Something rotten in the ‘Russian soul’

https://thehill.com/opinion/international/4892676-there-is-something-rotten-in-the-russian-soul/

> Putin and his propaganda machine are of course partly responsible for Russians’ descent into alcoholic war-mongering. When the supreme leader of 25 years glorifies the macho virtues that promote violence, it’s no surprise that his adoring followers pick up on some of his more reprehensible habits.

> But there’s no avoiding the far sadder conclusion that Russians’ love affair with killing and death has something to do with their worldview, self-perception, values and culture. In other words, with things of the mind and spirit. Which is to say that the famed “#russianSoul” may be far sicker than Russians would be willing to admit.

4) "Any territory where there are enough Russians is part of Russia and should be ruled by Russians and the non-Russian Slavic languages spoken there are corruptions of pure Russian"

OK, a simplification, but close enough.

I don't believe in a #RussianSoul or that all #RussianCulture should be blamed for all the 20th/21st century mayhem. But I do think that Russian *political* culture has been a real problem, and that in general Russians don't know better, only what history has given them.

I can wish to do a good deed and feel pleasure from it; then I wish evil and also feel pleasure.

#FyodorDostoyevsky
#book #literature #quote #Russiansoul