Quote Originally Posted by Kagemusha View Post
Hax. We cant blame modern Russia for the deeds of SU. It is like blaming modern Germany for the deeds of Nazi Germany. Nikita Krushchev criticized Stalin already heavily during 50´s and I do not think modern Russians idolize Stalin, but i can understand that the Great patriotic war is something which is big part of Russian identity still. Demonizing Russia will not get us anywhere and this whole good versus bad talk when it comes to World politics is just naive.
First let me clarify one thing: I'm not against the referendum in Crimea per se. Although I believe it was illegal, I don't think terms of national law matter much when it comes to situations like these. I can accept that a majority of the population in Crimea wanted to join with Russia.

Well, eh..there's this.

The difference between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union with regards to Germany and Russia respectively, Russia is the legal successor of the Soviet Union. And yes, while I agree that it's useless to blame the contemporary Russian government for the atrocities inflicted upon their own population, the recent rhetoric in Moscow has become increasingly worrying.

To draw a comparison: how would people respond when Germany had just annexed north-western Poland after a referendum there pointed out that a large majority of the population wanted to reunite with Germany, and at the same time, Germany would start talking about the rights of the German-speaking population in Bohemia. I'm not sure how well that would sit with most people.

but i can understand that the Great patriotic war is something which is big part of Russian identity still.
Explains all the neonazis.

Demonizing Russia will not get us anywhere and this whole good versus bad talk when it comes to World politics is just naive.
I believe Russia to be an increasingly aggressive power, and this has spelled doom for most of their neighbouring countries in the past. I still grieve for the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.

..okay, maybe not seriously, but I do find this trend worrying. Do consider that I spend half of my time nowadays in Estonia, so I'm definitely somewhat biased in this matter.