Posted on 01/26/2002 5:49:11 PM PST by Mr.Clark
Pro-Putin cult urges return to Soviet 'glory' By Clem Cecil in Moscow (Filed: 27/01/2002)
A SINISTER new organisation, backed by the Kremlin, is urging the Russian people to reject pro-Western views and go back to the "glory" of Soviet Russia.
The 50,000-strong group which calls itself "Walking Together" has strict rules and indoctrination methods, but unlike the Chinese group it has the support of the authorities.
"We want to create a new generation to help the president bring Russia out of crisis," said its founder, Vasily Yakimenko.
The Kremlin's clear involvement can be traced back to the group's beginnings. Mr Yakimenko left a job in the Kremlin administration, where he was overseer of state-run charities, in May 2000 to create Walking Together.
The senior patron of the movement is Vladislav Surkov, the deputy head of the presidential administration.
The group is vehemently pro-Putin and its first public action was a huge rally in November 2000 to celebrate his presidency.
Wearing T-shirts emblazoned with Putin's face, thousands gathered near the Kremlin and spoke of their love for the president. Mr Putin later received the organisers of the rally in the Kremlin.
Russian liberals fear that the group is the embodiment of persistent attempts by senior Kremlin officials to set up a new Soviet-style cult of personality around the president: nationalism thinly veiled as patriotism is a hallmark of Walking Together.
The group demands strict loyalty and discipline from its members, who are handed a long checklist on joining which includes commands to "read at least six Russian classics a year, whether you enjoy them or not, and visit the site of a battle where the Russians were victorious".
Mr Yakimenko's latest attempt to indoctrinate members, aged mainly between 14 and 30, is a proposal to "purify Russian literature". Modern "liberal" books, which depict the difficulties of modern Russian life, have been damned by Walking Together.
The group has in turn published thousands of copies of a book of stories recounting the Red Army's "glorious victories" during the Second World War. These books were offered free in exchange for "corrupting" works.
Walking Together is secretly sponsored by two companies with close Kremlin ties as well as Moscow city council.
Its outgoings are high: members are divided into groups of five called "red stars", each led by a "foreman" who receives a free pager and £30 for his services. Each of his five "soldiers" receives £1 as well as free T-Shirts.
Members are encouraged to recruit others with promises of rank and glory reminiscent of Communist indoctrination methods. "Once you have a red star, try to persuade another 50 to join.
"Give them a party if they show interest in the group. You must be able to encourage and to punish, then you will become a commander of a division. If you persuade another thousand to put their fate in your hands, you will be a coordinator."
Reading books written by Russian authors hardly sounds SINISTER TO ME! Visiting sites where Russia had victories AGAINST HITLER....not THE USA, doesn't sound all that bad either! I have been to Verdun and Normandy...they were trips of respect to those who died fighting nazis! Why shouldn't Russians visit their battle sites???
"Mr Yakimenko's latest attempt to indoctrinate members, aged mainly between 14 and 30, is a proposal to 'purify Russian literature'. Modern 'liberal' books, which depict the difficulties of modern Russian life, have been damned by Walking Together."
I hate most modern American literature....so, I don't blame them for "dissing" Russian modern literature. Give me Mark Twain or Poe any day!!! They can always read WAR AND PEACE!! WONDERFUL BOOK!!
"The group has in turn published thousands of copies of a book of stories recounting the Red Army's 'glorious victories' during the Second World War. These books were offered free in exchange for 'corrupting' works."
WOW!! That is sooooooo SINISTER!!! Maybe I could exchange some old Cosmopolitan mags for a couple of copies of Rise and Fall of the Third Reich....if we had such a plan here!!
Somehow, I think these folks are not neo-commies...just Russians trying to be patriots and good citizens. We could use MORE patriotism right here too.
One more thing about that cult of personality thing.... HOGWASH!! I see pictures of George Bush all the time on FR...I love it!! Does that mean that we freepers HAVE A CULT of personality for GEORGE BUSH??? No, it does not....we like him and we like what he does and what he stands for. Why, I even saw pictures of BUSH with PUTIN....by golly, they were great photos!!!! I loved them!!
I wish them well now!!
senior Kremlin officials to set up a new Soviet-style cult of personality around the president: nationalism thinly veiled as patriotism is a hallmarkYou think this sort of thing could every take hold over here?
A US-style constitution and freedoms only worked on an self-regulating people which unfortunately exists nowhere, not even in the US. Like the "Roaring Twenties", this era is fast developing into another 1930s-style "Age of Dictators".
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