[GSlob]

Every primitive stone age tribe has its own great singers and dancers, but still it remains a primitive stone age tribe. As you might notice, in my original post I specifically referred to the way of life, i.e. to how people relate to one another and to their society, and not to musical and other similar accomplishments, not even to technological ones. This is the difference between a Scandinavian village of 8th century - with its "tings", or primitive parliaments, and, say, proto-Russian village of the same 8th century - technological level is the same or close, but civilizational - day and night.

[GarySpFc]

Every primitive stone age tribe has its own great singers and dancers, but still it remains a primitive stone age tribe. As you might notice, in my original post I specifically referred to the way of life, i.e. to how people relate to one another and to their society, and not to musical and other similar accomplishments, not even to technological ones. This is the difference between a Scandinavian village of 8th century - with its "tings", or primitive parliaments, and, say, proto-Russian village of the same 8th century - technological level is the same or close, but civilizational - day and night.

You state you were born in Russia. Okay, I will buy that, however, how old were you when you left and long has it been since you were there? I ask this, because I am married to a Russian lady, and have many Russian friends, both here and in Russia. I have a far different perspective regarding the Russians than yourself, and I see them as more sophisticated, highly cultured, and better educated than the average American.

[jb6]

how people relate to one another and to their society, and not to musical and other similar accomplishments,

Funny, I find Russians friendlier and more social then most of the people I know in my city or neighborhood, where no one speaks to anyone else. When I was in Germany it was even worse. If this is what you enjoy, hay, all the power to you.

[jb6]

This is the difference between a Scandinavian village of 8th century - with its "tings", or primitive parliaments, and, say, proto-Russian village of the same 8th century - technological level is the same or close, but civilizational - day and night.

How much do you know of Kieven Russ? From your post, not much. Kieven Russ was the only major nation in Europe with freedom of mobility for the peasants all the way to the 11th centuary.

[A. Pole]

Every primitive stone age tribe has its own great singers and dancers, but still it remains a primitive stone age tribe.

So if you compare Tchaikovsky, Stravinsky, Prokofiev, Shostakovich, Rachmaninov and others with the tribal singers and dancers, then who are people like Turgenev, Tolstoy, Dostoyevsky, Chekhov? They must be the primitive tribal story tellers in your eyes.

I specifically referred to the way of life, i.e. to how people relate to one another [...]

Have you ever been in Russia?