Russian Repast

Few people travel to Russia for relaxation or a gentle vacation. Moscow is especially stressful and travel in all of Russia is challenging, to say the least. However, some things are getting easier and better for those who wish to visit the land of the Slavs.

My first trip to the USSR/Russia occurred in 1978 when a study leave took me to Leningrad/St. Petersburg. For several days leading up to our time in port the study directors told us about how this city was the "Jewel of the North" because of its beauty, cleanliness and western-like ways. I could hardly wait until we got here so I could see the land of our "Cold-War enemies" up close and personal.

The pre landing hype had not prepared us for the grim contrasts of Leningrad tour pre-USSR stops in the Scandinavian ports of Stockholm, Oslo and Helsinki. As a therapist it seemed to me that the entire population was either depressed, drunk or comatose. In any event, the people moved Zombie like through streets being cleaned by ancient women with primitive brooms.

Our guides spewed forth glowing and obvious propaganda about the glories of the Soviet State. They were seemingly oblivious to the fact that we were world travelers who could easily compare the "Jewel of the North" with our own cities in Europe and America as those we had just left in Scandinavia. Perhaps this is one of the main reasons that the Soviets failed so miserably. The leaders seemed to believe their own statements and, since few had ever visited other nations, actually thought their economy was better than ours.

(Do you remember "Baghdad Bob" the "Communications' Officer" for Saddam? He was still saying that the glorious army of Iraq was going to wipe out American forces when the US tanks were rolling into the center of Baghdad. Our guides all behaved like Baghdad Bob's.)

Things are better in Russia now. Even though President Putin, a former high ranking KGB officer, would like us to believe that Russia can keep its glorious past intact while it grows into a world power, massive new changes will be necessary if she is to actually enter the world market as a real player.

The Soviet approach to life must die if Russia is to thrive. Soviet rule developed:

Control over all aspects of life, including the personal dimensions of religion, economics and personal decisions.

A nation of specialized legal standards instead of a nation built upon just laws.

Paranoia toward outside nations and outside people as well as new ideas and change.

Massive corruption supported by the police.

Rampant alcoholism and drug abuse.

Immorality leading to numerous children out of wedlock, common divorce, high rates of abortion, child abandonment, domestic abuse, a callous disregard for human life and violence.

Our friend, Dr. Galina Chentsova, M.D. Psychiatrist, Psychologist has developed a widely dispersed program of establishing family life centers, alcohol and drug recovery centers and leadership develop training centers to change Russia for the better. Pray for her and her staff of volunteers. The work is very difficult.