Genghis Khan At His Worst
Speaking of depicting old conquerors in modern media. . .
Alexander Nevsky
I watched this movie last night after I saw it on a worst Medieval movie list. I had heard it was a great movie so I was confused. I needed to practice Russian anyways and the movie was shown free on Netflix so I decided to give it a try. The story is a great epic story based on real history about a real Alexander Nevsky who lived in 13th century Russia and fought against a Teuton army. The movie made in 1938 under the reign of Stalin is propaganda for the USSR and Stalin against the Fascist Germans.
Russia is being attacked at two fronts; Mongols in the East and Germans in the West. Alexander unites the Russians to fight the inhumane Germans for the Mongols can at least be bought off. The Germans only want, like the aliens in Independence Day, for the Russians to die. When Alexander speaks, the sun glows on his face and the wind blows his golden locks as he gives inspirational speeches. He is the Obama of his day. Though a prince, he is not too proud to fish and work with his hands like the peasants for all must work in order to produce ships that will travel the world. Though Russia was very religious in the 13th century, in the movie the religious leaders are corrupt and help the evil Germans. The noblemen are weak and only care for money. It is the peasants who are the heroes who choose the God like Alexander Nevsky as their leader.
The propaganda isn’t so strong so far. Then, evil music starts and we see a Ku Klux Klan like army. Men are wrapped in white sheets like ghosts and carry giant crosses. Their faces are covered by scary masks. They are a mass Teutonic storm trooper army led by a Darth Vader like troop of knights. The leader has devil horns on his helmet and poses like the great Sith warrior. He is being lead by a corrupt shriveled old priest who looks a lot like Darth Sidious. Instead of a cross, there is a swastika around his neck. The evil army of death slaughter the innocent peasants and throw babies in a fire. A church father does the sign of the crucifix before crying children are tossed into a bonfire. Ok, we get it, the Germans are pure evil, and the Christian church is behind this slaughter.
Sadly, three years after this film was made, the Germans really did attack the Russian people, and did throw children into bonfires. It was not done in the name of Christianity however. (It makes me wonder if the anti-Christianity we see in Hollywood started with this movie.) The film was not allowed for release at first because Stalin and Hitler signed a peace treaty. After the pact was broken in 1941, the film was released with great popularity. If seen in that context, the movie’s propaganda is understood and appreciated. The Nazi army slaughtered millions of Russians. Keep in mind though that Stalin already killed millions before the Nazis even entered the USSR and it was for this reason the many Ukrainians flocked to the Nazi side. (Hollywood never tells you that side of the story. Did they learn their history from Soviet propaganda films?)
I am one of those people who love propaganda films. I think they are interesting and tell you a lot about the politics of the time. I laugh a lot at them, but they are fun. I believe they are good from time to time to lift people’s spirits. The USA rarely makes films like this today. Patriotic propaganda is more subtle. (Anti-American propaganda is not!) You can catch patriotic propaganda in films like Star Wars and Independence Day. Most war films today make sure to give you a well rounded view of the enemy. Out of fear of offending people, a lot of films make terrorists European or rogue Americans. One movie had a terrorist who was a renegade Marine who wanted respect. (what?) I just don’t think people are so stupid that they can’t figure out a propaganda film when they see one. They can be fun and can teach you a lot about the mindset of the people of that time. (or at least the government’s!)
Watch Alexander Nevsky,for free, here. Overall, I enjoyed the film!
E PLURIBUS UNUM!!!
I knew that the Bush administrations support for Kosovo would cause problems. Today, the US embassy was attacked in Belgrade in protest for the USA support of the independence of Kosovo. In this case, I don’t support Bush. I actually agree with Putin on this issue. Now that Kosovo is indepent, other small states will fight for independence and we will have larger mess. I don’t believe in this tribalism that is the current trend in international politics. On the other hand, I find Serbian nationalism disgusting. Have you read Slavic nationalistic literature? It is a pure fantasy that many believe and is as dangerous as the Aryan race cult. I am having trouble studying Eastern European history because I have to pick through all of the nationalistic crap.
Ethnic nationalism is dangerous and a lie. It is trying to live a fantasy. Maybe it is because I am of mixed background and live in the USA that I don’t get ethnic nationalism. My ancestors were Scottish warriors, but I don’t want to live in Scotland and have my own country. I can’t hate the English because a lot of my ancestors came from Devon, Cornwall, and London. I also have Scots-Irish but I don’t hate Catholics. I can’t hate the French because some of my ancestors came from there as well. Actually, almost anyone will find mixtures if they go back far enough. My English ancestors almost all came from Normandy for example who were originally Norse. I guess the closest thing I could say is that I have Germanic warrior blood, but I am too Celtic and my French ancestors way too dark for me to count as an Aryan goddess. I might also have a lot of Native American so I am not even pure white. I could have some African in me for all I know. Southerners are very mixed people though most won’t admit it. My French ancestors look like Turks! (possibly Eastern European based on the names) So if there was a nationalistic fight, I would lose. No “nation” but the USA could claim me!
