in our language. Perhaps in that which is the soul, that immortal aspect of being a human, expresses our essence within the terms of time and space through humans as physical beings. And Russians, as a people, may just be more cognizant of their soul, better express themselves within their construct of time and space, having such historical extremes as a people, spanning the spectrum of human (individual and collective) experience unlike many other modern civilizations. Maybe Russians just feel more connected to their essence, their history, their culture, to their pain and suffering as well as to their glories, maybe feel their existence more strongly as persons in unitary terms, blending the past, present and future - at least maybe more vividly than others do today. Russians glorify their past (the good and the bad), unlike Americans in the modern US, where Americans seem to prefer cancelling and denying (or maybe prefer to hide from) American history and our culture in an effort to make what we are more palatable for our kinder-and-gentler, everyone-gets-a-trophy society. The Russian Soul, that incarnation of the immortality of "Mother Russia," is evident in Russian people, who, almost instinctually, proudly convey in all that they do, their art, architecture, literature, conversations and other forms of expression, their "Russianess," without apology. Scott described this Russian-Soul phenomenon well in his description of Valery Brodsky, the Assistant to the Director of the Novosibirsk Opera and Ballet. He described Valery as "not so much as a man, but as a being—something more than human, beyond simple flesh and bone, but rather a collection of experiences gathered in the shape of a man, but in their totality, so much more." That description of Valery is an outstanding insight into the Russian Soul, where he transcends time and space by projecting a unitary essence of being one with his people who have realized a beautiful vision, an epiphany, though times infused with endless tears, suffering and seemingly insurmountable obstacles. His description of Valery MAY ALSO BE A MIRROR INTO SCOTT'S SOUL. To be sure, it is apropos that the Russians completed the Novosibirsk Opera and Ballet during WWII - and that its first performance was held on May 1945, in honor of the victory over Nazi Germany. To show the brilliance of humankind during the darkest of times manifests the Russian soul. Such horror. Such glory. Such pushing to limits of the spectrum of feelings to blend opposites into one. In this, the Russian Soul seems like a conundrum or an oxymoron, so counterintuitive, much like what "waging peace" evokes - forcing oneself and/or everyone, to do that which each person or every person should do willingly, even instinctually. May Scott, in his quest to wage peace and in his search for the Russian Soul, be like those to whom he has often turned, be "blessed with the gift of putting into words the ideas that best define life." Although he is questing, he already knows the secret of the holy grail. Scott is already at home in his 'American-Russian Soul," ever so passionate about humanity and the way humans we order our human affairs writ large.
Of course, I salute Scott for his insights and his sharing his journey with those of us who can only visit Russia vicariously, like through Scott. I hope my comment above is not considered as critical. Scott's search and journey is not above his pay grade. His words paint a vision that, to me, is humbling and I am very proud that Scott is a patriotic American.
Loved it. Im inspired to help dissolve Russophobia in any small measure i can. Look forward to reading more
I would also like to read your planned book, for several decades, about that Circassian (Cherkez) man you spoke about in Episode #84....
PS: Your article is wonderful.
It is so sad that the “unprovoked” war propaganda and censorship created such Russophobia at present....
Hopefully the sanity will return soon.
It has been very sad to witness the deterioration of US-Russia relations, after the hopeful era of Detente and the negotiation of arms control treaties, such as the one in which Scott was involved, the INF Treaty. As the late, great historian Stephen F. Cohen stated, the chance for a durable Washington-Moscow strategic partnership was lost in the 1990s when the Soviet Union ended and the Clinton administration decided to pursue a winner-take-all stragegy vis-a-vis Russia, thus ending the path that Gorbachev and Reagan had given us. Even sadder is the absence of voices in the government, media, and think tanks calling for a rethinking of such a destructive policy.
Perhaps it is long overdue to publicly state and restate that we have been and are in the middle of largest US conspiracy ever.
Conspiracy led by Hillary DNC team (including St. Obama, Pelosi, Biden, Schiff, etc.) and Deep State (FBI, CIA, NSA, etc.) and also select RINO GOP collaborators.
The unprecedented and on-going CONSPIRACY includes
• Russia-gate 5-year hoax and major election interference,
• coup in Ukraine and attempted coup against elected US president,
• Hunter laptop premediated lies, silencing of US president in social media and resulting stealing of 2020 election,
• protection of Biden and Biden’s family major corruption,
• Jan. 6 armed insurrection set-up (with almost ten dead according to AOC),
• Building a major censorship apparatus led by CIA and FBI executives in State media, Internet, major universities and technology giant firms – that is still maintained
• Persecution, prosecution, and silencing leading 2024 presidential candidates who are opposing the US War uni-party
It is all very depressing. How do we encourage people to forgo propaganda; become better informed on the history of US-Russian relations; and lobby for a rapproachment before it is too late? Again, echoing the words of Professor Cohen, this New Cold War is more dangerous than the old Cold War: "The epicenter of the earlier Cold War was in Berlin, not close to Russia. And that there was a vast buffer zone between Russia and the West there, in these satellite countries in Eastern Europe. Today, the epicenter is literally on Russia's borders in Ukraine. It is Ukraine that set this off, and Ukraine remains the ticking time bomb politically. And this is not only on Russia's borders, but it is through the heart of Russia's and Ukraine's "Slavic civilization."
One way to view this is to realize
- that Russia is fighting for ALL of us and
- that we should stand with Russia in its fight against Nazi-dominated government of Ukraine, against re-emergence of racism in Europe, and against bipartisan uni-party US fascism.
Russia is a fascist state under Putin and you know it
Russia has many friends in France.
There is an association " dialogue franco russe" in Paris where very interesting interview are held.
All available on youtube
Thanks - to cheer you up:
Dreizin saves you $70,000 -- Jul 21, 2023
https://thedreizinreport.com/2023/07/21/dreizin-saves-you-70000/
Боже мой!
Thanks for an interesting read. Oh how the peace years of the 90s have been squandered. Since 2001 its been one damn thing after another.
Scott... Thanks for sharing this. You continue to write your own history... As it should be in this life. Peace and Hope.
Scott you know how to tell an enthralling tale complete with history, culture, tension, intrigue all combined into one good and meaningful story--even if it is perhaps a tad long.
I am Russian and I disagree with everything Scott says, Putin is as much responsible for the deterioration of Russia-West relationship as the West. Scott is too afraid to criticise Putin or willingly blind.
Do you live in Dubai right now, perchance?
Great job, Scott! This might help ...
https://liborsoural.substack.com/p/fix-1-2-3-nymphetamine
That was a good read to start my 2.30am day.
Andrey Zvyagintsev, Russia's best movie director was born in Novosibirsk. 'Loveless' is a masterpiece of classy darkness. Sadly, he, like several good directors, is in exile over the war.