http://www.zeitgeistmovie.com - watch online
A rather interesting documentary-inverstigation.
Not sure how true are all the facts, but hopefully will have more time one day to research the topics by myself.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Monday, March 3, 2008
Example of Propaganda - De-occupational calendar 2008 by Garda
As an assignment for my class. Here we go:
Background information: In January The Latvian National Front issued two wall calendars for the year 2008 in order to promote friendship between Latvians and Russians (as they claim - “Lai veicinātu draudzību starp latviešu un krievu tautām un valstīm…” - “In order to promote friendship between Latvian and Russian nations and countries…” quote taken from the official website of DDD newspaper http://www.dddlnf.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=327&Itemid=27 ).
This political party is advocating a rather controversial idea of the decolonization of Latvia by means of deportation of non-citizens. They also support the celebration of Legionnaires' Day in order to honor Latvian soldiers who fought in a unit of Nazi Germany's Waffen SS in World War II. Recently three politicians from this party, including Aivars Garda, were accused of incitement of ethnic hatred and brought into court two years ago. However, they were found not guilty. On the 28th February this year the appeal of this case ended the same way: not guilty.
Now the scans of these calendars and my attempt to translate them:
First calendar
Chairman of the Latvia National Front
Aivars Garda
“Compatriots! Soviet occupation of Latvia brought against the will of the Latvian nation, by force as a horrible infection (which gradually but without a doubt destroys the Latvian nation) its colonists, who show typical characteristics of Great Russian chauvinism or fascism each day: hatred, impudence, pugnacity, flippancy and boastfulness. Such aggravation of national hatred and sowing seeds of dissension evoke fear in Latvians and unjustified pliancy in front of colonists.
Don’t be afraid, Latvians! Do as I do, do better then me, in particular, each day send them back to Russia. Remember that these villains are afraid themselves of a just punishment from the nation of Latvia!
The president of the Russian Federation
Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin
Compatriots in Latvia! History tells us that since the times of the tsar Ivan the Terrible Russia has committed atrocities against Latvians: killings, raping, burning. Historical chronicles of those times describe the cruelty of Russian army with such words that a person would involuntarily shudder from horror while reading them.
Such genocide against Latvians was committed by the Soviet Union. In addition to the atrocities, it sent into Latvia around one million colonists, who are maliciously set against Latvians. Russia, as an assignee of the Soviet Union, has to stop this violence against Latvians. Compatriots, you do not respect your President, if you don not return to Russia!
Happy New Year!
Nice, isn't it? :D
Background information: In January The Latvian National Front issued two wall calendars for the year 2008 in order to promote friendship between Latvians and Russians (as they claim - “Lai veicinātu draudzību starp latviešu un krievu tautām un valstīm…” - “In order to promote friendship between Latvian and Russian nations and countries…” quote taken from the official website of DDD newspaper http://www.dddlnf.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=327&Itemid=27 ).
This political party is advocating a rather controversial idea of the decolonization of Latvia by means of deportation of non-citizens. They also support the celebration of Legionnaires' Day in order to honor Latvian soldiers who fought in a unit of Nazi Germany's Waffen SS in World War II. Recently three politicians from this party, including Aivars Garda, were accused of incitement of ethnic hatred and brought into court two years ago. However, they were found not guilty. On the 28th February this year the appeal of this case ended the same way: not guilty.
Now the scans of these calendars and my attempt to translate them:
First calendar
Chairman of the Latvia National Front
Aivars Garda
“Compatriots! Soviet occupation of Latvia brought against the will of the Latvian nation, by force as a horrible infection (which gradually but without a doubt destroys the Latvian nation) its colonists, who show typical characteristics of Great Russian chauvinism or fascism each day: hatred, impudence, pugnacity, flippancy and boastfulness. Such aggravation of national hatred and sowing seeds of dissension evoke fear in Latvians and unjustified pliancy in front of colonists.Don’t be afraid, Latvians! Do as I do, do better then me, in particular, each day send them back to Russia. Remember that these villains are afraid themselves of a just punishment from the nation of Latvia!
The president of the Russian Federation
Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin
Compatriots in Latvia! History tells us that since the times of the tsar Ivan the Terrible Russia has committed atrocities against Latvians: killings, raping, burning. Historical chronicles of those times describe the cruelty of Russian army with such words that a person would involuntarily shudder from horror while reading them.
Such genocide against Latvians was committed by the Soviet Union. In addition to the atrocities, it sent into Latvia around one million colonists, who are maliciously set against Latvians. Russia, as an assignee of the Soviet Union, has to stop this violence against Latvians. Compatriots, you do not respect your President, if you don not return to Russia!
Happy New Year!
Second calendar
Matvey Ganapolskiy
Famous Russian journalist
Latvians! If my compatriots do not know or do not want to speak Latvian, insult you, swear, attack and demand to not speak your “dog’s language”, that is fascism!
Therefore, you take a stool, and hit this jerk with this stool with all your power in a head, so he does not dear to say such things. Yes, I (urge) to breaking the law, because if you live in a country, you should remember there is a (Latvian) language which is spoken by the majority, minority does not matter. Respect the rules!