So why do the Serbians have to be so weird about being proud Slavs and the Albanians have to have their own country. Why don’t they forget the past and move forward and be united in peace and republicanism?
Democracy sucks, federal republicanism is the way to go. Fight for the human race, not for your own race!
E Pluribus Unum!!
Who is Really In Charge of the USA?
I accidently ended up on one of those conspiracy web sites today. It is amazing what goes on in the world of conspiracy theorists.
Bush is a Fascist in their alternative world who listens a crazy voice in his head that he calls “God”. Every word that comes out of his mouth is a lie. Yet, he is stupid and illiterate and his Daddy’s boy. The CIA is a powerful old boy’s network. Remember, the first Bush was head of the CIA.
America is ruled by big conglomerates. They buy elections and start wars for money and oil. OOO OOO AAAH AAAHH! (Lightning strikes in the background) The super rich smoke cigars in their mansions that they built from the blood of the poor!!
This is nonsense! For one thing, George Soros proved that you can’t buy elections. Mitt Romney who is super rich and a business man did not win the nomination.
George Bush truly believes that sending the war to the extremists protects his country. Three thousand innocent people died under his presidency. He doesn’t want that to happen again. It is very simple. The only Middle Eastern countries we could attack were Afghanistan and Iraq. Afghanistan for hiding Al Qaeda, Iraq because Saddam broke many treaties. We had no other legal reason to attack Saudi Arabia who expelled Osama Bin Laden. We really had reason to go to Pakistan, but the president (no longer!) decided to help us.
We didn’t change our mind on Karimov, he changed his mind on the USA. We always knew he was a dictator. We simply asked him to denounce the Andijon Massacre. He threw a fit and made his friends Russia and China happy by kicking the US out.
Things like Katrina happen, because well, catastrophes happen. Bush had nothing to do with it. It is a FACT that New Orleans had an incompetant mayor. (still have) and that New Orleans is corrupt and that the people of New Orleans have been warned for at least 30 YEARS that a hurricane could destroy the city. The city controlled by DEMOCRATS did NOTHING!!! So it is not the REPUBLICANS fault! Arguement for bad education is the same. Who is in control of education? The DEMOCRATS!!! Our education sucks as a result! Maybe they need to make some changes. . .
9/11 happened because of a group of men who believe that America is a decadent society and believe in weird conspiracy theories like America is an empire and that this empire will make Saudi Arabia decadent too. They fear that America might give people ideas like beheadings being inhumane and that women don’t need to covered to head to toe.
Isreal is at war because the Palestinians do not want Israel to exist. They want the land back in Muslim hands. The war over the Holy Lands has been going on thousands of years and no amount of “peace talks” is going to solve the freaking problem.
Republicans and Southerners are not usually racist. Racism is unusual. Republicans believe that minorities are intelligent and can do the same things white people can. Plus white people know discrimination too!! Sometimes it is because of religion, or who we are related to, or where we are from, or where we went to school, or how we look. If a company hires based on these things, we decide that we don’t want to work there and move on! Racism did exist in the past and was wrong. Sorry, today there is no excuse. Whites have a history of being slaves too. The brown man loved buying white slaves. Irish women slaves were especially prized and were expensive.
The citizens of the USA control the government. WE decide who will run our country. If we choose a terrible president, that is our fault.
Republicans are not Fascists. They cannot be. Democrats are more Fascist than Republicans. Fascists believe in government control. Republicans are for LESS government control. Hitler hated Christians. HE WAS NOT A CHRISTIAN!! In fact, he believed in vegetarianism, reincarnation and animal rights. He was the hippy of his day.
Democrats really believe that a more central government will improve the USA. They aren’t trying to turn us into the Soviet Union. They truly believe that Secularism is the truth and will save us all!! They don’t mean any harm. . .
Obama’s Communist Mentor
There are many things about Obama that just don’t add up. When did he turn from Barry Obama back to Barack Obama for example? How did he turn from a half white raised by Haoles in Hawaii to turn into a black man?
Well, it seems he learned about his “identity” from Frank Marshall Davis, a black Communist. I believe Obama’s mother also leaned towards at least Socialism as she was a proud Atheist.
I don’t care what color Obama is, or even his name, I care about the fact that he leans far left. Sure I am for change, but not the change that Obama and Michelle want. (I think Michelle is more powerful than we give her credit and is the next Hillary Clinton!)
In my short life, this is the nastiest presidential election I have ever seen. It proves that the dumbing down of America is a fact.