Way to Russia Talk Lounge

saralaure

Hi!

First, I'd like to say that I was kind of amazed to read about how much Russians seem to dislike Americans. Especially Russian girls ( I read every posted interview and counted how many girls said they didn't like americans as opposed to the guys--why is that??)

I ve been studying Russian for about a year now and am hoping to go visit eventually. I suppose I am very disappointed to hear this because I have a very high opinion of Russian people--there are alot here in NYC. To me, they had a great sense of humor, had an interesting perspective on life, and are very adventurous.

I understand there was a lot of negative history in the past btw the USA and Russia but it was mostly political and that was not my generation and a lot of the negative comments about Americans were made from young people born in the 80s like me.

So I would like to know, why and where does this negative attitude come from??? I am just curious.

I also noticed that many of the people interviewed who had negative things to say about Americans, differentiated them from all other foreigners. I thought it was kind of snobby.

But why do Russians separate us from EVERYONE else?

RyZ · Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 7:25 am Post subject:

hmm, that's a good quastion) Sure that is because of Cold War, most of Russians think that the USA is the only possible enemy to us, another reason - your goverment made some anti-Russian steps last few years (such as anti-rocket defence in Poland), one more thing - many post Soviet countries know wanna be not with Russia but with "West", so thay do everything possible to forget everything about the USSR and Russia (destroing monuments, Fascism support, interdiction of Russian language in that countries)

Ender

RC · Just Starting Joined: 27 Jul 2009 Posts: 1

Here are my 50 cents.
Take a look at this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lptVAbw5oos&feature=related
In order to express your opinion about any nation you should know something about history of the ppl and their culture. Our countries were closed from interaction and culture exchange for many years and our opinion was formed with mass media and politicians. From my childhood I saw ironic and sarcastic pictures about capitalism and was taught about american exploitation of working ppl. Here is a link with small example http://cs1529.vkontakte.ru/u18826089/50263978/x_36f7f6cd.jpg All this was in 80s.

Agressive policy of the US in the world kept adding oil to the fire every year. Business interests substituted and covered by freedom and democracy for other countries. Afghanistan, Iraq, Yugoslavia... NATO expansion and attempts to encrease it's influense in post-Soviet territories. All that blinded ppl and it was only anger in their eyes when they heard anything about the US especially last summer when it was a conflict between Russia and Georgia (but remember the first link).

But is attitude to american ppl? I gues no. It's about politics. We can't neglect the existance of the anger but I think it's a catch and manipulation of ppl opinion.

RC

Daria