One might say it's "easy for you to say Americans" but this is always the argument - place X is better because of money, standard of living, or the ability to possibly obtain it different from home country X. What they don't tell you? Only a small portion of a shrinking middle class and higher has this, we're spread out and not united anymore (because of the plans and leadership), and people don't form families anymore. If they do, the kids are incredibly spoiled or in general, not as well behaved, and something I've noticed from immigrants is that they have no clue what is coming for their kids and grandkids. They take for granted (normal women, wives, mothers, etc) what those of us who have been here for 3-4 generations know will happen (not that). Seeking a better material life at the cost of other things is something humans aren't very good at analzying, and I finally figured it out since it's quite simple: most people don't think. Or at least don't think all that much beyond immediate and basic.
But you can have a nice car, get loans, and consume here, my friend! Look at that GDP!
I'm somewhat glad you stated all these things as a counter to most people's point of view here, so do tell: What makes Russia an "enemy" and what are their motives, and psychological "warfare"?
I like your feedback.
I have family members from a post Soviet country who arrived in the U.S. over a decade ago. Even after integrating into the life here, they ended up choosing the path back home where they came from because of globohomo - so again, I know things are at all-time worse here.
I too, grew up in the states, went to school, graduated, worked at a few fortune 100 firms and got married.
I have a sense of gratitude for all the opportunities and experiences I and those family members of mine have had here.
I’ll reiterate, things are at evil level worse here making me consider leaving here before my wife and I start having children.
Nonetheless, the sense of gratitude and patriotism make me want to present facts over perception.
There are some things the U.S. is allowed to do that Russia simply isn’t (like the nature, the powerful wins). Why? Because the U.S. has both industrial and financial might whereas Russia has just a tiny fraction of it but aims at having the same allowances.
Russia is not just an enemy of the US, but also an enemy of Europe, Asia, the Caucasus, the Middle East…
Russia undermines the very rational and critical thinking among all the people it interacts with by way of brut force, cyber attacks, elimination of heads of governments elected by sovereign people, constant forceful propaganda and sabotage through its pocketed players, corruption of the minds and hearts, constant beefs it generates between two or more countries in order to “manage the beef itself” thus keep those countries under its wing.
My point is, although Russia may want to pull these tactics out of the U.S. or NATO playbook, it doesn’t get to simply because it’s worth nothing except the actual land and the nukes they sit on.
I’m aware that my family members’ journeys may have affected my perception of Russia as a whole, but I assure you it’s not just that. In fact, the city of Moscow was on top of my favorite list until Putin’s Munich speech back in 2007 where he basically announced of a revived Soviet 2.0 or something in that line for the future. They talk big but instead of pair of ba**s they got vodka and a huge land comprised of dozens of cultural and ethnic minorities - that’s all they have.
