The attitude of Americans toward Russia (most often not that negative, but in most cases absolutely wrong), apparently, is based on the propaganda generally accepted in the United States in the media, which “brainwashes” its own citizens. And the origins of this phenomenon should be sought in the back streets of history. Only after studying all historical events will it become clear what modern Americans think about Russia and Russians.
A bit of history: the results of World War II
Perhaps it’s worth starting with history. The fact is that America and the former Soviet Union have long been isolated from each other. The “Wild West” had no idea how the Old World, in particular the USSR, lives, like our people.
But the intersection of nations occurred during World War II, when the anti-Hitler coalition was formed, in which the USSR, the USA and Great Britain acted as allies. It was then that the Americans thought about how a country opposed to Nazism lives.
But here it is not so simple. At the end of the war, the former allies with the submission of the United States turned into irreconcilable opponents. Despite the peace process of the Yalta Conference on February 4-11, 1945, it was felt that the States and Britain were not set up for friendly relations with the USSR. The only question was how to divide the influence in Europe and the Far East.
The Cold War and the Iron Curtain
Since then, the Soviet Union has become an ordinary American citizen in Russia. And all the inhabitants of the then state were called only Russian, although it could be a native of any republic or nationality.
Russia through the eyes of the Americans, or rather the USSR, at that time looked like a powerful power with which the United States had constant competition, which ultimately grew into an arms race. They believed that it was we who were building up military potential, but we were convinced that our main enemy was America, which was creating more and more types of weapons. This primarily concerned medium and long-range ballistic intercontinental missiles (if anyone does not remember or does not know, in contrast to the American Triedent and Polaris, the best analogues were created under the brand name SS-18, and then SS-20), not to mention the nuclear confrontation, which could lead to a new war of complete annihilation.
As for the so-called "Iron Curtain", information about life in the two countries for ordinary citizens was extremely limited and presented completely distorted.
Formed opinion about lifestyle in the former USSR
In those years, it was presented to us as a “rotting West, ” but they, in turn, believed that complete chaos reigned in the USSR: bears and constantly drunk men in sheepskin coats and boots playing balalaikas walk around the streets. This is how the image of a bear with a balalaika was formed, which is still being presented by some Western media.
The confrontation between the two superpowers reached its peak during the so-called Caribbean crisis, when humanity stood on the threshold of the Third World with the use of nuclear weapons. The question was only who would press the button first. It is not surprising that Americans about Russia and Russians (the generally accepted name of the USSR and all its citizens at that time) formed a single opinion: the “soviets” would be the first to attack. This was aggravated by Nikita Sergeyevich Khrushchev, who was banging his boots on the podium and promising to show America “Kuzkin’s mother”. By the way, on the geographical maps of that time it was possible to meet the designation of the former Union not as the USSR, but as Russia.
A girl named Samantha Smith
When the former head of the KGB, Yuri Andropov, came to power in the USSR, one of the most unprecedented events in the history of relations between the USA and the USSR took place. An American schoolgirl wrote Andropov an open letter in which she asked why the USSR wants to conquer the whole world? In response, the General Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee invited her to visit the country.
Samantha also became that starting point, which influenced quite strongly how Russia looks through the eyes of the Americans (in the sense of the former Soviet Union). At that time, she visited a regular camp, where she wore a pioneer uniform and talked with her peers. And it was she who debunked the myth of the barbarians living in Eastern Europe.
Apparently, someone from Washington (most likely Langley from the CIA) was not pleased with this. There is no evidence of involvement of special services in the death of Samantha, but the fact is clear. The plane on which she flew with her parents crashed, as stated in the official report, due to bad weather conditions, when the pilot overshot the landing strip for as much as 200 meters.
The attitude of Americans towards Russia and the Soviet Union during the perestroika period
Nevertheless, a warming soon began between the two superpowers. In the mid-80s of the last century, the opinion of Americans about Russia (as the main component of the USSR) changed.
This was facilitated by the appearance on the political scene of Mikhail Gorbachev, who over the years of confrontation decided to meet with US President Ronald Reagan in Reykjavik. In a sense, it became historical, since it was then that packages of documents to limit strategic offensive arms were signed.
The so-called perestroika and glasnost that occurred in the USSR could not but affect the States. Remember, not only our people, but ordinary Americans at that time wore T-shirts with sickles, hammers, red stars and inscriptions like I love Gorby (Gorbachev’s political nickname), "USSR" or USSR.
At the same time, because of the Iron Curtain, the first Soviet rock band came out, which made it into the TOP-5 of the charts of the American charts. It was Gorky Park with the composition Bang. And the same group performed in Luzhniki in 1989 at the Monsters of Rock in Moscow concert (along with such world celebrities as Ozzy Osbourne, Bon Jovi, Cinderella, Motley Crue, Skid Row and Scorpions). For many Americans, it came as a complete surprise that Russian men know how to play not only the balalaika and sing folk songs, but also create world-class “rocky” compositions.
What can I say, the fact remains, but when Scorpions were at the reception of Gorbachev, he said that he liked the composition of Wind Of Change in the work of the group the most. Not surprising. After all, this song is dedicated to the changes in the USSR that took place at that time.
The collapse of the USSR
The coup that took place in 1991 led to the complete collapse of the Soviet Union. Independent countries and republics that joined the CIS were created (Commonwealth of Independent States). Many expected this to weaken all the former republics of the USSR. It was at first.
But the launched process of reforming both the state and society could no longer be stopped. New Russia appeared before the world in a completely different form, which, if not shocking, then certainly surprised many.
Boris Yeltsin
It is impossible to deny the role of Boris Yeltsin in the formation of the state. Although he did not complete his mission to the end, nevertheless it was he who in August 1991 stood on tanks and called on the troops to stop the punitive operation.
