Hey Lara,
Thank you for the kind words! It was really important to me that I describe this situation in full as there were many key details that made this story more poignant. I also think it’s important that everyone is informed of the full story!
Author: lilyfair
Comment on Caution: Crisis in Chernobyl by lilyfair
I’m glad you enjoyed my post! I spent a lot of time looking into it just because I found it so deeply interesting. My feelings oscillate between shock and anger! It appears that it was a turning point for the Soviet Union. From my understanding, the US had standards that more-or-less prevent situations like this from occurring. However, some other places we can see its impact include the Fukushima power plant following the 2011 earthquake in Japan. The government moved its people away from the site very, very quickly.
Comment on Caution: Crisis in Chernobyl by lilyfair
I’ve never read that book, but thank you for the recommendation! I think that interviews and firsthand accounts are my favorite ways to study history as they are more relatable.
Comment on Death and Dissolution by lilyfair
Hello Ajmal,
I think a lot about Russia’s history with Afghanistan within the 1980s as many consider it a catalyst for religious extremism in the country. However, I don’t think as often about Russia’s side. You included the quote, “Soviet soldiers were being asked to die for people who clearly did not want them, and the bloody fighting left them shattered on their return home,” and it reaffirmed the parallels between this war and the Vietnam war.
With the collapse of the Soviet Union looming overhead, there were several key issues, such as this war and the Chernobyl disaster, that must have looked like writing on the wall during this time. Hindsight is 20/20, so I wonder if it was as obvious to the Soviets as it seems looking back. It really makes me ponder what it was like living in Russia and experiencing these.
Comment on Bye, Bye Vodka by lilyfair
Hi Lara,
Your title was so catchy that I just had to read more. I’m glad I did, too! I definitely think about how it parallels to the American prohibition movement in the 1920s. It seems incredibly difficult to enact legislation, though, as people often find back-door avenues to access illegal items. The reasons for banning it seem based on a valid critique of social issues. It’s unfortunate, however, that its banning just led to additional problems elsewhere.
I also think about assumptions that people have about Russians, and many often tie ‘heavy drinking’ to their culture. I am glad to know a little more about their history with alcohol, though!
Comment on Caution: Crisis in Chernobyl by lilyfair
Every time I read about Chernobyl, it always just breaks my heart! I know that there were quite a few reasons for the delayed response of the Soviets, but some people paid dearly for it. By 2006, a large number of children had contracted thyroid cancer in Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine. None were even alive during the explosion, so it is even harder to hear.
I thought the picture was wonderful too, and it is amazing to consider just how far the radiation reached. According to the source, this image was taken 80 kilometers (or 50 miles) away. For comparison, Roanoke is around 44 miles away.
Comment on Caution: Crisis in Chernobyl by lilyfair
I thought this issue was just so fascinating as I considered the ways in which the explosion signified some of the darker elements of nuclear power. I think one can also see how Japan’s immediate reactions to Fukushima was a learned response following Chernobyl. According to the World Nuclear Association (http://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/safety-and-security/safety-of-plants/fukushima-accident.aspx), Fukushima had no illnesses or deaths related to radiation. This is largely attributed to its early and thorough evacuations.
Comment on Much Ado About Abortions by lilyfair
While I’m not surprised that women were treated this way, it certainly warrants a discussion. One thing I think I left out in this post is what you describe — how it fits into the global trends of the era. Russia (from my understanding) was still doing quite well for the time, though not perfect. Another blog post (http://leflack.net/20thcenturyrussia/uncategorized/the-thaw-of-the-women/) wrote about some of the different ways in which women benefitted during the 1950s and 1960s.
I think another issue to consider is how difficult it is to get society on the same page as the laws. It takes generations to make meaningful changes in a culture.
Comment on Much Ado About Abortions by lilyfair
The USSR’s views towards the access of abortion make me pause. I think about American struggles with abortion access. While Roe v. Wade established American women’s right to abortion, but current bills (like Ohio’s) counter these. While I’m certainly not in a place to determine morality, it amazes me how we still have political discussions about abortion even today. The USSR was an early advocate for abortion access, but as stated in another comment above, it was not the same as supporting their choices.
Comment on Much Ado About Abortions by lilyfair
I always think it is so important to set the scene for why policies exist. I read your post, and I think ours complement each other’s well. The one challenge with these blog posts is to write both enough and not too much. I would have loved to investigate a little about this. However, it is not like abortion was the defining characteristic of de-Stalinization. Thus, I have to temper myself a little. (:
