- Lenin’s Tomb.
- © K. Lee Lerner, 2006
In the West there is a prevailing assumption that the Soviet era is a disgraced memory among the Russian peoples. Most of us from the Cold War era like to think of a new Russia exemplified by Rolex watch billboards and a McDonald’s bordering Red Square, Christmas decorations at the old GUM, and pictures of Lenin’s tomb standing cold and deserted. But hubris, disregard, and abuses in our relations with Russia have helped fuel a resurgent nationalism. Lines again form, red banners waive, and flowers are laid in homage to Lenin and other Soviet era leaders.
Now, I’m not of the silly “Putin is Stalin” mindset. The situation is far more complex. (more about this is future posts). It is telling, however, that while there are jokes about Lenin, Brezhnev and Gorbachev … no one tells jokes about Stalin or Putin. The Russian people demand to taken seriously again… K. Lee Lerner | more pictures
The shot of the queue in Red Square with Soviet and Communist party flags and banners flying was taken the day before Moscow was hit with a snow storm. We were staying at the National located right off Red Square. After the storm hit we walked back over to the Square for a few more “snow” shots prior to getting on to business on the other side of the Kremlin.
Hi Alan,
Perhaps. I think we’ll need to have a pint and discuss how France “embraced” Russia. I don’t think you can make a strong case for France and European policy in the 1990s as being helpful to Russian development and stability. France’s courting of Russia really traces only to the Iraq war run-up. It was (and is) a symbiotic relationship to bring both countries back to the center ring. For a while Russia needed France, but now Russia stands on her own again.
Cheers,
Lee
What happened with the snow in the picture? Were these shots taken the same day?
Hi Lee! I agree with your basic assessment on resurgent Russian nationalism. However, when you intimate that it is partly due to foreign policy failures, you are painting with too broad a brush. France and other European countries attempted to embrace Russia after the fall of the Soviet Empire. It is American and the U.K. policy that put us in this mire. Best, Alan