General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsBy Mikhail Baryshnikov
🕊🌻🇺🇦🌻🕊
Its been almost 50 years since I lived in Russia, and Ive spent those years living in a free society, but I grew up in Latvia as the son of a Russian military officer in what was then the USSR. My family was part of an occupying population, but even occupied Latvia was more open, and more European, than Russia at that time. So, I am a product of Europe, of Russia and, of course, of America. For what they are worth, my thoughts are filtered through this specific lens.
From the start of the invasion of Ukraine by the armies of Vladimir Putin, Ive felt deep dread and a certainty that this will be a bloody and horrific conflict. I understood immediately that this move of the Russian army was more threatening than the so-called annexation of Crimea and the separatist insurgency in the Donbas region.
Ukrainians have always been, and still are, friends, neighbors and family. The relationship between the Russian and Ukrainian peoples has been one of easy fluidity between languages, between cultures and between borders. The two countries are incredibly interwoven, but with an awareness and appreciation of subtle cultural differences.
I cant begin to understand why people would trust and follow a leader like Putin, but Russians historically have struggled under oppressive and brutal leadership. How they end up with such leaders I cant answer. There are dozens of books to be written on this subject, but lets remember that even in the free and democratic society in which I live, a shocking percentage of Americans appear to believe outlandish theories related to a stolen 2020 election. What this tells me is that ignorance of history and nationalistic fervor are not exclusive to any one country.
I refuse to paint all Russians with the same brush and I think Putin appeals to those who are fearful. I suppose he makes them feel safe in the same way all authoritarian leaders make their people feel protected. Its a false sense of security because, of course, any day, the protected can easily become the persecuted.
I cant affect politics or throw Molotov cocktails, and I am not competent to give any thoughts or advice on the matter of what kind of help the U.S., NATO or the Europeans could or should provide to the Ukrainians, but the least I can do is help as many refugees as possible. Thats why I am honored to have been invited by the great writer Boris Akunin and economist Sergei Guriev to join them in launching truerussia.org. I dont know if True Russias humanitarian plea will be seen by citizens of Russia, but the beauty of cyberspace is that it might. They need to know what is being done in their name.
Again, I wouldnt be worth much as a fighter, but when the Ukrainians are victorious, I would be honored to go and thank them for fighting. In fact, they arent fighting just for themselves, but for all of us who believe in free and open societies.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The%20Skyfarm%20Safehouse/106021467435307/
P.S. One of my FAVORITES!
Ocelot II
(115,661 posts)elleng
(130,861 posts)blogslug
(37,997 posts)Here is a link to its text, published by the San Francisco Examiner:
https://www.sfexaminer.com/opinion/baryshnikov-the-ukrainians-are-fighting-for-all-of-us/
Ocelot II
(115,661 posts)Coventina
(27,093 posts)For some reason I can't hit the rec button.
artemisia1
(756 posts)NNadir
(33,512 posts)He is a great American but more, a great citizen of the world.
Hekate
(90,633 posts)🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻 🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻 🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻
peppertree
(21,621 posts)certainot
(9,090 posts)one of the side theaters - it was him practicing
smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)"Its a false sense of security because, of course, any day, the protected can easily become the persecuted."
This is the one sentence that really stuck out for me and that most MAGA republicans don't understand. They think that because they support the elites "in power" or whom they think will be in power, that they will be supported and rewarded in kind.
They don't understand that they are going to be living in the same hellish dystopia as the rest of us and that their loyalty to the authoritarians isn't going to get them anywhere. They will be just as poor, angry and miserable as they have always been. Perhaps even more so because they will eventually realize on some level just how badly they were used.
Alexander Of Assyria
(7,839 posts)now the Idiots believe they are empowered to go after anyone with an IQ above 80.
cause you think your better than me, Dr.?
Facts be damned, science be damned, anything in the way of the roller coaster of the union of idiots is ignored
comfort is found in any old stupid being reinforced over and over. And ofc the mass media caters to the lowest common denominator cause thats where the action and the money is.
Can we send the Stupid to their own island? And their media while we at it?
lagomorph777
(30,613 posts)The powerful pols who abase themselves before Trump keep getting used and discarded. They always think they'll be the special one, the lucky one.
MLAA
(17,274 posts)Alice Kramden
(2,166 posts)For his perspective AND for the wonderful film clip with Gregory Hines -
Stinky The Clown
(67,786 posts)Two dancers from VERY different disciplines, both at the heights of their careers. The routine was not particularly challenging for them, but it was perfect in context.
The set was evocative of a studio where we practiced back in the early/mid 80s.
elleng
(130,861 posts)different dance style from what he was used to!
Stinky The Clown
(67,786 posts)colorado_ufo
(5,733 posts)locks
(2,012 posts)Many thanks
Martin68
(22,781 posts)BootinUp
(47,139 posts)fmdaddio
(192 posts)He and his brother where the best tappers of their generation. He was also a talented actor with great comic timing. See him and Billy Crystal in Running Scared. He was taken from us too soon.
Meowmee
(5,164 posts)I went to one of his openings once of his photography, he is a talented man.
MustLoveBeagles
(11,587 posts)Love the clip
betsuni
(25,456 posts)elleng
(130,861 posts)betsuni
(25,456 posts)Just wowwwwww
IbogaProject
(2,804 posts)malthaussen
(17,184 posts)Not being snarky -- the overwhelming tendency these days is for visible people to offer their opinions whether they are competent or not. It's refreshing and relieving to see that there are still people who understand when their opinion matters.
-- Mal
Pinback
(12,154 posts)Humility in one so widely admired is quite commendable.
young_at_heart
(3,767 posts)He was taken way too early.....only 57.
qwlauren35
(6,147 posts)He definitely has a unique perspective.
I would love to hear from others born in Russia.
lagomorph777
(30,613 posts)We should be very grateful to Ukraine; we are fools if we don't give them everything they need to stop and crush Putin.
mysteryowl
(7,373 posts)It has been a long time since I have seen that segment.