A symbol of victory: Soviet T-34 tank on static display
Born into a culturally aware multi-ethnic family and neighborhood, I grew up in an environment where many words from different languages became part of the language in my household. Among them: tea was called "chai" (Russian) and the word understand was substituted with "kapish" (Italian). "Chochkas" (Yiddish) refers to fun and relatively inexpensive souvenirs and articles. I've a number of Russia related chochkas.
The Russian side of my family has roots in the Imperial Russian Army and United States Marine Corps. This background influenced the kind of toys I received as a child. Solido is probably the best maker of die-cast metal military vehicles. My family maintains a nice collection of these pieces. The T-34 replica is my most prized possession from that group. The real McKoysky is still revered by many Russians to this day for its legendary reliability on the battlefield, helping the Red Army crush Hitler's Wehrmacht.
The leisurely fashion side of me enjoys the "throwback" look of what sports teams wore from years ago. I've a CSKA (Central Sports Club of the Army) Moscow Red Army jersey. This jersey features a hammer and sickle in a red star. As an anti-Communist, this is a somewhat problematic sight for me. My decision to periodically wear the vintage CSKA jersey is in recognition of the great hockey team that wore it.
Admiration for some aspects of the Soviet legacy shouldn't be confused with overall approval of that period in Russian history. On this matter, perhaps there's a misunderstanding. Contrary to what some suggest, my own encounters with Russians and non-Russians who lived under Stalin's rule reveal mostly negative attitudes towards the Soviet dictator. The younger generation in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) not old enough to have experienced this period clearly doesn't seek lifestyles conforming to any Stalinist or neo-Stalinist Brezhnev ideal. Hence, there's no popular yearning in Russia for turning back the clock to the USSR.
Taking pride in the World War II heroism of the Red Army isn't by definition a rubber stamp of support for Stalin. The fact that I like the melody of the second composed Soviet anthem (readopted by post Soviet Russia with different words) doesn't contradict my anti-Communist stance. On this point, many of my fellow anti-Communist, non-Russian North Americans feel the same. When Wayne Gretzky became owner of the National Hockey League Phoenix Coyotes, the colors and uniform pattern of that team were changed to resemble the on-ice wardrobe of the legendary Soviet national team (ESPN announcers have referred to the Coyotes uniform as the "back to the future CCCP look"). Gretzky doesn't impress me as a Soviet nostalgic freak. Rather, Gretzky is an avid admirer of the kind of quality ice hockey that was played in the USSR.
I'm politically more comfortable with some of my other chochka attire. Café Press has numerous chochkas for just about any taste. Buyers should beware that the logos on Café Press attire are screen printed. These apparel items should be placed on a hangar and not folded, with a dry cleaner plastic wrap put over the article.
Russian Empire baseball shirt
My favorite Café Press apparel includes a Russian Empire baseball sweat shirt and a Cyrillic-scripted "Russia" shirt. The Russian Empire baseball sweat shirt displays a version of the Russian two headed eagle, as it appeared in the 19th and early 20th century. My wearing this attire isn't due to any support for contemporary Russia invading any territory outside its present borders. For me, it's simply an expression of great cultural pride in a period when Russia saw many progressive achievements. Of course I'm also aware of Russia's shortcomings, which were often force-fed into me by a few ideological professors of leftist persuasion.
"Russia" decal
On my rear car window, I have two Cafe Press stickers. One says "Russia" in Cyrillic white, blue and red lettering, with the other sporting a version of the Russian Empire flag.
The Russian Legacy website offers a wide range of Russian chochkas. From this source, I've a Russian Empire T-shirt with an artistically colorful version of the two headed eagle (like the Café Press attire, the Russian Legacy T-shirt is screen printed and should be handled delicately). This particular Russian two headed eagle includes coats of arms representing the provinces of the Russian Empire.
