On Generalized Opinions About a People (the Russians)

 

Alik Bakhshi

On Generalized Opinions About a People (the Russians)

 

   One often hears that generalizations are improper, even wrong. However, if an individual lies frequently, it is natural that people form an opinion of him as a liar. And this opinion, whether you like it or not, is a generalization. All scientific laws, by the way, are nothing more than generalizations. I mention this because in comments to my articles “The People’s Fate, or Every Cricket to Its Hearth” (1), “Great Russian Chauvinism, and Putin Its Führer” (2), and others, I am reproached for generalizing.

   If the majority in Russia—an overwhelming majority—supports Putin’s aggressive policy toward Georgia, Ukraine, and along the entire perimeter of the empire, is this not a reflection of the imperial worldview of the Russian people? To say this is an incorrect generalization? No, it is a fact. It is the worldview of the majority. Why should Russians care about what happens in another independent country? I am speaking of Ukraine. Ukrainians overthrew their corrupt president—does that justify the invasion of Russian troops? And this happens with the full, unanimous support of the Russian people. This is precisely the case when, in Fazil Iskander’s words, “the universal stench is mistaken for the unanimity of the people.”

   I rely on facts. Among my Russian acquaintances, all support the annexation of Crimea. This is a fact consistent with the imperial worldview of the people. And these facts are enough for me to form an opinion not only about my acquaintances but about the people as a whole. If it were otherwise, Putin would have no one to rely on. Remember the jubilation with which the Russian people greeted the invasion of Ukraine and the annexation of Crimea.

  Yes, there are Russians who understand that the “military defense of the Russian world” in other countries is a fabricated pretext to justify revanchism, but they are far fewer. I personally do not know any. Perhaps someone has been luckier, which gives grounds for optimism—optimism I do not share.

   I see that for the majority of Russians, the other peoples of the empire are “khokhly,” “tatarva,” “churki,” “black-asses,” “slant-eyes,” and other such slurs. And “pindosy.” These labels are extremely common in Russian popular discourse. You may call this a generalization, but that does not change the essence. And the essence is that the Russian people have lived their entire lives in falsehood and cannot imagine any other life (3).

1. https://alikbahshi.livejournal.com/#post-alikbahshi-28564
2. https://alikbahshi.livejournal.com/?skip=50#post-alikbahshi-21133
3. https://alikbahshi.livejournal.com/?skip=50#post-alikbahshi-22317

   03.06.17