Also, HAVE you read any of Solzhenitsyn’s books?
My Son is married to a Russian Woman, and I have learned much about what Russians think right now about their leaders, country and politics. They give Putin credit for practically saving their country. They like the legal changes that solidify private property, etc. They are concerned about his censorship, but say that if Putin leaves office and allows the country to grow politically, it would be proof that he doesn’t want to be a dictator.
I don’t make excuses for Putin, but he has not been all bad. I personally think Putin is NOT trying to restore Soviet Communism, but just trying to put a more positive spin for Russia. I lived in Germany for some years, and many Germany in their 50s and older always want to apologize for their NAZI past, etc. Of course one should never forget such atrocities, but at some time you need to move on to the future.
I am a Southerner, and grew up during the 50s when Jim Crow was alive and well. I had much guilt for that, but came to realize that I had no part in those policies that ended before my age of majority, and that my ancestors that fought for the South were not evil.
“My Son is married to a Russian Woman”
Ah yes, the inevitable “Russian Wife”.