I'm a Russian woman in America now

[Natasha_S]

Gun ownership, constitutional law, capital punishment, abortion? Somewhere about ten pages ago there was a thread about a RW who just moved to a town of three thousand from Moscow. She surely is climbing the walls with culture shock after reading this thread:)

Natasha, I grew up in a town of five hundred. You most likely are the only Russian woman in the town. Have you noticed any curious stares by the locals? Did you notice how trusting the people are?

Hello facetrock,
I don't know if you can call it culture shock but it is amazing that people have so many things to discuss and most of their opinions are different but I'm happy they have something to talk about. 
I've heard that I'm not the only fsuw here but I have not met them yet. There is a woman from Belarus here that my husband has spoken with and a woman from Ukraine that his sister met. There may be others.
My husband says that the local people do look at me more, and this is in his words, that there are not any women around my age that are as sexy and beautiful as myself. 
In my opinion I haven't really noticed any long stares at myself, but I think most Americans are very sly at it.
When you ask about trusting the people are you referring to it between them or with myself?

Natasha

[ECOCKS]

There are Ukrainians, Russians and Belorussians (?) around and you find them when you least expect it. I mentioned on another thread that the truck driver who delivered my car cross-country was from Krivoy Rog but presently living near Spartanburg, SC. On Saturday I heard a Ukrainian accent in our sales clerk at Sears, she was from Lutsk. Of course, the owners of the Russian Bear Cafe were FSU, the wife from Minsk and the husband from somewhere in Russia. They estimated about 5,000 FSU people in the area.

[Ade]

I had written a lot about the death penalty, about gun control and about abortion but I deleted it. There's really no point in wasting my breath with those that think that state sanctioned murder is okay, that free access to weapons designed to kill people is a right and that it should be criminal to remove some cells from a woman's body just because there's a potential there for them to become a baby.

All I can say is that I'm am truly thankful that I live in a country where the majority are far more enlightened.

[Sculpto]

I had written a lot about the death penalty, about gun control and about abortion but I deleted it. There's really no point in wasting my breath with those that think that state sanctioned murder is okay, that free access to weapons designed to kill people is a right and that it should be criminal to remove some cells from a woman's body just because there's a potential there for them to become a baby.

All I can say is that I'm am truly thankful that I live in a country where the majority are far more enlightened.

and they say I live on the lunatic fringe here in SF, SJ.. thankfully not the whole country is the same way.  I really feel your frustration.  Have an awesome day anyway! 

[Ade]

and they say I live on the lunatic fringe here in SF, SJ.. thankfully not the whole country is the same way.  I really feel your frustration.  Have an awesome day anyway! 

Thanks dude. The day looks to be promising here in Arkhangelsk; I'm going to make my fiancée's family an Indian curry tonight and only she has tasted it before. It'll be interesting to see their reactions.

[Ooooops]

I had written a lot about the death penalty, about gun control and about abortion but I deleted it.

I've decided to do the same...   

[Wraith]

A belated welcome Natasha

The rest of you folks just made me  and I think I could really use some  meds about now. I could of swore this was an introduction/ice-breaker thread and not a socio-political thread about views hashed a million times over elsewhere. Shesh!

Carry on...let me get my popcorn first though!

[Blues Fairy]

The rest of you folks just made me  and I think I could really use some  meds

Sir, I think you haven't been member of this forum long enough to allow yourself such rude comments about other members, no matter how much you disagree with them.

[Wraith]

Where do you see a rude comment about other members? Other than me stating beating my head against a wall and needing meds because of the highly off-topic content?  I have as much right to my opinion as anyone else regardless my forum status. A post count doesn't dictate that. Nor does a registration date. Thank you, carry on.

[ECOCKS]

Natasha, how do you see the small town mentality versus what you see when you visit the larger cities? Friendlier? Stand-offish? Accepting? Uncaring?

Particularly, how do women in the community seem to react to you?

[Sculpto]

Thanks dude. The day looks to be promising here in Arkhangelsk; I'm going to make my fiancée's family an Indian curry tonight and only she has tasted it before. It'll be interesting to see their reactions.

I had great success with curry in Mexico.. not sure how it would go over in bland food land..  

