tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2850977918787367334.post6120839723584738882..comments2024-02-23T09:18:10.084-08:00Comments on Icono-Curmudgeon-Clast - Loring Wirbel's Rants: Putin Says He's Got a Mandate; Chavez Says "Mellow Out, Dudes"Loring Wirbelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11764834150305763077noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2850977918787367334.post-55131540160048048752007-12-05T17:41:00.000-08:002007-12-05T17:41:00.000-08:00You're right, Garrett, though perceived stereotype...You're right, Garrett, though perceived stereotypes Americans have of Russian people aren't nearly as important as myths Russian leaders like Putin hold about their own citizens. I've visited Russia several times and have found people of all types, but I'll always remember a Georgian teacher of Russian language I had at University of Arizona who would always talk about the number of Russian people who harbor a longing for authoritarianism because they're afraid of their own wonderfully anarchic souls. Sure, it's a stereotype, but it makes for a good story.Loring Wirbelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11764834150305763077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2850977918787367334.post-2837177157291322132007-12-05T16:25:00.000-08:002007-12-05T16:25:00.000-08:00Valid points. Except for your generalizations of R...Valid points. Except for your generalizations of Russians, predicated on sensational news, which points to a radical faction of an otherwise tolerant, warm people. I'm talking about the people, not the politics--I hope foreigners would do the same for us, as Bush wages a war against immigrants, who are family-oriented, with strong work-ethics, and who support the agriculture industry, without which that industry would come to a screeching halt.Garretthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08819078596259268026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2850977918787367334.post-38376956180822177142007-12-04T14:53:00.000-08:002007-12-04T14:53:00.000-08:00Rant on. Yes.Rant on. Yes.Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14204074161539605133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2850977918787367334.post-71130366195962186402007-12-04T12:56:00.000-08:002007-12-04T12:56:00.000-08:00I love the Strawberry Song, too. Thanks for the co...I love the Strawberry Song, too. Thanks for the comment! You have a nice site, yourself!Christyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05414578572947898904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2850977918787367334.post-48282199810621436792007-12-03T10:58:00.000-08:002007-12-03T10:58:00.000-08:00They're both jerks. But it's nice to see that good...They're both jerks. But it's nice to see that good, old-fashioned dictators are back in style on the world stage (even if they're berobed in "populist" politics). <BR/>Kind of gives you the warm fuzzies for Stalin.Greeley's Ghosthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09277152913548239048noreply@blogger.com