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tjean5377 t1_j1yylfj wrote

Reply to comment by vrenak in New sanctions starting to bite Russia’s economy as Moscow admits deficit impact by Minezenroll

Russian history is unlike any other developed country. It's fascinating how much violence, and misery the working class/serfs/people/comrades have endured for generations. The expectation of the ruling class to respond with brutal oppression is pretty much in the DNA of the people. Russia never had a renaissance, it was pulled out of it's feudalism slooooowly and this was only started by Peter the Great. I've read about how peasants/lower class people formed clubs focused around withstanding pain/torture should you get arrested by a noble and sentenced to knouting...(I don't know how true this is but wow). The Russian ethos is pretty dark. I've had the honor of working with a lot of people of Russian diaspora that came to America after winning the green card lottery and after fall of communism. Don't mess with their tea, or their tea breaks.

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ZeldaZealot t1_j1zpyzr wrote

As much as the Russian history is filled with awful rulers, I have to admire the tenacity of the Russian people. Oppression after oppression and they still carry on and even manage to create incredible works of art despite their struggles. I truly hope they can throw off their shackles and build a successful and just government one day.

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zzlab t1_j204idu wrote

Russia like a classic empire just abuses and expropriates the colonies they occupy. There is nothing to admire, Russia is a vile anachronism of the imperial past.

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CaseyTS t1_j20glae wrote

The things that normal humans have been doing in russia despite the despots are actually worth recognizing despite russia's evil past and present.

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zzlab t1_j20l7ye wrote

There is nothing special about that, every nation had creative people. Especially empires. Russian culture is not special in that regard. Who really deserve recognition are talented and brave artists in Russian colonies. Like Ukraine’s Taras Shevchenko, Lesia Ukrainka, Ivan Franko. Those are the artists who really braved and persevered in spite of all.

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noradosmith t1_j20gmpy wrote

Russia is kind of where history comes to take a crap.

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