Now that (hopefully) the tensions (and rhetoric) will calm around Ukraine/Russia

[newthinking]

Hopefully what was moving close to, and sometimes being expressed as (by the people our country), ethnic racism, will also calm.

Maybe we can use this as a time to reflect on what we have learned about the region (and have a civil discussion) around one of the historical issues that is "peaking it's head" up.

In the case of ethnic Russians, the borders of what was the country they grew up in were dissolved and many ethnic Russians exist as minorities in all the surrounding countries.

This resulted in a delicate situation which has played out in various ways in different countries. As the "renewed" states (re) realized their heritages, their have been various levels of acceptance and differing levels of prejudices that have played out. So far there have not been many life threatening incidents. However, times are difficult, people are nervous in this period, and more rigid Nationalism is growing in these countries (as in Russia). In addition, far right movements are growing dramatically (also the result of unstable times), and in the countries that formerly were part of the Soviet Union, far right nationalism needs an "enemy". Increasingly that "enemy" is becoming the Russian minorities.

Ethnic Russians have witnessed this, seen it on their TVs, on the internet, and while it has not "unleashed", they understand that there are groups, and even political parties, that don't much care for them, and some would like to remove or even kill them. So in that context, it is easier to understand and see that there is validity to the concerns and opposition to the collation in maidan.

I think we all understand that there is a very real growth of far right activity and extremism throughout the world. In Eastern Europe, the "common enemy" of many of these far right groups has become people who they see as Russian, or tied to Russia. In these regions that is a very real danger.

Hopefully with this knowledge, we can better understand the dynamics when things occur in places like Ukraine. And hopefully we will also expect our leadership to be careful not to allow our interests in a region to inadvertently or strategically further this dynamic.

[Wellstone ruled]

1. It's all about the money.

Russia cannot with stand a diminished Ruble The biggee,millions of barrels of SPRO dumped on the market. Explains Mr. Obama's Saudi visit or part there of besides their funding Merchs killing people in Syria.

Bottom line,Obama 10 Putin 0,game set match. Eat your heart out Rethugs.

[cprise]

2. Hollywood is the largest purveyor of anti-Russian bigotry

To US infotainment, the only good Russian nationals are the ones leaving their country permanently. Its not limited to Russians (the French receive a lot of guff, too) but its more severe in their case.

Understanding this actually puts the Crimea situation in an interesting light.