Aivars Garda
Chairman of the Latvian National Front
Compatriots! The famous Russian journalist Matvey Ganapolskiy is absolutely right. If he, as a citizen of Russia, speaks in such a way about his impudent compatriots in Latvia, it proves that the truth was and is on the side of the Latvian National Front and the newspaper “DDD”. We ourselves, though, were never hesitating about it.
I do not urge to hit these villains and jerks with a stool in a head, but we send them on three letters at least, can’t we? (note: to send on three letters is a euphemism for “to say f*** you”) Can we or can we not be as brave as our Latvian riflemen, national partisans and legionnaires?
Happy New Year!
Nice, isn't it? :D
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Preved Medved and Albanian language
If you ever start to read Russian blogs and communities, don't be suprised by the expressions like "Preved medved!" or "Learn Albanian". Those expressions have a long history, some info can be found in wikipedia, as always :)
About Preved
And this trend had moved to the real life as well. That is why Russian speaking people (those who are familiar with the new Internet trends) get so excited and take photos next to a statue or anything resembling a bear with his paws up in the air.
And I still remember that poor American guy who wrote something bad about Russia and Russian language and became a victim of a huge flashmob - thousands of people came to his livejournal and wrote thousands of similar comments: "go learn Albanian!" His mailbox was paralized.
Later came the trend of misspelling words (Preved) and Albanian became Olbanian.
Yep, Russian speaking people are happy to kick each other, but when it comes to outsiders offending them - huge force wakes up (to be friends not for the sake of friendship, but for the sake of being together AGAINST someone) and it can get dangerous :D Well, at least in the Internet
About Preved
And this trend had moved to the real life as well. That is why Russian speaking people (those who are familiar with the new Internet trends) get so excited and take photos next to a statue or anything resembling a bear with his paws up in the air.
And I still remember that poor American guy who wrote something bad about Russia and Russian language and became a victim of a huge flashmob - thousands of people came to his livejournal and wrote thousands of similar comments: "go learn Albanian!" His mailbox was paralized.
Later came the trend of misspelling words (Preved) and Albanian became Olbanian.
Yep, Russian speaking people are happy to kick each other, but when it comes to outsiders offending them - huge force wakes up (to be friends not for the sake of friendship, but for the sake of being together AGAINST someone) and it can get dangerous :D Well, at least in the Internet
The New York Times project
Rather interesting community appeared on livejournal.com. As I have my livejournal account for quite a while, I can say that people do like to discuss politics not only in their kitchens :) And livejournal is a very popular blog service.
That is the community: The New York Times - Tell Americans and the whole world about Russia
Here is the article in The NYT that started the project and collected more then 3000 comments in livejournal: Putin's Iron Grip on Russia Suffocates Opponents
The point of the community is to let Russians comment on the articles and then translate those comments and publish them in The NYT. And later translate responses from American readers into Russian and publish them in the community. Cool, huh? :)
In general, what I saw was: some Russians strongly agree with the article, some strongly disagree, some agree, but suggest Americans to look at their own democracy and mind their own business.
One typical response:
"It is funny to read this from people who, for 10 years have invaded other countries, toppled the stable regimes that ruled and enforced their rules there. Especially funny to read it if you don't forget about prisons and tortures in Guantanamo. And completely funny when you recall how these people hanged the former president of the country they invaded. Why am I saying this? Because Mr. Putin and his team are evil, of course. And only cattle vote for him. BUT these are OUR problems. And WE will sort them out. And you, you'd better write a couple of stories about why a person who is considered an imbecile by 80 percent of the globe's population is elected for a second term. Also, don't forget to write what are you still doing in Iraq (you have not found either nuclear, chemical, biological weapons there, so stop pumping oil for free and get back home).
- happy_bra"
Interesting, how will this project continue and what will it change?
PS mmmm, can you imagine the amount of traffic to The NYT webpage? :D
That is the community: The New York Times - Tell Americans and the whole world about Russia
Here is the article in The NYT that started the project and collected more then 3000 comments in livejournal: Putin's Iron Grip on Russia Suffocates Opponents
The point of the community is to let Russians comment on the articles and then translate those comments and publish them in The NYT. And later translate responses from American readers into Russian and publish them in the community. Cool, huh? :)
In general, what I saw was: some Russians strongly agree with the article, some strongly disagree, some agree, but suggest Americans to look at their own democracy and mind their own business.
One typical response:
"It is funny to read this from people who, for 10 years have invaded other countries, toppled the stable regimes that ruled and enforced their rules there. Especially funny to read it if you don't forget about prisons and tortures in Guantanamo. And completely funny when you recall how these people hanged the former president of the country they invaded. Why am I saying this? Because Mr. Putin and his team are evil, of course. And only cattle vote for him. BUT these are OUR problems. And WE will sort them out. And you, you'd better write a couple of stories about why a person who is considered an imbecile by 80 percent of the globe's population is elected for a second term. Also, don't forget to write what are you still doing in Iraq (you have not found either nuclear, chemical, biological weapons there, so stop pumping oil for free and get back home).
- happy_bra"
Interesting, how will this project continue and what will it change?
PS mmmm, can you imagine the amount of traffic to The NYT webpage? :D
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