Stories about History from February, 2006
Russia: More On the Anniversary of Khrushchev's Speech
Somewhat belatedly, links to more posts by Sean Guillory's on the 50th anniversary of Nikita Khrushchev's denunciation of Stalin: Boris Kagarlitsky on “sacrificing” the dictator in order to save the system; Anne Applebaum on “authoritarian impulse” in countries new to democracy; Julian Evans on the “cult of Putin” in Russia;...
Russia: Anatoly Fomenko and his New Chronology vs David Irving
Alex(ei) of The Russian Dilettante's Weblog writes about a respected Russian mathematician Anatoly Fomenko and his controversial “new chronology of world history” – in which, for example, “Jesus Christ and emperor Constantine were the same person.” Alex(ei) cites an anonymous LiveJournal user: “…if David Irving deserves three years in jail,...
Laos, Singapore: Swords to Ploughshares
Preetam Rai visits the Singapore air show. The sight of the weapon merchants’ wares reminds him of what he had seen in Laos: war material turned into flowerpots.
Latvia: Russo-Latvian Border Dispute
All About Latvia links to a year-old entry still relevant today: on a proposed Russo-Latvian border argeement and Russia's objections to it.
Trinidad & Tobago: Carnival necessities & reenactments
Got your snake oil? Just in time for the official start of Trinidad & Tobago's Carnival on February 27, Attillah Springer makes a list of Carnival necessities. She also posts photos of old-time Carnival and the reenactment of the Canboulay Riots of the 1880s.
Philippines: Historical Slavery
caffeine sparks rereads a historical account of pre-colonial servitude in the Philippines and reaches her own conclusions that something was going on that was more complex than “slavery” as commonly understood: “If master-slave live in one house and eat the same food, can one conclude that the master-slave relation is...
Ukraine: Two Babushkas
Stefan of Dykun continues with his Ukrainian grandmother‘s story: how the languages and dialects Baba Omaha can speak – Ukrainian Poltava and Ukrainian Galician, Polish, Czech, Russian, German and Belarusian – reflect her life experiences. The Ranger of NVASHAG tells of his Ukrainian mother-in-law: Babushka Maria is turning 70 next...
Russia: Defenders of the Fatherland Day
Russia marks Defenders of the Fatherland Day today, aka the Men's Day (while March 8 is the Women's Day). Megan Case posts a contemporary greeting card she has found in s store; Katerina at The Accidental Russophile links to the site that has Soviet postcards for the occasion; Russia Blog...
Pakistan: Old Photographs
Pakistan: Old Photographs
Philippines: Revolutions
Jessica Zafra reminds readers why the Philippines 1986 “People Power” Revolt, the 20th anniversary of which is ongoing, was so important, despite the subsequent disappointments and political troubles: “We were the opening salvo in the Big Freedom Blasts that began in the late 1980s and continue into this century. The...
Russia: Fire at Komsomolka
Following the fire that destroyed one human life and much of the archives of Komsomolskaya Pravda, Sean Guillory recounts the newspaper's history.
Israel: A War of Religions? God Forbid!
With all the religiophobia going around, specially when it comes to Palestine/Israel conflict, Islam, Judaism and Christianity, Uri Avnery writes, A War of Religions? God Forbid!
Poland: “Looking for the Iranian Lech Welesa”
As the Bush administration intends to use Poland's Solidarity movement of the 1980s as a model for Iran's opposition, Beatroot examines Solidarity's history and explains why such a model may not work in Iran now.
Poland: Iranian Perspective on the Holocaust
Beatroot corrects Mohammad Taheri, Iran's ambassador to Portugal, who thinks it necessary to reconsider the Holocaust numbers and has been quoted saying this: “When I was ambassador to Poland I visited Auschwitz and Birkenau twice and I did my own calculations. To incinerate six million people you would need 15...
Estonia: 1905 Revolution Photo Exhibit
Was 1905 in Estonia a prelude to 1917 or the year Estonia's independence movement was born? Bonjour l'Estonie links to a review of a photo exhibit capable of shedding light on this neglected and potentially divisive historical period: “Manors are Burning!: The 1905 Revolution in Estonia.”
Estonia: Taking Responsibility
Bonjour l'Estonie links to an article in Free Estonian Word about how the choices made more than 60 years ago still reverberate today: “People defend and excuse collaboration with the Nazis while condemning any sort of contact with the Soviets. Others, including prominent members of Estonia's political life, take the...
Latvia: March 16 Controversy
Aleks at All About Latvia writes about the controversy surrounding March 16 in Latvia: “For the last few years, every year on March 16, Latvian uberpatriots march in Riga and the Western Latvian city of Liepaja. Every year, Russian uberpatriots march to protest against the new found spread of fascism...
Cuba: Century's end
Que Bola? posts a photo of an abandoned department store in Trinidad, Cuba called “Fin de Siglo” (the end of the century) and notes: “The 1900s were in fact a final century for a way of life in Cuba. Things have changed for the better and the worse, but they...
China's Tiny Step towards Facing Its Past
The Peking Duck gives China credit for opening up the first Cultural Revolution Museum for the people to remember the past – “Yes, it (China) can do a lot more. But there's no question this is a positive step“.
Russia: 50th Anniversary of Khrushchev's Speech
Nikita Khrushchev began the process of de-Stalinization 50 years ago, with a speech given at the 20th Communist Party Congress, held February 14-25, 1956. Sean Guillory of Sean's Russia Blog discusses the event's significance and reviews the coverage of the anniversary. He also reproduces parts of an interview with Sergo...
Belarus: Lukashenko Regime and the Upcoming Election
Tobias Ljungvall draws a parallel between today's Belarus and Russia under Lenin, and muses about Lukashenko's regime, the Russian ‘managed democracy’ model and the upcoming election. He also mentions solidarity rallies that took place in Stockholm on Feb. 16 – and one that was dispersed by the police in Minsk.