The Russian two-headed eagle crest
Post-Soviet Russia adopted as its state symbol one of many versions of the Russian two headed eagle. The two headed eagle is an appropriate emblem for Russia. It originated with the Constantinople (present day Istanbul) based Byzantine or Eastern Roman Empire. In the 4th century A.D., the Roman Empire was split into two units. The Western Roman empire maintained the single headed eagle as its symbol. Byzantium adopted the two headed eagle. A number of historians conclude that the two headed eagle was developed to reflect how the Eastern Roman Empire geo-strategically perceived itself as spanning the east and west (this applies to Russia as well). During this period, the Christian Church diverged into two different major movements, with Rome becoming the base for Catholicism and Constantinople the base of Eastern Orthodoxy.
After Rome and Constantinople, Moscow has often been described as The Third Rome. In the Middle Ages Russia became the most powerful of the predominately Orthodox Christian states. It's no coincidence that the largely Orthodox Christian inhabited East European states of Serbia, Montenegro, Russia and Albania utilize the two headed eagle as their national symbol, while a number of central European states (like Poland, Austria and Germany) have a single head eagle as their respective emblems (as an aside, the late Kosovar Albanian leader Ibrahim Rugova noted that Albania's 20% Orthodox Christian minority is the result of massive coerced conversion of the Albanian population to Islam by the Turks) .
I conclude this essay by noting the numerous visual expressions of ethnic identity among the many national groups comprising an American nation that's frequently referred to as a "melting pot." My expressed Russophilic sympathies complement this spirit. This sentiment shouldn't be second guessed since America and Russia have a prolonged history of cooperation.
Michael Averko is a New York based independent foreign policy analyst whose commentary has appeared in Eurasian Home, Johnson's Russia List, Intelligent.Ru, The Moscow Times, New York Times and Newsday.
The Russian Empire baseball sounds the same as Zimbabwe Ice Hockey.
Mike, why did you post this article near the bottom of your last mailing?
Wasn't the T-34s chief designer a Ukrainian?
He's back and so am I. Why did the author feel a need to mention his multiethnic background? Nice chochkas! Maybe going a bit overboard?
The T-34 chief designer Mikhail Ilyivh Koshkin was Russian, he was born in 1898 in Brynchagi village near Yaroslavl.
Russian, Ukrainian, like it is such a big difference.
Mishka goes overboard in a calculating way. I forget how he phrases this process. He is a beast of a genius.
"There's a method to the madness" Z.
I made it a point to mention my multi-ethnic background because the n word (nationalist) is often used to describe those who are proud of their Russian identity. In modern day jargon, "nationalist" has a negative meaning unlike "patriot." The nationalist is roughly defined as someone who is unnecessarily offensive towards others. My expressed sense of Russian identity isn't meant to put anyone down and I don't look kindly towards those of any ethnic group who do the opposite.
On going "overboard," where's the racist and terrorist sentiment in this essay?
I posted this piece at the bottom of a recent mailing (an independent project of mine that reaches a select audience) because the other subject matter above it dealt with serious matter in the present.
This article is meant to be somewhat offbeat, with a cultural/historical interconnect.
BTW over the past several years, Russia has been at the top of baseball competition in the European Little League bracket.
t34 ummmm...
In considering my own heritage....I have 25% Swedish blood, 25% Volga River German blood, and 50% British Isles blood. Since at one time, Scandanavia was part of Russia, Does that make me 1/2 Russian and 1/2 British?
That would explain why I love complex, passionate, beautiful music and art, formality, and "regal" presentation and behavior!?!
Hi Tanya:
I always appreciate your comments at RB (this time is no different).
You did get my drift as to why I felt it appropriate to mention my multi-ethnic background relative to this essay?
BTW, I'm 1/4 assimilated Baltic German Jewish (maiden name von Hilderbrandt) via Danzig (now Gdansk) and Vilnius.
Cheers to you!
Hi Michael,
Yes, I did understand why you wrote it. And my comment really had nothing to do with the article...other than I am sort of intrigued with the concept of ethnic/cultural heritage running through ones veins and influencing taste and personality.
