Flight from Ukraine
But it was already
Here's a strange thing about life: there is simply a gigantic library of Soviet (in the sense of anti-Soviet literature) of the Soviet period. Just monstrous in its volumes. With the exposure of "totalitarian regimes." And you can argue with her, but you can agree, however ... However, I have to admit that, despite all the shortcomings of the Russian Empire, it would be categorically desirable for this very “glorious era” of 1917-1953. passed us. I would very much like that.
There was famine, and civil war, and arrests, and executions. Yes, there were a lot of things. And there was a long period of fear and poverty. And, most interestingly, people from this country fled. By the way, now it is categorically difficult to understand. Understand in modern Russia where to go wherever you want, in any direction. You get used to the good quickly.
We must pay tribute to the Bolsheviks, who, having come to power in the midst of the collapse of the monarchy and the collapse of the empire (Nicholas II was not overthrown by Lenin!), Were able to save the “remnants of past luxury”, but living in the Land of Soviets with “any hair color” was normal time is categorically impossible. By the way, harsh power and harsh ideology were almost inevitable in a poor, backward country, located in a "hostile environment."
But people from the Land of Soviets tried to slip away. And by the way, yes, it turned out quite funny: on the one hand, the USSR actively positioned itself as a “beta version of a better future for all of humanity”, on the other hand, it was impossible even to leave “the country forward” before the end of the Soviet Union. Neither a stuffed animal, nor a carcass.
And this is precisely what created the most serious problems for Soviet ideologists: if you are so good and wonderful, then why are people fleeing from you? And by the way, yes, they also fled from the GDR, and they are still fleeing North Korea. And now you know what's interesting? No one in the West raised the question of what is “impossible”, that these citizens, while fleeing, violate the laws of their country ... It was clear to everyone that this was a goofy “totalitarianism” and it was necessary to fight it.
Now, by the way, it is difficult to discuss this topic already, because many in Russia simply cannot imagine a society where climbing Elbrus is much easier than crossing the Soviet-Finnish border. And even the very desire to leave "over the hill" could be regarded ... well, in general, negatively regarded by the relevant authorities.
I’m all about conveying the “aroma of the era”. And the points in the questionnaire: do you have relatives abroad? So that’s the most interesting. All this “canoe” began just in February of 17 ... if anyone did not understand. That is, the author is, as it were, a “monarchist” approximately in the sense in which German prisoners of war who collaborated with Soviet propaganda were called not “anti-fascists”, but “kashists” (they were better fed).
Somehow, you know, these phrases about the revolution and the fundamental socio-economic reorganization of society are scary. There are serious consequences. But this is so, “for the atmosphere”. You know, a strange feeling sometimes arises: the impression is that you lived alone in the USSR. In the sense that for some reason no one draws analogies between the "first-ever state of workers and peasants" (under the close scrutiny of state security) and Ukraine, which arose after February (!) Of the 2014 year.
This is strange and incomprehensible. The Soviet citizens of the Brezhnev (herbivore!) Era were fascinated by the opportunity to "go to the White House and call the US President a fool", while in the USSR any a public “anti-government” statement could lead to rather sad consequences. While the “damned tsarist power” in the 1916 year was not openly scolded only by the lazy. Both in the Duma and in the liberal press. During World War II, there was more freedom in Russia than in the peaceful 1986 year. Paradox.
And it was not only in Russia
That is, in some measure Russia of the year 1916 was even more democratic and freer than Russia of the year 2016. How much time we lost in telling “sharp” political jokes in an undertone in dark corners. So, the most interesting thing, shortly after the “revolution of dignity”, the freedom of the press in Ukraine ended. Journalists and editors were arrested, intimidated and simply beaten. Something like the rise to power of Hitler / Mussolini in Europe.
But nothing “particularly unique” in the events in Ukraine on February 2014 is visible. It was in Europe (southern and eastern) between the two world wars, it was repeatedly in Latin America. Dictatorial mode. Arising in a previously relatively free country. And by the way, not only the Argentine-Chilean-Brazilian dictators had external "sponsors". Hitler and Mussolini, they also had a place to be.
