mrsronweasley (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
mrsronweasley) wrote2004-05-21 11:43 pm
mrsronweasley) wrote2004-05-21 11:43 pm
(no subject)
Oh, I have to share. I just have to share. I'm online, right? I'm in BED. With a completely wireless laptop on...well...my lap!
I am in my pj's. In bed. Lying against a pillow. With a laptop. And an internet connection. I am in bed with the internet.
I could get used to this...unfortunately, I can't. This is my brother-in-law's, and it's a temporary luxury. But hey! Even for tonight, it's daaaaaaaaamn nice.
Thought for the day...
I have noticed this, or, rather, I have been noticing this for quite some time, that I don't like Russian people. Well, ok, allow me to rephrase this... It's sort of like when you're a teenager, and anything your parents do sets your teeth on edge and embarrasses the hell out of you. Except, in this case, it's a sort of internal embarrassment, and a bit of a despisement. (Is that a word?) There is this trait that Russians possess, as a culture, that drives me absolutely up the wall, and for some reason, it's one of their most visible traits. They're snobbish, elitist, xenophobic and judgmental assholes. Or, ok...they can be.
I don't know how this is developed, but I never truly noticed it until we moved and I grew a bit older. It can be revolting sometimes. It starts with judging the way somebody looks (and if you're that somebody and an awkward, slightly overweight 14 year old girl, that really fucking blows) to judging - unfairly - somebody else's mannerisms/cooking/dress/whatever because of where they're from. When did they decide that they're better than Chinese people? Americans? Indians? How does this happen? I know that this isn't just a Russian affliction, it happens everywhere, but fuck, I am so tired of it. Whenever I see or hear Russians now, I flinch, and I hate that, too, because I love Russia. I love where I come from. I'm proud of where I come from. But sometimes, the Russians I know - or overhear - let out the most walloping heinous statements, and they don't even realize it. They think they're just having a conversation and spewing out some facts and opinions. What they're actually doing is regurgitating the xenophobic natures of their predecessors and feeding more intolerance. Communist equality, how are ye. It just...drives me absolutely insane. I'm so tired of it. I'm not sure what set this off, but it might have been the Russian people I heard talking on a bus today: the woman was like the people I'd described, to a lesser extent. The man was actually a sweetheart, and reminded me of my dad. Who, I have to say, is nothing like the sort of Russians I despise. And I'm not just saying that.
I don't know. I'm being a hypocrite, I know. I just shit on a whole group of people. Maybe I'm just bitter. But that, of course, is no excuse. I'm just going to shut up now. Ok, buh-bye...
I am in my pj's. In bed. Lying against a pillow. With a laptop. And an internet connection. I am in bed with the internet.
I could get used to this...unfortunately, I can't. This is my brother-in-law's, and it's a temporary luxury. But hey! Even for tonight, it's daaaaaaaaamn nice.
Thought for the day...
I have noticed this, or, rather, I have been noticing this for quite some time, that I don't like Russian people. Well, ok, allow me to rephrase this... It's sort of like when you're a teenager, and anything your parents do sets your teeth on edge and embarrasses the hell out of you. Except, in this case, it's a sort of internal embarrassment, and a bit of a despisement. (Is that a word?) There is this trait that Russians possess, as a culture, that drives me absolutely up the wall, and for some reason, it's one of their most visible traits. They're snobbish, elitist, xenophobic and judgmental assholes. Or, ok...they can be.
I don't know how this is developed, but I never truly noticed it until we moved and I grew a bit older. It can be revolting sometimes. It starts with judging the way somebody looks (and if you're that somebody and an awkward, slightly overweight 14 year old girl, that really fucking blows) to judging - unfairly - somebody else's mannerisms/cooking/dress/whatever because of where they're from. When did they decide that they're better than Chinese people? Americans? Indians? How does this happen? I know that this isn't just a Russian affliction, it happens everywhere, but fuck, I am so tired of it. Whenever I see or hear Russians now, I flinch, and I hate that, too, because I love Russia. I love where I come from. I'm proud of where I come from. But sometimes, the Russians I know - or overhear - let out the most walloping heinous statements, and they don't even realize it. They think they're just having a conversation and spewing out some facts and opinions. What they're actually doing is regurgitating the xenophobic natures of their predecessors and feeding more intolerance. Communist equality, how are ye. It just...drives me absolutely insane. I'm so tired of it. I'm not sure what set this off, but it might have been the Russian people I heard talking on a bus today: the woman was like the people I'd described, to a lesser extent. The man was actually a sweetheart, and reminded me of my dad. Who, I have to say, is nothing like the sort of Russians I despise. And I'm not just saying that.
I don't know. I'm being a hypocrite, I know. I just shit on a whole group of people. Maybe I'm just bitter. But that, of course, is no excuse. I'm just going to shut up now. Ok, buh-bye...
no subject
Not really, IMO. You expressed a want for them to be better people, to be more open minded and accepting so that other people who aren't Russian could not look at them and judge them the same way that they judge other people.
I mean, I feel a lot of these same things about Americans despite the fact that I like living in America and I like being an American. It's hard when your country is projecting an image or a stereotype to the rest of the world that makes you cringe and makes you feel shame when you really do want to be proud of it and want other people to see what's good about it.
But that's just my 2 cents. *hugs*
no subject
I have very little patience with cultural nationalism, or patriotism for that matter. It always seems that somewhere down the line "we are different from you" turns into "we are better than you" which is stupid because most of the time nationality is little more than an accident of birth.
I have friends in Wales who pull the same sort of shit and I can't say that I really understand where it comes from. Something about feeling threatened perhaps? Is it sort of like when Canadians get talking about Americans? An ugly thing to listen to because it's not the American government that gets called stupid but all Americans. It's appalling and a bit disappointing from a bunch of people who are otherwise so inoffensive. It's not just a Canadian thing though, Kiwis say the same sort of things about Aussies....
I have the feeling this isn't coming out right at all. I do not dislike local culture...the exact opposite, usually I'm fascinated. Life would be incredibly dull without all these cultural differences to liven things up. I guess I just dislike the way it gets used to divide people rather than bring them together. Or to alleviate social responsibility, as if it isn't our problem what happens to other people in far off parts of the world because 'those' people aren't 'our' people...It's just the 'us' and 'them' mentality that I despise.
Sorry if this is getting really off topic, at this point I'm really just thinking out loud in your lj.
no subject
(I may have to get even more ridiculously into debt and buy one for when I go away. Also a digital camera. Heh.)
As for your dilemma, it's a common one, I think. I know I get that here - I love Britain, I love whole swathes of things about it, but then when I think about how our defining characteristic as a nation was an empire built on the slave trade, and see the Daily Mail and football hooligans and obsession with being secretly better than everyone else, it makes me want to scream. It sounds like it's a bit harder for you, though, cause you don't live surrounded by all-Russian things, so you're less likely to be reminded of the good bits, too. *hugs*
I strongly suspect the only way to deal with is try to make sure you don't let it impact on the way you deal with individual people, like, that you give yourself time to know them before deciding whether *they* are like that or not. Which I suppose is all anyone can do when dealing with *anyone*, really.
Love you. :)