[Sculpto]

Actually I think this has been a very interesting welcome for Natasha..

We have all disagreed, even argued about very emotional topics.. and yet we are still here posting.  Some people may be really annoyed by me.. and I might be really annoyed by those same people... yet.. even if I disagree completely I still like hanging out with you guys, even you BF    No one here is stupid, though, they can use one of these on occasion..    (me too)

[Ronnie]

All I can say is that I'm am truly thankful that I live in a country where the majority are far more enlightened.

And doesn't that speak volumes about the left?  I couldn't have put it better myself.  I guess when you're "enlightened" you have no further need of such trivial qualities as...oh I don't know....REASON?

[Sculpto]

Ronnie..

live and let live.

See, that is the problem.  There are too many in this country who don't understand that.  They on one hand proclaim freedom and on the other seek to define what we are free to or free from. 

This morning I was watching something on PBS regarding the torture of Taliban and Al Queda suspects.  Pretty amazing how the president and VP completely ignored the Geneva conventions. 

The "anarchy" you and others on the far right desire is not that different than the "anarchy' those on the far left desire.  But, this country just isn't evolved enough for it.  We have a lot to learn first.  Paying attention to our older and wiser cousins in some parts of Europe would be a good place to start.

[Natasha_S]

Natasha, how do you see the small town mentality versus what you see when you visit the larger cities? Friendlier? Stand-offish? Accepting? Uncaring?

Particularly, how do women in the community seem to react to you?

Hello,
If you are talking about larger cities in America, I have not visited any of them yet, only the ones close to the town where I live at now which only have around 100,000 people. The people here are very friendly toward me maybe because I'm a little different and they like to talk to me because I have a little different vision of those things that they talk about with other Americans.

Natasha

[Natasha_S]

A belated welcome Natasha

The rest of you folks just made me  and I think I could really use some  meds about now. I could of swore this was an introduction/ice-breaker thread and not a socio-political thread about views hashed a million times over elsewhere. Shesh!

Carry on...let me get my popcorn first though!

Thank you for the welcome.
Enjoy your popcorn. 

[Tamara]

Hello,
If you are talking about larger cities in America, I have not visited any of them yet, only the ones close to the town where I live at now which only have around 100,000 people. The people here are very friendly toward me maybe because I'm a little different and they like to talk to me because I have a little different vision of those things that they talk about with other Americans.

Natasha

Natasha,

I have noticed that bigger cities in America have different mentality and while there are many who are interested in talking with me here in Minnesota or wonder where my accent is from, nobody really cares in, let's say, Boston. I lived there for a while as well.

Tamara

[Ronnie]

Ronnie..

live and let live.

See, that is the problem.  There are too many in this country who don't understand that.  They on one hand proclaim freedom and on the other seek to define what we are free to or free from.  

This morning I was watching something on PBS regarding the torture of Taliban and Al Queda suspects.  Pretty amazing how the president and VP completely ignored the Geneva conventions.  

The "anarchy" you and others on the far right desire is not that different than the "anarchy' those on the far left desire.  But, this country just isn't evolved enough for it.  We have a lot to learn first.  Paying attention to our older and wiser cousins in some parts of Europe would be a good place to start.

We have a lot to learn from our older and wiser cousins?  That's precious.  Our founding fathers did exactly that and wrote up a constitution which was the very product of that "learning"  

In the meanwhile our older and wiser cousins have allowed themselves to been ruled by monarchs and dictators.

Sculpt, you could help us out if you stick a little marijuana icon at the top of each post you write while stoned.  We could then overlook some of your  headscratchers.

[Sculpto]

ronnie..
what the founding fathers did and where we are now are seriously very different.  They would be disgusted by what we have become.

and.. your generalizations about europe are really precious.. you should do some reading kiddo.

[Ronnie]

ronnie..
what the founding fathers did and where we are now are seriously very different.  They would be disgusted by what we have become.

and.. your generalizations about europe are really precious.. you should do some reading kiddo.

I'll drink to your observations about straying from the constitution.  The progressive movement has been mostly if no not solely responsible for that starting with Woodrow Wilson.

As to generalizations about Europe.  What generalizations?  That monarchs and dictators have been more the exception than the rule?  You can't find an open field in Europe that has not been the scene of a bloody battle.

