Way to Russia Talk Lounge

e · VIP Joined: 23 Apr 2005 Posts: 654

When the Soviet Union collapsed and the Cold War ended where were you? What was your reaction to it then? How did you feel about it then? Optimistic? Pessimistic? In hindsight, how do you feel about it now? Do you blame Gorbachev and Pestroika for it or no? Do you think the Soviet Union could've sputtered on for a few years more or was it on its way out? Yes or no how so?

vorteks · Posted: Mon May 09, 2005 2:08 pm Post subject:

In a military camp at 1000 m high trying to find sleep by freezing temperatures at night.

The events that were most marking date from 1989 when the Berlin wall fell. I was happy for eastern countries to be given the oportunity to handle their own future independantly. I regarded Perestroika as a normal consequence of these events. I knew it would result to a sacrificed generation, since you don t go from 80 years of isolationism to an open economy without huge suffering at first.

e · VIP Joined: 23 Apr 2005 Posts: 654

UsualSuspect · Posted: Tue May 10, 2005 3:13 am Post subject: Perestroika years

From what I know and from what my wife tells me, Perestroika was a two edged sword. It did give citizens some more opportunities in small business (those small buses that are everywhere, my wife has lot's of horror stories of the state run bus service) but then he threw in prohibition-like laws to go along. The whole point was to try and break from the institutionalised decay during the Brezhnev years and his successors. I think it was doomed to fail, but I believe the USSR could have lurched on for a while. I certainly think Poland (remember Lech Walensa/the departed Pope/Solidarity?) would have broken away completely on it's own if the USSR had continued.

I can remember being amazed at the news footage, as because I live so far away and our media wasn't too interested in reporting from inside Russia it appeared to have been a tidal wave that swept out communism (and was certainly portrayed as thus). It is only now because of my wife that I am getting a relative idea of what ordinary life was like for a Soviet citizen. From my wife's perspective the later Yeltsin years until Putin were the worst because of the hyper inflation etc etc. As far as pain suffered goes, my wife's Uncle and other family members lost their entire life savings. Not a good thing to have to start again when you are 60 years old.

Usualsuspect

renwan · Talk Show Host Joined: 29 Oct 2004 Posts: 204

Shooting counterevolutionary traitors in Moscow with my army commando(spelling?). As i dont Know how to say it in english here is what I was:

Генерал Специальных Анти-Террористических и Противореволюционерных Наземных Сил, Командос 23, Специальной дивизии города Москва

pessimistic obviously, all has decayed,ALL,EVERYTHING! everything is fucking worse!

normal USSR wage was 300 rubles, they changed 100 USSR Rubles for 1 new ruble, old prices were like 0.05 rubles for a piece of bread, new prices are like 8 rubles for a piece of bread...USSR worker had to spend his salary of over 2 months to buy bread....YEAH GO ELTISN....cyka...

Intourist · Posted: Tue May 10, 2005 9:46 pm Post subject:

renwan · Talk Show Host Joined: 29 Oct 2004 Posts: 204

Why? I have 2 University Degrees, have worked in a lot of countries, and speak a bunch of languages.
I know more than you about anything you can think of, also I am a good militar.

Stop bashing without adjusting yourselg to reality.

Intourist · Posted: Wed May 11, 2005 12:25 pm Post subject:

vorteks · Posted: Wed May 11, 2005 12:34 pm Post subject:

Intourist,

I saw about 2 month ago a report about a russian broadcast on a private channel a debate opposing an anti semitic general to a politician defending a neutral stance regarding jews.

The general was demagogic, rude, misinformed, using clichés, but his general title was undeniable. The interesting side is that spectators voted after the debate to find out who was the most convincing, and the military won by a large stake.

renwan · Talk Show Host Joined: 29 Oct 2004 Posts: 204

Intourist you have failed to provide any good substainted arguments in all our debates, therefore I am in my right to claim I know more than you.

e · VIP Joined: 23 Apr 2005 Posts: 654

It looks like the Soviet Union never ended for one particulur "country":

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/this_world/4532267.stm

renwan · Talk Show Host Joined: 29 Oct 2004 Posts: 204

Yes, they bought Soviet Rubles and use them as their currency, this country stills waiting Int recognition, read more on it and check their money,here:

http://www.mccrawstamps.com/category/bank_notes.europe.transnistria/

El Casey · Posted: Wed May 11, 2005 10:56 pm Post subject:

Interesting article, thanks for the repost! Some of the places I want to visit next summer include both Moldova and "Transnistria," and if it's an even bigger "living USSR museum" than Belarus, I can't wait to see it!

Maybe I can become the US ambassador to the Transdniestr! Laughing

Intourist · Posted: Thu May 12, 2005 8:54 am Post subject: