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I was deployed to Uzbekistan 2003-04. Older Uzbeks told me how Russians regarded them and other Central Asians as inferior. I told them my 1985 thesis on ethnic prejudice in the Soviet Army taught me the word `chernozhopii’ (”black asses”, applied to Uzbeks); how tens of thousands of Uzbeks were killed in the 1916 Karshi draft riots (just down the road from the U.S. base, a place I never dreamed I’d see twenty years later). This made me something of a Marco Polo to them.

Amazingly, Uzbeks still regard Russian culture as their window on the west (!).

Meanwhile, let’s not talk about Russian attitudes toward the Jews. The latest outbreaks in Russia against minorities could be based on the fearful violence of the Chechens and their role in the 2004 Beslan horror. I’m not blaming the Russians for anything; as a people they have survived odds that would have most of us Americans shaking in helpless fear.

But I think the phenomenon of Russian neo-fascism needs to be carefully explored. They still have all those rockets.

My husband, the most anti communist individual you could ever meet, served in the Soviet navy for three years (a draftee, right of high school, like every Soviet male), and was drafted twice to the army as an adult (illegally - the "punishment" for daring to marry a foreigner). He said he never heard this term. Generally, he says, in the army and the navy nationalilty was never an issue because it breaks discipline. He did say that those from Central Russia viewed themselves as the "skeleton" of the army. The worst, he said were from Western Ukraine. This is understandable, given the ferocity with which the Soviets oppressed them, particularly after WWII (fighting in that region continued until the mid 1950's). He also said that any ethnic slur would immediately be reported to the commander of the political department (on every ship, in every unit), and there would be severe repercussions. One his ship, a Russian called a Ukrainian a "f***ing khokhol". He was stripped of a rank after the entire ship was lined up to watch. After a long speech about how all ethnic groups in the Red Army defeated the Nazis. He was also told by the political deputy that the latter would do everything to get the guy kicked off the ship. Which he eventually did. This ruined the guy's life.

I am an ethnic Ukrainian (from the diaspora, with roots in Western Ukraine). My husband travelled throughout the USSR before so called perestroika, including Uzbekistan. He would tell you that the Soviets tried to delete nationalism because "the working class doesn't need a nationality". This was the reason for the attempt to create a homo sovieticus, a new man, whose roots began in 1917. The funniest thing is that now, the most ardent nationalists were the most vehement commies, who would sell their mother for a kopeck.

I don't know if I posted it on this thread or another, but I believe one of the reasons for these strong nationalist views is the attempt to wipe this out and create a "Soviet" culture.

As for anti Semitism, up until the 1960's, almost all the leading posts in the party were held by Jews. When Jews earned the right to emigrate, they did face discrimination.