[Sculpto]

I'll drink to your observations about straying from the constitution.  The progressive movement has been mostly if no not solely responsible for that starting with Woodrow Wilson.

As to generalizations about Europe.  What generalizations?  That monarchs and dictators have been more the exception than the rule?  You can't find an open field in Europe that has not been the scene of a bloody battle.

Ronnie.. the country has strayed the most since ww2.. who got us into viet nam?  who supported the shah of iran?  who supported saddam?  who organized the deceptions in latin america?  and who got us in too deep in iraq?  come on man.. try to be objective.  I know its hard for you.. but face up to what has happened and who is responsible instead of spouting off tired and weak arguing points.

and again since ww2 europe has evolved considerably.. what used to be a bunch of different countries now share the same currency and have open borders with each other.. they learned from history and evolved.. yet.. we didn't learn from viet nam.. we didn't learn from latin america and we continue to make the same mistakes in iraq and are escalating the taliban conflict which now how the potential to completely destabilize pakistan.. and FOR WHAT?  a bunch of bumbling idiots with no respect for international law or human rights.. no.. not talking about the taliban.. talking about the republican leadership of the last administration.

[Ade]

I had great success with curry in Mexico.. not sure how it would go over in bland food land..  

The curry went down rather well except with the girlfriend of my fiancée's brother; she claimed an upset stomach. The apple crumble I made was a great success though.

As for Ronnie, well, he's entitled to his delusions opinions but I for one am glad that I live this side of the Atlantic.

[Sculpto]

The curry went down rather well except with the girlfriend of my fiancée's brother; she claimed an upset stomach. The apple crumble I made was a great success though.

As for Ronnie, well, he's entitled to his delusions opinions but I for one am glad that I live this side of the Atlantic.

cool I am glad the curry was a hit.. I have done thai style curry with coconut milk and love that..  

As for Ronnie.. as long as he stays wherever he is and out of SF/NorCal.. all is good..  

[Boethius]

Oh, I see.  Let's take these one at at time.  

McCain's comment about Putin.  "George Bush said he looked Putins eyes and saw his soul.  I look into Putin's eyes and I see three letters, K-G-B."

Was this harsh or propaganda?  There are not many people in this world who don't understand that Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin was the responsible party in the murder of many innocent Russian people:  

Anna Politkovskaya, author and reporter critical of Putin, murdered on Putin's birthday;  

Alexander Litvinenko, poisoned by Andrey Konstantinovich Lugavoy at Putin's behest.  Litvinenko, had written a book naming the Russian security services as being responsible for blowing up several apartment buildings (killing innocent Russian families) in order to bring Putin to power.  

Putin was part of the foreign service of the KGB, not the domestic repressive functonaries.  If you want to take that tack, you may as well blame anyone who was part of the system, which would be about half the population.  

Do you know who Anna Politkovskaya was?  She was from the Soviet nomenklatura.  Do you fully appreciate what it meant to be a "journalist" (and I use that term very loosely) in the USSR?  

Politkovskaya left Russia after the Soviet collapse because hacks like her were useless in the new Russia.  Hundreds left for the West, thinking they would be something there.  When that failed, many returned.  Many, like her, were given poor advice about how to "rebuild" a career, and if you look at how they died, and when, fingers usually point back to a Soviet, someone who is not in touch with today's Russia and living abroad.  

Litvinenko's "expose" on the apartment bombings would come as no surprise to most thinking Russians.  The first thing my spouse said after the bombings was it was done by the FSB to wind up the Chechens.  

The British have refused to turn over any evidence to the Russians for testing (i.e. the polonium which allegedly poisoned Litvenenko).  Testing would track the lab from whence the polonium originated.  The last I read, the polonium came from Italy, or perhaps Germany.

Were this an FSB, or Russian government hit, it would have been much neater.

[Boethius]

Tell me exactly what problem is created by this corruption ?  

Shadow, corruption is killing Ukraine.  Ukraine was always more corrupt than Russia, even in Soviet times.  This is the primary reason it is not succeeding economically, and is at a political stalemate, with little progress for the people.  The corruption is systemic, from the very top to the lowly militia officer on the street.