President Obama Makes Historic Visit to Russia, A Place Where Blacks, Other People of Color Live in Fear

Stream videos at Ustream

President Barack Obama has landed in Russia and will hold talks at the Kremlin, which is a historical feat, but there is another facet that has not been explored in great detail -- the anti-immigrant sentiment that runs deep. I must admit that Russia doesn't actually pop in my mind as a place to visit, much less emigrate to, but I was saddened to learn that many Russians are still not tolerant of ethnic diversity. Blacks and other minorities in Russia have to lead low-profile lives to avoid danger. It is a bittersweet moment to see the world's most powerful leader, a black man, being treated with such pomp and circumstance in a place that has been so cold and unkind to people of color.

According to Reuters, the advice to new African students, who opt to get an education in Moscow because it's cheaper than at a Western European university, is simple -- "don't travel on the metro at night, avoid all travel on the metro during football matches and only go to nightclubs in groups." As you would expect, "the streets of Moscow are filled with white, ethnic Russian faces, with a few darker skinned people from the ex-Soviet states in Central Asia and the Caucasus, who mainly cook, clean and work on building sites." A black face is a rarity and stands out like a sore thumb. A walking target, if you will.

Alexander Verkhovsky from the SOVA Center, a non-government organization that measures racist attacks in Russia, said the country had a serious problem."There is a higher level of racist violence here than in other parts of Europe," he said.

"The risk of arrest is much lower."Preliminary data from the SOVA Center showed 102 people died in racist attacks in Russia last year and 441 people were injured. Out of that figure, two blacks died and 22 were injured. Most of the attacks are aimed at the thousands of people from Central Asia and the Caucasus working in Russia because they are far more numerous.

"But black people are a very high-risk group and they usually avoid using the metro," Verkhovsky said. Source: Reuters

In May 2006, Amnesty International reported that racist killings in Russia were "out of control" and at least 28 people were murdered in 2005. In 2006, AI registered 252 victims of racist crimes, of which 21 died. In February 2007, then-President Vladimir Putin asked the Federal Security Service to fight against racism, unfortunately, it was reported that hate crimes still increased. Amnesty International criticize Russian police for not doing enough to combat racist crimes, and for often ignoring reports from civilians about threats and crimes.

Sadly, though it seems that things are getting better and attitudes are softening, most Africans head for home once they have completed their education. It is very difficult for them to get jobs there. So, though we have some isolated problems with racism in the United States, I have to aver that the United States of America is one of the best places to live and work.

More Articles on Russia from Hinterland Gazette
Stanislav Mishin Writes in Pravda: "American Descent into Marxism Happening with Breathtaking Speed"

More articles on racism in Russia
Living with race hate in Russia
March against hatred: Racism in Russia

Stanislav Mishin Writes in Pravda: "American Descent into Marxism Happening with Breathtaking Speed"

I came across an interesting article during my morning perusal of a ton of online newspapers and I was absolutely amazed at the hubris of Stanislav Mishin, a Russian blogger. His article appeared in Pravda and pokes fun at the so-called descent of the United States into Marxism at a rapid pace. He said "the proud American will go down into his slavery with out a fight, beating his chest and proclaiming to the world, how free he really is. The world will only snicker." I have to wonder how stable the Russian economy is at this time. According to BBC News, Russia's deputy economic Minister Andrei Klepach said the economy contracted sharply in April, shrinking by 10.5 percent from the same month a year ago. The data came as officials were quoted as saying Russia would have a budget deficit equivalent to nine percent of GDP in 2009, from an earlier 7.4 percent prediction. This man better than anyone else should understand the implications of the economic collapse Russia experienced, that played a great role in the break-up of the Soviet Union. Before Mikhail Gorbachev came to power, the Soviet Union's economy had already developed serious problems. They were building arms at a breathtaking speed, but were unable to feed their citizens. So, I advise Mr. Mishin not to be so smug and laugh at the economic issues confronting America, as though Russia was a virtual paradise.

Industrial output in Russian has slowed in the wake of the global economic slowdown and many investors have fled Russia in droves. Additionally, there are fears that poverty levels are rising, with, according to the BBC News, Russian churches reporting a rise in the number of people seeking free meals as a result of the global financial crisis. Even President Dmitry Medvedev gave downbeat comments on the country's economy and called for sharp cutbacks in government spending in a "shift to a regime of tough economising of budget funds." So, I find it rather hypocritical that Mr. Mishin could paint such an ugly picture of what is happening in America today without taking a look at his own country.

Those lessons were taken and used to properly prepare the American populace for the surrender of their freedoms and souls, to the whims of their elites and betters.

First, the population was dumbed down through a politicized and substandard education system based on pop culture, rather then the classics. Americans know more about their favorite TV dramas then the drama in DC that directly affects their lives. They care more for their "right" to choke down a McDonalds burger or a BurgerKing burger than for their constitutional rights. Then they turn around and lecture us about our rights and about our "democracy." Pride blind the foolish.

