Shifting My Paradigm

From a western standpoint, there is not much known about Russian culture, politics, and society. Needless to say, over the past sixty years the relationship between Russia and the United States has been marked by competition and rivalry. Starting at the end of World War II and through the Cold War, the result of which being the U.S. and the Soviet Union as the two major superpowers, the dynamic between these two powers has been nothing more than cordial.  The relationship between Russia and the United States has not only had a global and economic effect but has also hindered the growth of these two societies on a communal level, as the stereotypes placed upon each culture by the other has been based in fear and contempt.

Throughout the Cold War the fear of communism and the ousting of it from within American society became the focus of domestic initiatives. The fear of communism became more than just an idea, it was an idea embodied by the Soviet Union- a massive enemy which was slowly gaining more and more political power.  Over the past year I have begun to notice the overall lack of knowledge that I had, and that many Americans do have, of Russia. I feel that many still associate Russia with the Soviet Union and that through an apathy of awareness and inability to understand, many Americans are still stuck in the psyche that was present thirty to forty years ago.

Last semester I took a course titled Communism in America. One of the things that first interested me in the course was the concept of an idea. The power that an ideas has over people; whether through passion or fear the idea has the power to make people move. It fascinates me that communism caused an extreme amount of hysteria and fear in the states. The rejection of communism in the 1950s is unlike any other movement. The core values of communism and state control brought such an extreme terror to the American public and to see the power of an idea and the extremity to which people are willing to lives by or against absolutely fascinates me.  As such, during the course I learned a lot about Russian history and studied the beginning of Communism and began to see how for Americans it became synonymous with Russia today.

Today, not much is known about Russia. In general, I feel that most Americans have little knowledge to the extent of the history and tradition that is present within Russian culture. This is a culture that is full of art, philosophy, theology, and has been the breading ground for revolutionary ideas and people that have shaped the actions of the world. The extent of history to which is the foundation of Russian society absolutely astounds me; however, that history has often been judged by its Americans counterparts who claim superiority over the history of other nations.

Over the course of this semester I have begun to see the difference between generalizations and stereotypes. In that, everyone generalizes. It is a way for human beings to process what is going around them and it is ultimately inevitable. It is stereotypes though that hinder the growth of that process. They limit a person and their potential. I can say that after having spent nearly three months in Lithuania among student from all over eastern europe many of my stereotypes have been proven wrong- well what stereotypes I had considering my overall lack of knowledge in general.

While I have always been told that there is something beneficial to gain from a different culture, it is hard to accept that when every inherent action seems out of place. Simple actions such as smiling and laughing were seen as strange, and often got me strange looks in the streets. While this resulted in me trying not to smile or laugh out loud in a desire to "blend in," I began to see instead that it is these things make me seem weird that I actually appreciate most about myself and my home culture. It has been the recognition of the values I appreciate in different cultures that have also made me appreciate the things that I value from my own culture.

All this is to say that my week spent in Russia was by far one of the most amazing experiences. I know  I am extremely fortunate to have had the opportunity to learn about this culture first hand. It is a culture that is full of tradition and being from a society where many of its members proclaim that the American way is the only way, it was humbling to see the way in which tradition is embodied into everyday lives. Whether that be respect for elders, displayed through always offering your seat on the metro to an older person or a woman, or through the reverence of religion and law.

It is funny for me to contrast my week in Russia to my four months in Lithuania to years spent in the States. Take the politics of each of these nations: while Russia and Lithuania have historically and geographically been around the longest, they are still among the youngest democracies. Living in Lithuania I have seen this to be a nation striving for freedom and democracy. While the United States is only a mere 300 years old, it is seen as a guiding light for striving countries such as Lithuania. While talking with one of the members of the Liberal Party in Klaipeda, she described the United States as a "mother of democracy" for Lithuanian politics.  It is easy for me to forget the youth of Lithuanian politics, after all they only began an independent state for twenty years. Thus it makes sense that Lithuania is still only in the beginning stages of democracy. It is clear that they are striving for freedom but the system is simply unequipped. However, seeing that they look to the United States as an example gives me pride in my home country.

However, that is not to say that the United States is without fault. I think it is the inability of many Americans to be humble that is the falling point within our society. Today there is present an attitude of "manifest destiny," that it's my way or the highway, and it is this mentality that is patronizing to developing and striving countries. I can see the perseverance in the spirit of these nations. Americans are quick to judge without looking within our own culture for faults. I have seen this in the attitude toward Russia.  I think unawareness of the unknown produces fear. There is a fear of things we do not understand, and I believe that this has hindered the growth of relations between the United States and other nations.


In today's society Russia and China are considered among the top rivals to the United States, but that does not take away from the fact that there are people who live within those states. It is a reminder to us all when thinking about politics, internally and internationally, that states and parties are made up of people. I even noticed this within the presidential election. Republicans and democrats alike were criticizing each other for their beliefs and in many ways it was a shame to humanity. People transcend social groups and no matter what category they are thrown in they ultimately deserve respect and time to be understood and made important.