Hi back Tanya:
In some instances, this concept can be thrown right out the door.
In my view, this is especially true among individuals who are overwhelmingly raised in a business environment that glosses over topics like culture and history.
As always, feel free to tell me what I'm missing.
Culture Club featuring Boy Mike. An eighties musical flashback.
Hello Michael! Your name could be Mikhail (a much better sounding version of Michael), though I wouldn't know.
I believe that to be a Russian patriot one does not need to have a fraction of his blood to be Russian. However, despite blood being only a bunch of cells floating in palzma, to many people it justifies their identity and uniqueness in this world.
Anyway, your Russian patriotism does not surprise me, but I certainly respect it. There is no surprise because of the fame and respect Russia has acquired over its long history. Saying "I'm Russian" is like boasting to people whose own motherland has never really appeared in history books. The choice you probably had was whether you'd be a German Jewish patriot (two words that might appear contradicting to some) or a Russian patriot. The latter probably sounded more grand.
I am a Russian (should be 100%, but does that matter) and I've lived in Singapore for about 5 years right now. This country (Singapore) is a mix of religions and ethnicities. There is no one common culture that defines the nation. People feel they hardly belong here, no matter how much they and the Government try to instill national pride. Most of the people work hard to achieve this national unity some of the countries in the world have. They hang Singapore flags outside their balconies and, like you, put Majulah Singapura stickers on their cars.
The question I have to ask you, Mike, is do you only take pride in your Russian roots or give equal respect to each fraction of your blood? Would you put The Star of David sticker at the back of your car? And what if the Russians were suddenly discriminated against all over the world? Would you wash those stickers you have off?
That was cruel Alexandra. I'm glad to see that Tanya appreciates my "Culture Club" spirit.
I'm actually more Greek Sephardic than Baltic German Ashkenazi Phil. There was a time in America when many Sephardim and Ashkenazi didn't view each other as having a common bond.
In America, my Jewish side hasn't (in my view) been discriminated against among the American academic, media and political elites.
The Russian Orthodox Christian side has been and if there're any doubts, I reference my RB article:
Ukraine's First Lady and the Ugly History of the Captive Nations Committee
http://www.russiablog.org/2006/04/yuschenkos_wife_and_the_ugly_h.html
I guess that my own persona has been to root for the underdog.
Averko destroys everthing in oppostion to him.
OK Igor,
Then think of it as a chess game. If it is opposition, may the best, most creative intellect win! I invite all of you to continue the discourse.
Play fair.
No LaRussiaphobe behavior!
PS I don't know Michael. I just appreciate intelligent conversation, and I hate to stifle it with bitterness.
"PS I don't know Michael. I just appreciate intelligent conversation, and I hate to stifle it with bitterness."
Tanya:
There's what some would describe as a pissed off side to my engaging in such activity here and abroad.
However, I think that yours truly has always expressed a sincere willingness to actively and openly engage those in disagreement to my views.
Please fell free to specify where I've gone astray.
I'm all for improving the situation.
Of Course!
Isn't it fun to get a rise out of him?
Down Mike SIT!
I'm just goofing around on my long awaited and much deserved week off.
Hoping someone can help me. I'm trying to help an elderly lady get a value on two brass door handles that are each eagles, representing the double-headed eagle...but one eagle would have been on each of two double doors, facing opposite idrections. They came from a govt. bldge. in Moscow, near the Kremlin, and she got the set in the early 1990's when her and her husband were missionaries there! She saw the Yeltzin takeover, literally...saw the ceremonial blast from the cannon, etc. She also has a USSR flag/banner with Lenin on one side, the 15 Republics on the other, red with yellow fringe. Can anyone out there help me or direct me to somewhere or someone who can help me find a value for unusual items like these? I do have pictures which could be sent. Please email me at Carol@6or5.com if you have any ideas because I'm not sure I'll ever find this blog again. Thanks in advance!
sup guys
I whole heartedly love the look of www.russiablog.org. Looks good, keep it up!
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