Then their faith in God was destroyed, until their churches, all tens of thousands of different "branches and denominations" were for the most part little more then Sunday circuses and their televangelists and top protestant mega preachers were more then happy to sell out their souls and flocks to be on the "winning" side of one pseudo Marxist politician or another. Their flocks may complain, but when explained that they would be on the "winning" side, their flocks were ever so quick to reject Christ in hopes for earthly power. Even our Holy Orthodox churches are scandalously liberalized in America.

The final collapse has come with the election of Barack Obama. His speed in the past three months has been truly impressive. His spending and money printing has been a record setting, not just in America's short history but in the world. If this keeps up for more then another year, and there is no sign that it will not, America at best will resemble the Wiemar Republic and at worst Zimbabwe.

These past two weeks have been the most breath taking of all. First came the announcement of a planned redesign of the American Byzantine tax system, by the very thieves who used it to bankroll their thefts, loses and swindles of hundreds of billions of dollars. These make our Russian oligarchs look little more then ordinary street thugs, in comparison. Yes, the Americans have beat our own thieves in the shear volumes. Should we congratulate them? Source: Pravda

I will concede one point he has made and that is the educational standard in America has fallen and it is a shame. We are lagging so many other countries that it is mind boggling that we have lost our competitive edge, educationally speaking, so quickly. Call America whatever you will, we are still set the tone for whatever happens globally. If our economy is in shambles, most countries across the globe are also in shambles. I cannot agree that President Barack Obama has made the situation worst. He inherited a country that was confronting serious economic problems that will most likely not be fixed in his first term in office.

To read the entire article by Stanislav Mishin, CLICK HERE. To read about the collapse of the Soviet Union, CLICK HERE.

Media Mogul Ted Turner Says "KGB Honorable Place to Work"

Ted Turner, who recently released a new book "Call Me Ted," put his foot in his mouth once again. This time, on Sunday's "Meet the Press," during which he blamed the U.S. for starting the battles with Vladimir Putin "by putting the Star Wars system in Czechoslovakia and Poland," and when host Tom Brokaw recalled that Leonid Brezhnev reacted to Jimmmy Carter's outreach by invading Afghanistan, Turner retorted with so-called moral equivalence: “Well, we invaded Afghanistan, too, and it's a lot further -- at least it's on the border of the Soviet Union.” Brokaw called it “naked aggression on the part of the Russians at the time,” prompting Turner to charge: “Well, going into Iraq was naked aggression on the part of the United States.” But here's the part that hit a nerve with me, Turner said that "the KGB, I think, was an honorable place to work” with “worthwhile” achievements." Ted, are you still eating bison meat dude?

Mr. Turner, defended Putin's KGB background by comparing it to someone who worked for the FBI:

We have an FBI and, and, and, and, and we're not prejudiced against somebody who's worked at the FBI. It's an honorable place to work. And the KGB, I think, was an honorable place to work. And it, it gave people in the former Soviet Union, a communist country, an opportunity to do something important and worthwhile. Yeah, like oppressing people in captured nations and running gulags to suppress political dissent.

This is nothing new with Ted Turner. A few months ago, he applied similar moral equivalence in his description of Iraqi insurgents as "patriots" who simply "don't like us because we've invaded their country" and "if the Iraqis were in Washington D.C., we'd be doing the same thing." In the same interview on PBS, he predicted global warming will soon lead to cannibalism. Wow, has this man lost some marbles or what?

From the pre-recorded interview run on the Sunday, November 30 Meet the Press

TOM BROKAW: You met Vladimir Putin when he was just an aide to the mayor of St. Petersburg. He picked up you and Jane Fonda, to whom you were married at the time. But as you have watched him since then, most people see not in his eyes a soulful person, but the eyes -- three letters, as someone has put it: KGB. That he is-

TED TURNER: Well, he had that background. But you know, we have an FBI and, and, and, and, and we're not prejudiced against somebody who's worked at the FBI. It's an honorable place to work. And the KGB, I think, was an honorable place to work. And it, it gave people in the former Soviet Union, a communist country, an opportunity to do something important and worthwhile.

BROKAW: But in the meantime, it appears that he's very much more interested in just causing difficulty for the United States, getting in our face in a manner of speaking.

TURNER: Well, wait. We're the ones -- in my opinion, we're the ones that started that. We're the ones that started by putting the Star Wars system in Czechoslovakia and Poland when they wanted to be part of it. We've said that that system is only to protect us from Iran or protect Europe from Iranian missiles. So why didn't we cooperate with the Russians? Why have we constantly been pushing, we've been pushing on the Russians all the time.

BROKAW: Your friend, Jimmy Carter, tried to be friendly with Leonid Brezhnev, and for his friendliness what did Brezhnev do?