That is, just the Ukrainian "revolution of hydrology" is not unique even once. It has been repeatedly. And people fled not only from the USSR, but also from Hitler Germany and Italy Mussolini. Not always successful. From Latin American dictatorships also fled. They also fled from Ukraine after the Maidan-2. Yes, there were economic reasons, but political emigration began, and massive!
And for some reason this was not reflected in the mass consciousness. It's not that Poroshenko came to replace Yanukovych. The fact is that the regime itself has changed dramatically. For some reason, the fact that "pro-Western Ukraine" is a much poorer country than "anti-Western Russia" is well known. Although in Kiev and Minsk this fact is persistently ignored. But the fact higher freedoms for some reason, few people are interested.
No, of course, you can “fester” for a long time on the topic that, they say, “Ukraine is fighting external and internal enemies and cannot afford”. Yes, the topic is credible, even Stalin wrote "essays" on it. And before Stalin ... In revolutionary France. When "Bosko chopped on the conveyor", and the people heroically starved and fought with enemies. Internal and external.
All this was (and “struggle”, and revolution, and cutting heads), but you know, somehow you sometimes want to live in a calm, civilized European country. No excesses. Eating to the fullest, scolding power and not fearing night arrests. Never had such a desire?
Oddly enough, but Louis XVI France was much more well-fed and free country than France Robespierre. The huge Bastille prison in the center of the glorious city of Paris (symbol of absolutism!) Stood almost empty and was guarded by a small group of disabled people. In “free France” Robespierre, the prisons were crowded, and the guillotines worked without ceasing. And the workers had nothing to eat (hunger began after and as a result of the revolution, but not vice versa!), And there was a massive political emigration. Somehow it happened. It's nobody's fault. But all historians are “for revolution” and “against rotten absolutism”. I do not envy them childishly.
Would you absolutely definitely want to live in an “interesting time”? I understand when “boys run to war”, but when adults sincerely admire hunger, a mess and mass executions, it is much more difficult to understand. You would be there, dear ones, in that very “great era”.
Why run away from a fairy tale country?
Again, in the Soviet era, the comparison of the GDR and the Federal Republic of Germany was a hackneyed moment, then for some reason they forgot about it sharply. So, before 1991, both Ukraine and Russia were part of the same state (like Germany before 45). Moreover, the Ukrainian SSR lived richer than the RSFSR. And it makes sense to compare yourself! And we can make a bold conclusion that the socio-political model chosen in Moscow turned out to be better than the similar model chosen in Kiev. East Germans fled to the West. Citizens of the USSR - too. Ukrainians fled and are fleeing to Russia. Not looking for analogies?
If you have such a wonderful society, then why do people flee from it? This question can be addressed to so many countries. The former USSR and BSSR are naturally included in their number. Not many people fled from Brezhnev’s USSR, but global conclusions were drawn from this! The number of "escaped" from Ukraine to Russia is in the millions, but no one is interested. So, a trifle that does not deserve attention (people have temporary economic difficulties).
That is, oddly enough, the fact itself does not mean anything (without propaganda treatment!). Periodically, Belarusian professional propagandists tell us what a poor oligarchic regime in Russia is and what a fellow “dad”, the fact of the mass exodus of Belarusian workers in the Russian Federation is completely ignored by them. Not if everything is “so cool” for you, why do people run from you to where everything is “bad”? Why? A question that still haunted the ideologist Suslov.
By the way, this same mass migration is ignored by both the Belarusian opposition press and the Belarusians themselves (supposedly those who are smarter go to Poland, and Russia is so ... temporarily). You know, it is already tired that representatives of states "teach us life", the masses of whom flee to Russia. Annoying. Take home, to Belarus / Ukraine, millions of your migrants and migrant workers, and then criticize. Make us ride to you. As in France, but not today, burning with terrorist attacks and protests, but in the well-fed and calm 80's.
