Month: April 2018

The Singing Revolution

It all started in 1987, Estonians began mass protests in the capital city of Tallinn against the Russian occupation of their country. One of the protests included gathering of 10,000 people in the Tallinn Song Festival where they sang a … Continue reading

I’m Not Drunk, You’re Drunk!

 (Photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/27429206@N02/2743355206/)   One of the most prevalent stereotypes that comes to mind when thinking about Russia is that of the Russian drinker, warmed by an endless amount of vodka in a very cold country. While that is just a stereotype, alcohol still held a place of cultural and societal significance in the Soviet Union and … Continue reading I’m Not Drunk, You’re Drunk!

The Sobering Truth

The truth is, Russians can’t live without there alcohol. They like to drink….a lot. Every celebratory occasion in Russia calls for a drink but many would not even need a reason to drink besides that they enjoy it. Up until the start of the 1980s there were some anti-alcohol campaigns but never a real strong … Continue reading “The Sobering Truth”

The Baltic Way

Since being forced to join the Soviet Union as Republics during World War II, the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania had desired independence. These states had their independence during the early 20th century for about 20 years but were forced to be under Soviet rule once again because of the power of the … Continue reading The Baltic Way

The Elephant(s foot) In The Room

The devastating effects of atomic bombs became shockingly apparent after the United States dropped these new age weapons on Imperial Japan. But, along with atomic weapons came peaceful, cooperative uses for nuclear technology. One leading country in the innovative technology was the Soviet Union. The Soviets used nuclear reactors to create electricity and efficiently power … Continue reading The Elephant(s foot) In The Room

We Have No Sex Here

With the start of Perestroika and the policy of Glasnost created by Mikhail Gorbachev during the 1980s, many women in the Soviet Union started to feel open about themselves, more exclusively, their bodies. A sexual revolution was on the rise, women were starting to feel more in control of their bodies, and as such, they … Continue reading We Have No Sex Here

The lads of Liubertsy

In the latter half of the 20th century, western culture flooded the Soviet Union. Soviet youth enjoyed denim jeans, rock music, and Coca-Cola. Many of them began to identify as punk-rockers or hippies. The young men of Liubertsy (a suburb outside of right  Moscow), however, saw the popularity of western culture as a threat to …

Continue reading The lads of Liubertsy