Posted on 05/08/2020 5:56:37 PM PDT by LouieFisk
There will be no tanks, no parade of soldiers and veterans in the heart of Moscow to mark the 75th anniversary of victory in World War Two.
The Red Square 9 May parade has been cancelled because of the pandemic. But in neighbouring Belarus the parade will go ahead, complete with a concert in the centre of the capital Minsk and festive fireworks. Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko appears unfazed by the pandemic. He has not followed the European pattern of imposing sweeping restrictions.
Russia is still under lockdown, and for six days it has recorded more than 10,000 new Covid-19 infections daily.
And yet Mr Lukashenko refuses to cancel his military parade, since it serves a patriotic purpose: to remind people of Soviet-era hardship and sacrifices.
Speaking on the eve of the parade, he said: "They gave their lives so we could live today, that's why we can honour our heroes on this sacred day. We cannot do anything different." "Just think what people will say [if we cancel the celebrations]. Maybe not immediately, but in a day or two, they will say we got scared"
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...
Belarus has the CCr5 delta 32 genetic tweak against HIV...so they may see less cases of Wuhan Flu or less severe.
and yes, that guy is pretty hardcore
Yes, we have a foster daughter who lives in Belarus with her husband. Lukashenko does not give in to fear. Btw the President just appointed a new ambassador to Belarus. Relations are improving.
Which ethnic groups have that genetic tweak?
swedes are listed as being at the top and belarus was high up.
Belarus her homeland?
Lukashenko is made of old school Soviet stuff.
The Russians not celebrating victory in the Great Patriotic War is something.
I think he’s going the herd immunity way, but I’m not sure he gives it much thought at all; I believe I’ve read he’s of the tough-it-through school of thought.
Yes they were both born and raised there. We have been bringing her over since she was 10, 17 years ago.
They have any plans to move here or are they happy in their home country?
One of the most interesting places related to the old Soviet Union is the mostly-unrecognized country of Transnistria.
They also have the “Immortal Regiment”, where people march holding pictures of the relatives who fought in the “Great Patriotic War”, it’s really cool, regardless of whatever you may have thought about the former Soviet Union, and of Stalin personally.
We all would love it if we could obtain dual citizenship for them. they are both highly educated. Being able to travel without needing a visa and being able to own property here are both desirable.
This Country Does Not Exist! | Transnistria (Bald and Bankrupt)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kVnrqBb6y4
Very interesting article. For sure they have in common with Belarus - limited opportunities.
Oh, yeah, they love their family heroes as much as we do. Most of the people of the former Soviet states were and are really good people - they certainly have had to go through a lot of trials.
It was their leaders who were/are the problem - of course, that’s true almost everywhere, heh. But, you know, in taking in a lot of people talking about their years in the Soviet era, they have good memories to go with the bad.
Even in adversity you can find good with the bad. You got family, kids, friends and if you have a roof over your head, that helps. (Though in the Soviet Union sometimes a lot of heads had to share one roof! The kommunalka is still a thing in Russia, but it’s not government led/enforced.)
There’s even a good amount of nostalgia for the era in the former Soviet bloc.
I’d love to visit some of these places and meet the people.
Here’s an interesting video; a Russian woman attending a parade with her children in her “three face” town - it’s celebrating it’s three eras of it’s history, with it’s different names. Looks like a fun day, I love a parade - these homemade type ones are sometimes the best.
The video is cued up to the start of the parade.
Loved it beautiful costumes and commentary by the mother.
Yes, she has a pleasing voice and demeanor and is having fun with her children getting into the passing sights. I enjoy watching her videos. It’s cool that so many average people in those countries are happy to make videos to show people around.
But, yeah, some changes and that could be a lot of American towns on Founder’s Day or 4th Of July with a parade. Some things are universal.
Lukashenko is hardcore.
Thats actually a polite way to describe that old, weird, autocrat. Im a little surprised by how few people realize what an old-school East-Bloc dictator he is. Certainly the EU is afraid of him.
His son goes everywhere he goes, so it’s clear that Lukashenko’s son is being groomed to eventually take over.
Wouldn't want to be on the ice with Luka, he looks like he could pommel Putin into the boards.
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