I feel like I have been saying as much about Russia for the past few months that I have been on this boards. (I returned from living in Russia just before the election.)
Despite its glamorous 21st Century facades, Russian society is as insecure as ever, and experiencing a throwback to some of the worst elements of their Soviet and imperial past...or, it can be argued they never truly broke from the Soviet past: just had a costume change. Putin, at the end of the day, is former KGB. As are many of the leaders of the Russian Orthodox Church for that matter. (For those Americans deceived into buying the false “Russia is more Christian than we are” propaganda.)
America, despite all our seeming chaos - is actually quite stronger than we may realize...in fact the fact that our debates are as alive and forceful as they are attest to the vitality of freedom and our founding principles...I missed it while abroad. I was happy to join in the chaos and experience the miracle of Trump’s victory - knowing that such an event can rarely be experienced elsewhere. Where there are no real elections, real freedoms...
That’s really encouraging!!