Egor, just look at the movies , how russians are shown here and how americans were shown there..... 

None of the soviet movies can come even close to Rambo 2/3 or Red Dawn or thousands of others. 

Even now, russians are always drunks, criminals and other shady characters.... 

KGBMan:

I have no doubt Russian children were taught much the same in regard to America  - actually, no, we werent't.....

 

But catnip reference almost made me re-think me marriage.......

 

Soviet propaganda was not about people, it was about Governments and aliances. NATO - bad, people in Europe - good.

Imperialists in America - bad, ordinary people - good .

That is the main distinction between Soviet and US propaganda.

Those posters by Egor only confirm that.

 

Egor, just look at the movies , how russians are shown here and how americans were shown there..... 

None of the soviet movies can come even close to Rambo 2/3 or Red Dawn or thousands of others. 

Even now, russians are always drunks, criminals and other shady characters....

When I say we were taught those things about Russia, I mean Russia as an entity complete unto itself, not the general population or ordinary citizens. It's important to bear in mind I was very young then, and the logic of a child dictates that if a country is to be considered bad or something worthy of fear, then everybody there must be a boogeyman. Anyway, I don't completely agree with your opinion on the differences in propaganda tactics, but perspective is mostly subjective, and your experience may have nothing in common with mine.

When it comes to things like movies, I can relate more to what you say. I don't think it should be dismissed that when Red Dawn was made, there was no love lost between either of our countries, and Russians have never been the only ones viewed as fair game to be conquered by the stereotypical American hero in a film. I have heard people from other countries voice the same disgust on this subject, and I have no real justification for why our movies are like this. (There is a interesting book by Stephen King, called Danse Macabre, which goes into a bit of detail about the parallels between what is happing in the American psyche and what is being shown in our popular media, if anyone is curious.)

I watched Eastern Promises a few months ago and loved it, but don't think the plot revolving around the "Russkaya Mafiya" is an attempt by the producers to make a negative statement about Russians. IMO, it would just appear there is always a market for stories relating to any type of Mafia or organized crime...I'm sure you have seen Scarface, The Godfather, The Sopranos, Goodfellas, etc. My point is, that while you're right about the lack of positive Russian roles in movies, there are also thousands of other movies reflecting "baddies" from all places and strata, including American ones. The only Russian flick I have seen is Night Watch, so I really have no clue how we are represented. BTW, have you watched Team America: World Police ? It's a funny and painfully true parody of too many Americans' attitude.

 Catnip, totally.

Leigh:

So, that's the long, and really, oversimplified, version of how I arrived here, for what it's worth. It's funny, I think, to begin with anxiety and a simple need to comprehend, then wind up here a couple of decades later looking for a hottie. At any rate, I guess I will just have to be considered a Western b*tch, Sappho, though that would only be true in this case if some Russian man were to find me equally exotic and interesting.

I was in a relationship with an American man who found me particularly interesting because of my nationality. At one point of his life and career, he was very much interested in the USSR, etc. So, I sort of understand your reasoning ... fascination with the "forbidden" fruit, so to speak.

KGBMan:

I have no doubt Russian children were taught much the same in regard to America  - actually, no, we werent't.....

 

Agreed. Well, I was born when the USSR was on demise. However, I still remember the Soviet propaganda. It was not aimed at the American people, but rather at the capitalist thought. We praised the American heroine, of whom pretty much Americans do not know, Samantha Smith, who took a flight to the USSR. She was pleased to find Russian people friendly and warm, and to us, she became a hero. I never experienced any animosity toward Americans. I do not remember any drills when we had to hide under our desks (or elsewhere) in case of the war between the US and the USSR. I was amazed to hear such stories when I came to this country, and amused by all sorts of silly questions, such as: "Does everyone wear red in the USSR?" I was even called "a little red," or "a little soviet," to which I did not take offense, but it wasn't pleasant to hear these comments.

412:

Leah:

When I was a child, those teaching about the Soviet Union left me thinking that all the people were poor, starving, miserable and downtrodden... no joy in your lives whatsoever... and that women (especially older women) spent their days waiting in 12 hour bread lines in the freezing cold while the men were being brainwashed and trained to invade us at any moment... a la Red Dawn style.  And that, somehow, in the midst of all that misery and military training, all Russians under the age of 30 would sell their souls for a pair of western designer jeans.

Lies, lies, lies, lies, true, lies, true.

Ha ha!!! YES! I do remember fascination with the jeans ... however, my generation was fascinated with "mal'vini." Do you guys remember those? :) 

Sappho:

Firstly, I think we should drink to the first "non-bickering" interaction between you and me on this forum! 

And lastly, as I raise my glass, I say ... whatever works for you, Leah! May you meet a Russian-speaking man, whose reciprocated curiousity will take your relationship to the highest level!

well said..except we've got two Leah/Leigh's here.  so the fight is probably still going on..

even though, really, i'd prefer two of you (or even three) to make up and gently touch each other instead...:-) and maybe even kiss:-) 

Bagel Roll:

Yeah, the clothes mania seemed to have always existed... of course, the jeans had to be MADE IN AMERICA...

And the clothes mania continues to this day. Perhaps, I am quite Russian this way, I absolutely love beautiful clothes! I would rather buy a pair of beautiful shoes than food!! lol How awful! I do know my limits though!

pomidorchik:

Sappho:

Firstly, I think we should drink to the first "non-bickering" interaction between you and me on this forum!

And lastly, as I raise my glass, I say ... whatever works for you, Leah! May you meet a Russian-speaking man, whose reciprocated curiousity will take your relationship to the highest level!

 

well said..except we've got two Leah/Leigh's here. so the fight is probably still going on..

even though, really, i'd prefer two of you (or even three) to make up and gently touch each other instead...:-) and maybe even kiss:-)

LOL!! I just realized that too!!! So, unfortunately, I changed/edited my post, as I couldn't delete it ... and now your comment seems irrelevant. Oh well, the bickering shall go on! No kissing any time soon!!

Sappho:

Leigh:

So, that's the long, and really, oversimplified, version of how I arrived here, for what it's worth. It's funny, I think, to begin with anxiety and a simple need to comprehend, then wind up here a couple of decades later looking for a hottie. At any rate, I guess I will just have to be considered a Western b*tch, Sappho, though that would only be true in this case if some Russian man were to find me equally exotic and interesting.

I was in a relationship with an American man who found me particularly interesting because of my nationality. At one point of his life and career, he was very much interested in the USSR, etc. So, I sort of understand your reasoning ... fascination with the "forbidden" fruit, so to speak.

I have a fascination with Russia in general, but I'm sure the "forbidden fruit" thing also has a little something to do with my attraction to your men.

You're correct, I have no clue who Samantha Smith is, though the name sounds vaguely familiar. I will Google her and see what she's about.

pomidorchik:

even though, really, i'd prefer two of you (or even three) to make up and gently touch each other instead...:-) and maybe even kiss:-)

I see there is something Russian and American males have in common.
 

pomidorchik:

Sappho:

Firstly, I think we should drink to the first "non-bickering" interaction between you and me on this forum! 

And lastly, as I raise my glass, I say ... whatever works for you, Leah! May you meet a Russian-speaking man, whose reciprocated curiousity will take your relationship to the highest level!

 

well said..except we've got two Leah/Leigh's here.  so the fight is probably still going on..

even though, really, i'd prefer two of you (or even three) to make up and gently touch each other instead...:-) and maybe even kiss:-) 

 

Even though it wasn't actually me, I appreciate the thought anyway.  Had it been me, I'd have toasted to that.