
Courtesy of Eduard Lozansky, RAGA congratulates Americans on the Independence Day in a very colorful fashion. Enjoy the attachment!
Because of the Holiday I was thinking to dispense with my antidote prescriptions. However, after reading Bryan MacDonald's articleRussophrenia - an Illness in Need of a Cure, I decided that some sort of antidote was still in order. According to Bryan, "Russophrenia is a condition where the sufferer believes Russia is both about to collapse, and take over the world." Since 2013, instances of this ailment have reached epidemic proportions in certain parts of Washington, London and Brussels."
1. Bryan MacDonald Wed, June 26, 2015, Russia-Insider:
<<Whenever I mention Russia to an average Dubliner, the usual response is either that Russia is economically devastated or sometimes I get a summary of Kremlin plans to take over Europe. Russophrenia sufferers might have problems with reality, but thanks to a heavily-biased Western media, their influence is both potent and troubling.>>
Read more:
http://russia-insider.com/en/politics/russophrenia-illness-need-cure/ri8434?
2. See also a Bloomberg News article
Russia's Pivot to China Is Real
JUN 25, 2015 11:51 AM EDT
By Leonid Bershidsky
<<Chinese loans became by far the biggest source of foreign financing for the Russian economy last year. According to Central Bank data, Russia's non-financial sector and households received $11.6 billion in net new loans from China. Cyprus -- or rather Russian businesses operating in Cyprus -- was the second-biggest lender, with $3.4 billion.>> Read
http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2015-06-25/russia-s-pivot-to-china-is-real
Then follow two rather pleasant forms of antidote: an interview with Gary Saul Morson about the importance for our politicians to read Russian literature, and an announcement of a joint venture of making Russian classics available to Americans .
3. Great Russian literature 'probes the ultimate questions of human life'
June 19, 2015 Elena Bobrova, RBTH
Gary Saul Morson, a professor of Slavic literature at Northwestern University and one of the foremost authorities on Russian literature in the United States, spoke to RBTH about his love for Tolstoy, the ongoing popularity of the Russian classics and what, if anything, politicians can gain from studying literature. Quote G.S.M:
<<These books are relevant to young Americans because they are relevant to all human beings. They probe the ultimate questions of human life — what makes a life meaningful, what is honesty, what responsibility we owe to others, and similar timeless questions. They answer these questions sometimes with profound answers and even more often with a deepening of the questions themselves.
<< Politicians are not great readers of literature. But if the educational system that shapes them includes great literature, they will develop the habit of seeing the world from perspectives other than their own. Americans have a tendency to think that everyone wants to be just like them, and so understand Russians, and other people as well. Literature helps overcome that narrowness.>>
http://rbth.com/literature/2015/06/19/great_russian_literature_probes_the_ultimate_questions_of_human_li_47025.html
4. Multi-volume library of Russian literature to be published in the U.S.
June 29, 2015 Elena Kostomarova, special to RBTH
The Russian Library in English project will be released in print and electronic form, as well as a series of audiobooks.
The most significant works in Russian literature will be published in the U.S. in a collection of 100 volumes. An agreement to that effect was signed on June 27 by the Institute of Translation and the U.S.-based Read Russia Inc. at the Books of Russia festival held in Moscow’s Red Square from June 25-28.
“After a three-hour discussion we agreed that Columbia University Press would launch a ‘Russian Library,’” said Vladimir Grigoryev, deputy head of Rospechat, the Federal Agency on Press and Mass Communications of the Russian Federation. “This is an unprecedented move, especially given the current situation.”
http://rbth.com/literature/2015/06/29/multi-volume_library_of_russian_literature_to_be_published_in_the_47299.html
Well, we cannot totally dispense with political antidotes that are available in both English and Russian
5. Sharon Tennison resumes Russia trips. JUNE 18, 2015, Sharon Tennison's email
Citizen Diplomacy Travel begins again -- June 2015
Dear Friends,
The relations between the two nuclear superpowers, Russia and the U.S., deteriorated so rapidly during the Ukraine build-up to war in 2014 that it seemed to us critical to try to rebuild citizen diplomacy again –– even though this attempt feels like David and Goliath with the slingshot. Read more:
http://www.russiaotherpointsofview.com/2015/06/citizen-diplomacy-travel-begins-again-june-2015.html
6. Solving the crisis in U.S.-Russia relations
There is an urgent need for bilateral talks to replace mutual disrespect
By Edward Lozansky - - Sunday, June 14, 2015
professor of world politics at Moscow State University
The Russian and American people should be demanding that their governments abandon symbolic brinksmanship in favor of serious negotiations and policies designed to protect their citizens and the world from future catastrophe
Read more: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/jun/14/edward-lozansky-solving-the-crisis-in-us-russia-re/#ixzz3dCZr248H
Лозанский: отказ США от диалога с Россией приведет к катастрофе, 22.06.2015
Более половины американцев недовольны внешней политикой Барака Обамы, пишет Эдуард Лозанский. И у них есть на то основания - прекращение рабочих контактов с Россией по вопросам ядерного оружия из-за желания "наказать" Москву приведет к катастрофе.
РИА Новости http://ria.ru/world/20150622/1080191917.html#ixzz3drxlfi75
Finally, my own remembrance of the late former Russian Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov, most famous for cancelling a state visit to Washington to protest NATO bombing of Yugoslavia
7. Vladislav Krasnov, In Memory of Yevgeny Primakov, R.I.P.
http://www.raga.org/news/w-george-krasnow-phd-on-yevgeny-primakov-rip
RAGA was just about the only organization in the United States to have issued, laud and clear, a Welcome to Russian Prime Minister. With the help of a number of people who generously responded to my appeal for donations (the courtesy of Johnson’s Russia List emails), our announcement was printed in The Washington Post on March 24, 1999.
http://www.raga.org/news/w-george-krasnow-phd-on-yevgeny-primakov-rip
Памяти Е.М. Примакова
http://www.raga.org/1053105410421054105710581048/24
Но как только разговор зашёл о Примакове, тон Солженицына потеплел моментально. Он восхищался воздушным разворотом Примакова как фигурой «высшего пилотажа», как доказательство того, что Примаков был одним из немногих «государственников» бывшего советского партийного аппарата, кто поставил национальные интересы страны выше интересов идеологических, номенклатурных, личных или клановых.
http://www.raga.org/1053105410421054105710581048/24
8. Don't forget to follow and join the American Committee for East-West Accord
http://eastwestaccord.com
9. RAGA needs volunteers too!
Malice to None. Good Will to All.
Peace and Justice to the World.
миру мир и благоволение в сердцах
From RAGA site:
"We are an association of Americans who believe it is in the U.S. national interests to foster friendship with Russia on the basis of mutual Good Will and non-interference in each other's affairs. RAGA is a gathering of people who share common interests in Russia's history, culture, religion, economy, politics and the way of life. We feel that Russian people have made outstanding contributions to humankind and are capable of greater achievements. We envision Russia as a strong, independent, proud and free nation and as a partner in achieving peace in the world."
Sincerely,
W George Krasnow (=Vladislav Krasnov)
President, RAGA
All statements in this report are an opinion of the author. Act at your own risk. Russia & America Goodwill Association (RAGA) is not responsible for the content of the article. Any views or opinions presented in this report are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of RAGA. Any liability in respect to this communication remain with the author.
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