November 4 — Day of National Unity of Russia

“I remember the time when there were bright, wonderful and truly popular November holidays”

Lev Leshchenko, People's Artist of the RSFSR

Of course, there is such a feeling. The basis of unity is our culture. Today, state policy is aimed at creating and maintaining a unified cultural space of the country. It is culture that allows us to unite everyone and feel like one nation. And in order to feel national unity, we must develop a sense of belonging to the culture of Russia, support and give the opportunity to develop talented people everywhere, and strengthen regional ties.

Olga Golodets, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Government

I haven’t felt any national unity in our country for a long time, and I don’t celebrate any holidays in November. I just remember the time when there were bright, wonderful and truly popular November holidays. And November 4 is an artificially invented date, and people don’t feel any feelings towards it, so they don’t celebrate it.

Lev Leshchenko, People's Artist of the RSFSR

I can still feel national unity somewhere in the regions, especially during sporting events. But in the cities I don’t feel unity at all, everything there is like a swan, a crayfish and a pike. An idea that unites the people can be sports, faith, specific achievements of the state in some field, even a positive solution to high-profile cases known throughout the country.

Nikolai Valuev, State Duma deputy (United Russia)

Very weak. We do not have a single nation called the people of the Russian Federation, although some processes are underway. For some reason, it is possible to be a united nation only when there is an external threat. We need a national idea. Now the Eurasian Union can unite many. The CIS no longer has the same meaning; it needs to be liquidated. I celebrate the Day of National Unity with my comrades, but we do not take to the streets, but hold shooting competitions, rallying unity under the slogan “Be ready for work and defense.”

Alexey Zhuravlev, chairman of the Rodina party

To feel, you need a state-forming rod. We have a great, long-suffering Russian people. And until it receives state-forming status in the Constitution, there is no talk of any unity. The Russian people won all wars, and today they do not even have legal status. In the 1993 Constitution, everyone received their own territory - the Chuvash, the Mordovians, and the Caucasian peoples. And you will find the adjective “Russian” only in the phrase “Russian language”.

Alexey Didenko, first deputy leader of the LDPR faction

Yes, and I believe that among the common people there has never been a problem with unity. On November 4, the bulk of ordinary people will unanimously celebrate the day of the icon of the Kazan Mother of God. Faith in justice, in the basic commandments, the desire to live according to them - this is the main unifying force, and not political holidays.

Oleg Nilov, deputy leader of the A Just Russia faction

I feel completely disconnected. We say that migrants do not assimilate well, do not respect our rules, but how do we ourselves feel about this? In Central Russia, few people can say what November 4th means. Having crossed out our history, disregarding the heritage of our fathers, we have lost our unity. There is common ground for unity in our Soviet past, and we are pouring black paint on it.

Anatoly Lokot, deputy head of the Communist Party faction

I'm starting to feel it. I treat this holiday with exceptional respect, because it is precisely unity that has been lacking in Russia for several centuries. Because of this, we lost our state twice and ruined ourselves. They saved Russia from Napoleon, then destroyed the Tsarist Empire and the Soviet Union with their own hands. The country lacks the unity of nations, so the one who established this holiday is the smartest person.

Oleg Korolev, Governor of the Lipetsk Region

Of course not. We all speak Russian, we have a common land, one country, but we have two peoples. One watches the zombie box and believes in an American conspiracy. And the other people are the people of the Internet, who understand and know everything. But these two peoples do not understand each other. The nature of this day shows that November 4 became a day of hatred towards each other.

Boris Nemtsov, deputy of the Yaroslavl Regional Duma

I am for national unity, but if you hadn’t reminded me, I might not have felt that we had it. However, I do not celebrate either this holiday or the Day of Reconciliation and Harmony. And the holiday of the Kazan Mother of God sounds more convincing in comparison with national unity.

Vasily Barkhatov, director

Unity with the people - yes, but with new holidays - no. It seems to me that the main problem of the country is a sharp change of course and the destruction of symbols of the past...

Sergey Bludov, Chairman of the Board of the Leader payment system

What kind of unity can we talk about?! Society is split, there are no authorities. In the future, unity is achievable, but restoration will take time. First, we need to improve people’s lives, and then unity will appear. And the feeling of the holiday is not the same as in Soviet times on November 7, now the entire holiday is a day off.

Adolf Shaevich, Chief Rabbi of Moscow

There is a holiday, but there is no unity. Unfortunately, it appears only in difficult times. Komsomolsk-on-Amur needed help, and then it appeared.

Evgeny Mironov, artistic director of the Theater of Nations

Schism as a lack of unity is a basic historical feature of all Russian culture. The idea of lack of unity is also embedded in the coat of arms: the heads of the eagle look in opposite directions and cannot agree. The division of left and right, Slavophiles and Westerners, government and society, east and west, white and red, north and south. This is not so much a celebration as it is a statement of a problem. On the holiday itself, the nation is divided.

Andrey Novikov-Lanskoy, writer, culturologist

QUESTION OF THE WEEK/FIFTEEN YEARS AGO*

What are you calling for?

In Soviet times, the CPSU Central Committee published appeals to the Soviet people in Pravda on November 7 and May 1. Here are some appeals that readers might suggest today.

"For the Motherland!"

Alexander Livshits, former Minister of Finance of the Russian Federation

"Let's replace the emission with a general amnesty!"

Anatoly Tyazhlov, Governor of the Moscow Region

“Glory to the Russian people, who cherish their historical dates and never miss an opportunity to celebrate them once again!”

Georgy Satarov, President of the Indem Foundation

"Fellow citizens, keep your sense of humor!"

Victor Sheinis, State Duma deputy (Yabloko)

"Peterpeterpeterpie!"

Andrei Voznesensky, poet

"Members of the government and oligarchs! Officials and entrepreneurs! Work in the name and for the benefit of Russia, and not just for your own pocket!"

Andrey Belyankin, President of Russian Capital Bank

"Down with!"

Yuliy Kim, poet

*Positions are indicated at the time of the survey.

Do you feel national unity?