Year of meanness

For some reason I remembered 1998. The ruble then collapsed, the state deceived everyone, as it is now, ordered to be attached and left citizens alone with its problems.

I was still living in Russia then. Everyone was in a panic, extremely embittered. Shooting, showdown. The corpses on the streets were not shocked. Traces of bullets on the wall of the children's music school were not too surprised: you go around and go on. But then Russia was not going to fight with the whole world. The TV did not broadcast about enemies, internal and external. There was some hope.

Now-in 2014. For me, the main impression of the events of the past twelve months is the year of meanness, lies, humiliation, anxiety, artificially vaccinated hatred. Let me explain, right on the points. When the president of my country is lying about the "green men" and about the weapon bought in the Selmag, I am ashamed of him. Ukraine is now for Russia - the enemy. And all around: Poles, Baltic states, Europeans, Americans - all enemies! Who invented this, drove into the heads of the population? This seemed to not have dreamed of a terrible nightmare. However, this happened.

I am the layman, I will not climb into the wilds of the one who, when and why I lived on the peninsula, in other abstruse reasoning. A simple question: what do I or anyone else from that Crimea?

Those who explained all this to the population, bashfully received medals. And I'm ashamed again. The annexation of Crimea is a mad and vile step. I am the layman, I will not climb into the wilds of the one who, when and why I lived on the peninsula, in other abstruse reasoning. A simple question: what do I or anyone else from that Crimea? When someone tells stories about sacredness, and the prince, who traveled around the Crimea a thousand years ago, I am ashamed and awkward. A stationary circus called the Duma now permits or cancel the war. Along the way, it regulates the styles of underwear and threatens to ban sneakers. Following the leader, ministers, deputies and others switch to jargon, to semi -reference expressions. The degree of sinking is off the sink. We can say that they themselves chose such representatives, from the people. But ashamed!

At the end of the year, people rush around on exchange points, buying up despicable dollars. And a person who looks like president gives money to his friends, and tells the people fairy tales about a bear, from whom evil Americans want to take an atomic bomb. Funny? I'm not very good.

I was pleased when friends and acquaintances came to my Czech Republic from Russia. Many of them now cannot afford it. The ruble, although now it is drawn with a wand, costs nothing. And the president jokes and prohibits food. This causes both shame and bewilderment. Add salaries to deputies, officials, police officers - and freeze pensions. Provide billions of income for the president’s close friends - and collect a penny for the treatment of sick children with the whole world. Selling through people close to a throne the resources of a huge country abroad - and reduce health care costs. What is this? Can this somehow be explained? Just not the machinations of the State Department, please.

Watching Russian television has become unbearable. Aggression, pressure, lies, fabrication of facts. Effective machine for brainwashing. Sometimes I look - curious - but in small doses, just for entertainment. If the programs are seriously, this threatens the clinic.

The gloomy picture turned out, but good wishes rely on the New Year. So: I think that oil is better than guns. And I wish everyone common sense, mind and dignity.

Igor Budykin - journalist, lives in the Czech city of Teplitsa