Author: cheok hong chuan
Date: 03-06-12 15:12
Let me first declare that I have no detailed knowledge of Russian history and culture; unlike say Chinese history, English history, European history or ancient history of the Romans and the Greeks or U.S. history [and even then mainly on the Civil War, because of my fascination with Abraham Lincoln and my quest to find out how a Christian can accept slavery, and the WWI to post WWII period, because of my fascination with Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman (my pet believe that an educated farmer makes the best leaders]. I am hopeless, a total ignoramus when it comes to South American and African history.
What I do know is that the Russians see and identify themselves as ‘white' and European, although the rest of the Europeans see them as 'uncouth' and 'less civilised' than themselves. The Russians also bear the same genetic 'colonialist' or 'imperialistic' tendencies of the 'white man'. The fact that they cling to Siberia and the Far East, when this vast expanse remain a 'relic' of their past and are in no way 'European' in any shape culture or form. Few ever take up the point that the Russians treat the natives of these steppe and tundra lands like the 'white man' in America treated or still treat the native Indians. If there is any 'religion' to claim as Russian it would be the Russian Orthodox Church [and nobody corrupted Christianity more than St Paul, a Greek Jew].
That is the general background. Now to some salient facts that have triggered many of the recent conflicts in modern times and is still in play.
It was the historical fact of attempts to subdue or conquer Russia by the Europeans, [refresh yourself on Napoleon and Hitler], the mantle of which unfortunately passed on to the Yanks, that led to or instigated the Cold War. The Russians instigated the Korean War by inciting North Korea to invade the South. China only came in when MacArthur crossed the Yalu River!
That led to a gross misunderstanding of the Yanks treating Communism as all the same. As MacArthur said – “They are all the same! Let us bomb the hell out of them.”.; when he wanted President Truman to put a few atomic bombs over China, so as to gain victory in the Korean War. But as the Mafioso will say – “Oils ain’t oils!” Chinese communism is communism with Chinese characteristics; Mao and Zhou and most of the other leaders were well read in the Chinese classics. The Chinese have a 5000+ continuing culture. The Russians [like the Yanks] were and are just ‘young lads’ in this sense. Tainted with the same brush, there was derivative or surrogate Cold War [against the Chinese] when the Yanks got involved in Vietnam, when the French could not manage the fight for independence by Uncle Ho.
I hope the Yanks now see the Chinese communists in a different light and as a different brand from the Soviet communists.
China should of course continue past friendship with Russia, despite the lack of help from Russia in the past when help was needed, or being stabbed in the back a few times. But China should do so as a ‘neighbour’ and more importantly, as an ‘equal’. China must know when not to get involved in the continuing Cold War between the Yanks and the Russians. China should remain guided by the Three Pillars of Society. With so many Chinese now living as Americans [compared with Chinese living as Russians; and in fact a Chinese would not be treated as equally in Russia as he would be in the U.S. of A.], this should help with better understanding, if the Chow Lees of this world can see the ‘helicopter’ view! The Russians are not Asians; and an Asian person is not so highly regarded in Russia as the multitude of well to do and successful Asians in the U.S. of A. In fact, if you are Chinese, you will definitely feel more at home in Yankee Land than in Russia. At least in the U.S. we can get to sing Elvis and do ‘rap’ and have Chinese food there as good as in Hongkong and Taipei, and shop for designer clothes that we can buy for our grandchildren. And, you have Chinatowns in every big city in Yankee land!
So, before we all start being too pro-Russian, take a simple step – see how far you can go in making friends with a Russian, have a meal with him, go to a karaoke with him, play golf with him, see his tastes in food and clothing, talk to him about Buddhism, talk to him about Christianity or Hinduism. An American may have a biased broad mind but a Russian usually has a stubborn narrow mind! Be careful!
CHC
7/3/12
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