But the “economy” is just less interesting for the author in this case, although Poland cannot provide Ukrainians with anything like earning money from Siberia’s oil fields. But with regard to "freedoms" and political emigration - here, yes, here it is more interesting. As we know, comrade Shary broadcasts to Ukraine from behind a hillock. It’s simply dangerous for him to appear at home, they’ll kill him. How they killed Olesya Buzina. And again, what is interesting: no one answered for the murder of Elder, and no one called the Kiev regime fascist. Everything is fine!
Now, if Buzina was killed in Moscow, then yes, then news I didn’t leave the front pages of leading world publications. And so - everything is in order. By killing Elderberry, Kiev "European" authorities showed: "in order not to lose your head, it is better to shut your mouth." As we well know, it is precisely in Russia that opposition blogging has an emphasized internal character. That is, just in Russia it is not customary to kill people "for wrong views."
And to run over the hill to “broadcast the truth” is somehow not practiced. The modern "political émigré from Russia" is a former major official or banker who becomes a "fiery fighter against the regime" immediately after the initiation of criminal proceedings on the fact of embezzlement of budget funds or withdrawal of the bank's funds to the left.
Imperceptible freedom
I just want to understand when, finally, in Ukraine there will be a normal life, that is, without political excesses? That is, for the author, those same political freedoms are valuable in themselves, even without an economic dimension. Although just after the Maidan-2, the illegal “squeezing” of various “tasty” objects in Ukraine began. But not the point.
And it’s already clear that the fascist regime in Ukraine - at least for a long time. Paradoxically, it is perceived quite normally in Europe, and in the USA, and in Belarus. When people are arrested and killed “for wrong” political views. In general, for the presence of such views. And there is nothing surprising here. This also happened in the democratic “postversal” Poland of 20's - 30's. This was the case in Latin America after WWII and up to our time. And the West (both the United States and Western Europe) quite supported themselves "death squads." What do you want? There was a struggle against communism, but everything is allowed in the war.
The difference between Latin America and Eastern Europe is perhaps the following: in Latin America, “gringos” are hated, in Europe, Eastern Yankees are widely admired. The idea of external management through the American embassy is completely rejected by the Latinos and is perceived as something quite natural in the Eastern European capitals.
And the Czechs, and Poles, and Croats, and Bulgarians consider this situation to be quite normal and natural. From their point of view, this is “freedom”, and there will never be internal protest there. But at least they gave the happy Poles money. With Ukraine, it was decided to follow a “tough Latin American scenario.” When the too “left” president is overthrown, after which censorship is introduced, mass arrests are carried out, and the most popular leaders (lawyers, priests, university teachers) simply “disappear”.
And then “new democratic elections” are held. At the same time, the country remains as poor as before the “transformations”. And elections were also held in the "classical" L. America (this is if someone starts drowning for Zelensky). And in place of one American puppet they chose another. Nothing new, “business as usual,” as they like to say.
That is, the “banana dictatorship” in Ukraine is at least a very long time. For some reason, they like to analyze the situation in Ukraine from the point of view of our bilateral relations (if they still remain), from the point of view of the economy, but not from the point of view of the very level of freedom. Or what, Zelensky will disperse the radicals, return the country to the legal channel, stop the war in the Donbass? What are you!
About how Finland and the Baltic states did not want to participate in the “greatest social experiment of the era” and left the borders of the former Ingushetia, so Donbass and Crimea “went out” of the Maidan that defeated it from Ukraine. Simply, many people want to live in a relatively normal society "here and now", and not participate in a circus show. The lawlessness of special services and social experiments are much less interesting to them than the normal boring life of a respectable burgher.
Ukraine wants to surprise everyone and prove to everyone? For God's sake! Flag in her hands. But at least from the age of 20 we have brought out both that simple truth that the execution of criminal orders is criminal, and that no one is obliged to participate in other people's social experiments against their will. And by the way, yes, the Finns at one time, too, very decisively fired from the "social experimenters", as did the Poles.
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