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Comments 172

perycalypsis February 3 2016, 15:33:22 UTC
The Romanian language has an idiom - haz baragaz, or
something of the kind - I forget the exact pronunciation, but
the words literally mean "underground laughter". Appar-
ently, during the Middle Ages Romania was frequently in-
vaded by all sorts of nomadic tribes, and so the peasants
constructed immense dugouts, entire underground houses,
into which they drove their livestock the moment a cloud of
dust appeared on the horizon. They themselves hid in these
places as well, and since the dugouts were quite excellently
camouflaged, the nomads could never find a thing. Natu-
rally, when they were underground the peasants were very
quiet, but just occasionally, when they were quite overcome
by joy at their own cunning in deceiving everyone, they
would cover their mouths with their hands and laugh very,
very quietly.
There is your secret freedom, the Romanian
said, it is when you are sitting wedged in among a herd of
foul-smelling goats and sheep and you point up at the roof
with your finger and giggle very, very quietly.

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iamschik February 6 2016, 17:37:44 UTC
Look, you are plagiarizing Pelevin; you should put quotation note here.

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ex_juan_gan February 3 2016, 15:38:05 UTC
Thank you.

Yes, there are plenty of examples in Russia. The problem is, the majority of the people just don't care. Which made me believe that, basically, they just don't deserve it. You do this or that, and nobody joins. There are heroes that still do it. Like Pussy Riot, like Voslensky.

I remember one exception. We were having rallies in a garden, just about 10 of us. I was responsible for secretly printing and bringing leaflets, more leaflets, for the people coming and going away. We stood there and talked about this and that, about politics; it was illegal in the USSR, but we did. Then the crowd started growing, 100, 1000... cops were coming trying to catch the organizers; we resisted, etc. When it turned into huge demonstrations, I pulled out, but those were amazing times, 1989-1991.

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a_nimaida February 3 2016, 15:46:21 UTC
Pussy Riot герои ))))

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ex_juan_gan February 3 2016, 19:59:51 UTC
What's so funny?

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a_nimaida February 4 2016, 07:23:47 UTC
вы, диванное поколение, которые не видели героев )

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a_nimaida February 3 2016, 15:43:57 UTC
Yes, Americans once lynched blacks and it is a shameful part of our history which few forget, including me. >>>

Americans destroyed the Native Americans - Indians ..

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ext_2832598 February 3 2016, 15:56:27 UTC
o man, they also killed all bisons.

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peacetraveler22 February 3 2016, 16:16:46 UTC
:)) They are still alive! I've seen them roaming around in Wyoming, and will visit them again in a few weeks when I go to Montana.

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bisons piterburg February 3 2016, 18:55:45 UTC
Yes, and bison steaks and burgers are very good indeed!

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ext_2832598 February 3 2016, 15:44:29 UTC
why do americans have so little marriages between blacks and whites? don't you think this is because you guys still have strong racial segregation? not in the laws, but in your minds.

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peacetraveler22 February 3 2016, 15:48:34 UTC
Only about 13% of the U.S. population is black, so this is one reason. Plus, during this era, and my parent's youth for example, such relationships were still considered taboo. With my generation view began shifting, and with the new generation (like my young nephew) I don't think anyone really thinks about it. It's ordinary to see mixed raced couples, not only black/white, but white/Asian, white/Hispanic, everything really. Also mommy/mommy and daddy/daddy in progressive areas like Northern Virginia and Washington, DC. :)

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ext_2832598 February 3 2016, 15:54:28 UTC
but still on statistics these relationships are unexplained rare. i mean black+white.

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qi_tronic February 3 2016, 15:58:01 UTC
I think black women are not really attractive for white men.
And black men are not rich and cultural enough for white women.

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qi_tronic February 3 2016, 15:48:14 UTC
Sorry, no time to read it all now but I just find all that situation very strange.

Why installing segregation after abolishing slavery?
If Americans did not need all those blacks they'd need to send them back to Africa. Or let them live.
Some stupid legal games.

Such protests in the USA were successful only because the role of written law in the country's life is too big.

1. There is some stupid law.
2. A smart group organizes some formally lawful protest.
3. Police cannot eliminate them because police should also follow law.
4. The law is changed in the Supreme Court.
5. Voila! They win.

In Russia this does not work.
Here the government has a goal: not allow the protest to happen.
So either police use any slightest formal cause to put the protesters in jail or the law is changed dynamically, sometimes overnight :)

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peacetraveler22 February 3 2016, 16:09:59 UTC
Why should they be sent back to Africa? They were born here, in the USA. America is their home country. :) There can be no healthy society where the government suppresses protests, I truly believe it. Btw, do you read the musings of exiled journalist Rustem Adagamov? Today, he has published this, and I imagine you completely disagree with it ( ... )

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rostislavddd February 3 2016, 16:34:56 UTC
journalist Rustem Adagamov- человек скрывающийся за границей от обвинений в педофилии.
Обвинение выдвинуто его бывшей женой касательно 12 летней дочери.

И как всегда в таких случаях у таких людей громок голос правды.
Что не педофил или вор, или убийца в России - за границей он превращаются в узника совести и правозащитника.

А что касается отсутствия национальной идеи в Швеции и Дании - вы не удивляйтесь что после этого местных жителей приезжие считают овцами и считают себя вправе их резать даже не выходя из миграционных пунктов.

Пока мужчины Нидерландов надевают миниюбки и выходят на марши протеста против приставаний к их женщинам. :)
Это какой то позор - у общества полностью погашен инстинкт самосохранения.

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peacetraveler22 February 3 2016, 16:40:45 UTC
I'm aware of the molestation charges. Btw, why do so many vocal political opponents in Russia end up in jail or dead? I just read an article about this - http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/03/europe/russia-putin-critics/. You don't find this alarming and scary?

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