TURNER: Hell, I don't remember. It was before I got involved.

BROKAW: He invaded Afghanistan. He invaded Afghanistan.

TURNER: Well, we invaded Afghanistan, too, and it's a lot further -- at least it's on the border of the Soviet Union or the former Soviet Union or Russia. A lot of these countries have changed names several times.

BROKAW: But, Ted, don't try to go there in terms of justifying that. I mean, it is, the fact is that the Russians, it was a naked aggression-

TURNER: Why can't I try and justify it?

BROKAW: It was naked aggression on the part of the Russians at the time.

TURNER: Well, going into Iraq was naked aggression on the part of the United States.

BROKAW: Yeah, but big power politics and changing big power politics requires everyone to come to the table, and that includes the Russians, not just the United States.

TURNER: They'll come if we invite them, I'm sure.

Ted Turner, go back to Montana and chill out. You just did a major hatchet job on your media promo for your book.

Media Mogul Ted Turner Says "KGB Honorable Place to Work"

Ted Turner, who recently released a new book "Call Me Ted," put his foot in his mouth once again. This time, on Sunday's "Meet the Press," during which he blamed the U.S. for starting the battles with Vladimir Putin "by putting the Star Wars system in Czechoslovakia and Poland," and when host Tom Brokaw recalled that Leonid Brezhnev reacted to Jimmmy Carter's outreach by invading Afghanistan, Turner retorted with so-called moral equivalence: “Well, we invaded Afghanistan, too, and it's a lot further -- at least it's on the border of the Soviet Union.” Brokaw called it “naked aggression on the part of the Russians at the time,” prompting Turner to charge: “Well, going into Iraq was naked aggression on the part of the United States.” But here's the part that hit a nerve with me, Turner said that "the KGB, I think, was an honorable place to work” with “worthwhile” achievements." Ted, are you still eating bison meat dude?

Mr. Turner, defended Putin's KGB background by comparing it to someone who worked for the FBI:

We have an FBI and, and, and, and, and we're not prejudiced against somebody who's worked at the FBI. It's an honorable place to work. And the KGB, I think, was an honorable place to work. And it, it gave people in the former Soviet Union, a communist country, an opportunity to do something important and worthwhile. Yeah, like oppressing people in captured nations and running gulags to suppress political dissent.

This is nothing new with Ted Turner. A few months ago, he applied similar moral equivalence in his description of Iraqi insurgents as "patriots" who simply "don't like us because we've invaded their country" and "if the Iraqis were in Washington D.C., we'd be doing the same thing." In the same interview on PBS, he predicted global warming will soon lead to cannibalism. Wow, has this man lost some marbles or what?

From the pre-recorded interview run on the Sunday, November 30 Meet the Press

TOM BROKAW: You met Vladimir Putin when he was just an aide to the mayor of St. Petersburg. He picked up you and Jane Fonda, to whom you were married at the time. But as you have watched him since then, most people see not in his eyes a soulful person, but the eyes -- three letters, as someone has put it: KGB. That he is-

TED TURNER: Well, he had that background. But you know, we have an FBI and, and, and, and, and we're not prejudiced against somebody who's worked at the FBI. It's an honorable place to work. And the KGB, I think, was an honorable place to work. And it, it gave people in the former Soviet Union, a communist country, an opportunity to do something important and worthwhile.

BROKAW: But in the meantime, it appears that he's very much more interested in just causing difficulty for the United States, getting in our face in a manner of speaking.

TURNER: Well, wait. We're the ones -- in my opinion, we're the ones that started that. We're the ones that started by putting the Star Wars system in Czechoslovakia and Poland when they wanted to be part of it. We've said that that system is only to protect us from Iran or protect Europe from Iranian missiles. So why didn't we cooperate with the Russians? Why have we constantly been pushing, we've been pushing on the Russians all the time.

BROKAW: Your friend, Jimmy Carter, tried to be friendly with Leonid Brezhnev, and for his friendliness what did Brezhnev do?

TURNER: Hell, I don't remember. It was before I got involved.

BROKAW: He invaded Afghanistan. He invaded Afghanistan.

TURNER: Well, we invaded Afghanistan, too, and it's a lot further -- at least it's on the border of the Soviet Union or the former Soviet Union or Russia. A lot of these countries have changed names several times.

BROKAW: But, Ted, don't try to go there in terms of justifying that. I mean, it is, the fact is that the Russians, it was a naked aggression-

TURNER: Why can't I try and justify it?

BROKAW: It was naked aggression on the part of the Russians at the time.

TURNER: Well, going into Iraq was naked aggression on the part of the United States.

BROKAW: Yeah, but big power politics and changing big power politics requires everyone to come to the table, and that includes the Russians, not just the United States.

TURNER: They'll come if we invite them, I'm sure.

Ted Turner, go back to Montana and chill out. You just did a major hatchet job on your media promo for your book.