[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.

[GSlob]

I lived there till age 26, if that makes any difference, and got out of there in '81. By the way, when speaking of civilizational level, I was not referring to educational attainments either.