Americans about Russia as a newly created power responded in two ways. Some believed that the country would become the heir to the USSR ideologically in relation to the West, others - that an era of global change was coming.
But the Soviet era with its global principles could not be destroyed just like that, in one day. That is why most of the reforms and undertakings have remained only on paper. The country needed a new leader with tight grip. And such has appeared.
New Russia and Vladimir Putin: a Western surprise that knows no boundaries
Former deputy and then Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin in 1999, after Yeltsin left, became president of the Russian Federation. The political figure of Putin was either doubted or mistrust, in general, there wasn’t much information about him (former FSB colonel, what do you want). The world began to look narrowly at the new leader.
At that time, the Americans argued about Russia and Putin, perhaps, much more than about their own problems within the country. Even some, so to say, “psychologists” tried to comprehend this person on the basis of behavioral manners, gestures, glances, lips tightening, hand movements, etc. And now many are engaged in this.
But, to the great chagrin of all these masters who want to become famous at the expense of others, it is worth noting that a former intelligence officer (if you like, a counterintelligence agent) can control his emotions and gestures, which means that all the conclusions of such “experts” are zero.
What do Americans think about Russia and Putin now?
What is most interesting, Vladimir Putin did not retire after a double presidential term. Then many print media tried to figure out how Russia looks through the eyes of the Americans in this aspect. Some naively believed that after being appointed prime minister under President Dmitry Medvedev, Putin would cease to influence international politics.
But … did not happen. As you know, in many parliamentary countries, the prime minister sometimes has even more power than the head of state. In this regard, Vladimir Putin turned out to be the very man who took the reins of government in his hands.
On the other hand, no matter what evil tongues say, Great Russia began its revival precisely with the filing of Putin. Now, not only Americans about Russia and Russians say that it is, they say, imperial ambitions. So be it, so what?
Remember, the old mother Russia, although living in luxury and poverty at the same time, nevertheless became the scientific and cultural center of not only Europe, but the whole world. How many scientists have contributed to world science, how many Nobel laureates in physics, how many classics of literature, whose immortal works are still being studied all over the world! Note that this does not fit in with the image of a village peasant who was artificially created by the world (and primarily American) media.
The Americans in Russia, coming to the country, do not see at all what they were presented with for many years “on a silver platter”. This is understandable. After all, hearing and seeing firsthand is not the same thing. So what do Americans say about Russia now? They are sure that every Russian family has nuclear weapons at home! Think about it, isn’t it nonsense?
In the light of recent events in Ukraine and Syria, when Russia is charged with illegal invasion of these countries, the situation becomes somewhat inadequate. What do Americans think about Russia from the submission of their own media? It’s just that the Russian Federation is an aggressor country trying to conquer the whole world and subjugate everyone and everything (doesn’t resemble the letter of Samantha Smith?). Of course, A. Turchinov (head of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine) “killed” most of all, so to speak, saying that Russia soon plans to launch a nuclear strike against the States and Europe. Given the fact that Ukraine at the moment, although it is not recognized and not proven, is under the external control of the United States, such a statement caused a rather great resonance in American society.
Although, if you dig deeper what the Americans say about Russia, for them all this does not matter. Judging by surveys conducted by independent publications and sociological companies or analysts, US residents are only interested in what is happening in their country and in their homes. And the level of education leaves much to be desired. The same University of New York is among the ten most prestigious universities in the world. But how can this be: do students not even know basic geography? Well, yes, there is such a country on the world map (Russia), I heard something somewhere. At best, they will say that this is a monster who started the war. But many students even find it difficult to show it on a geographical map …
But the Americans in Russia see a completely opposite picture. Great Russia is reborn, albeit with difficulty, but this is inevitable. Do not want to trust the media? Refer to the predictions of Vanga or Edgar Cayce, the American favorite, whose prophecies are considered the most accurate since they came true (and come true in 99.9% of a hundred cases).
So, it was said that in the period from 2016 to 2020, Russia will receive a rebirth and become the cradle of not only the world religion based on Christianity, but also the cradle of all mankind. States, Britain, Western Europe will be wiped off the face of the Earth (flooded), and Siberia will become the place of salvation. Is that why the States and the ruling cynical outcasts (you can’t call them otherwise) are already trying to create a bridgehead for resettlement in the Russian Federation?
If we take into account the fact that, as it is believed, the world is ruled by some unspoken Council of Nine (there are a lot of references to this) with immigrants from the Masonic lodges, then the question of what Americans think about Russia (ordinary citizens mean) refers to such a background that it is impossible to imagine. In the end, it is they who will suffer, though either because of the influence of propaganda, or because of the limited mind, they still do not understand this.
What is America most afraid of?
But as for the fears of the United States, ordinary inhabitants do not know about this. They are only afraid of a military threat, but in reality everything turns out to be much more serious. The first thing to consider is the external debt of the States, which reached an indicator of almost two tens of trillions of dollars. According to independent investigations, the gold and foreign exchange fund, which allegedly holds gold bullion, is only a myth. In fact, there is no gold in the vaults, the dollar is supported artificially, but allocations from the state budget for the same military needs "outperform" all reasonable indicators. The sanctions imposed against the Russian Federation and some other states only prove that the United States is thus trying to prevent a massive depreciation of the currency and an incredible crisis that cannot be compared even with the beginning of the 20th century.
In addition, as, by the way, many Americans in Russia say, America is afraid of losing global geopolitical influence on a global scale. Naturally, first of all, you need to find a scapegoat. And for some reason, this “goat" should be the Russian Federation. But let's face the facts.
