Distant voices?

Admiral Chekov

Admiral Chekov

Well-known member
In the last decades, topics related to life in the USSR have been sinking ever deeper under layers of misconceptions and stereotypes


Of course, the Soviet system wasn't perfect. But, this period in history used to have and still has things to say in its defense. It wasn't all about bludgeoning people's brains with propaganda slogans. Soviet writers and journalists were able to conduct a dialogue, to present arguments. Much of what they wrote is relevant today. Some of those things can actually make us think and, maybe, help us become better persons


Here is a selection of small excerpts from Soviet magazines. Of the kind that served to create an everyday cultural landscape in the USSR. I think I'll start with the magazine for school-age children, "Young Technician" (re-reading old issues right now)...
 
Last edited:
Text on the front cover: "The beauty of a sculpture, a painting, a song... But, what is the beauty of a car, a bridge, a device, a formula?"

oBQIJbtz7sI.jpg
 
"Each one of us - and there are no exceptions - has enormous creative possibilities. But in order for this creative potential to awaken, something else is needed: a push that encourages a person to realize ones abilities. This could be dire circumstances (wasn't Robinson Crusoe the greatest inventor of all times?), a thirst for profit (a huge fortune was made thanks to an insignificant invention: a safety pin), or a mere accident (sand, ash and limestone combining in the fire of primitive man, leading to the appearance of glass). But the highest motivating force originates from the inner need of a person to do good to others"


("Young Technician", #1, 1983; from the article by A. Dobroslavsky)

-----

"With all the modern metalworking equipment, a file, a hacksaw, a chisel won't become obsolete for a long time for trainees: hand tools teach you to feel metal, and this is the kind of alphabet one has to learn in any work. Without the knack of sensing metal, no machine will help you succeed; just as a typewriter won't help you become a writer"


("Young Technician", #1, 1983; from the article by N.I. Krylov)
 
Among other things, "Young Technician" #1 for 1983 contains articles about new developments in microelectronics; about the present and future of drilling platforms (there is info about both Soviet and Western projects, the work of Western scientists is described with respect, without any mockery/demonizing); an excerpt from the book by A. Sukhotin "Truth and Beauty" about the important role beauty plays in the world of science and technology (beautiful machines appear to work better, simple/elegant formulas inspire more confidence, etc.); an article about the VR-190 project, the first Soviet space project from the 1940s (the article is small, but nevertheless... nowadays, the VR-190 project is portrayed as some secret, which was never made public in the days of the USSR... *not so*); the advice of a scientist-psychologist on the choice of various professions (part of a long-running series of articles) (again, nowadays, it is thought that psychologists were rarely featured in the Soviet mass media)
 
" - Utmost accuracy, reliability of samples is an immutable law for a geologist, - says Aliya Toktabulatova. - Judge for yourself, samples are needed to make a geological map of the area; to draw, if you want, its geological portrait. Imagine that we made a mistake somewhere or... But I can't even think about it. You'll get a distorted, outright worthless portrait. It's like if someone else's nose, lips, eyes, eyebrows are added onto your photo..."


("Young Technician", #2, 1983; from the article by A. Spiridonov)


-----


"In the distance, five or six similar lights appear from around the bend. They slowly float towards us. Finally, miners pass by, equipped just like us.


'People here are completely different to those above the ground, ' says Salim Ramazanovich.


'Different? In what way?'


'They don't fret, for starters. They're more responsible. Besides, all the ordinary weaknesses - laziness, slackness - disappear down here. Or maybe you just can't see them in the dark,' the chief technologist smiles. 'It seems to me that, underground, a person inevitably becomes wiser and better. Otherwise, it would be too difficult to work here. From experience, I'd say: those who cannot cope with the flaws of their character don't stay in the mine for long"


("Young Technician" #2, 1983; from the article by M. Lukich)


-----


"If I worked as a crane operator, I would probably have chosen a tower crane. I'm not even talking about how wonderful it is to build houses for people. That's just one of the charms of the tower crane. To understand everything, you need to climb into the cabin...


...Surprisingly, the first thought that flashed through my mind when I caught my breath and looked around was: 'Wow, this is a cheery job!' Well, nothing surprising, really. Blue sky overhead, the sun peering into the cabin, a light breeze blowing through the half-closed window...


'You know, I like it more when the weather is gloomy and there's a strong wind,' Marina said unexpectedly. 'At times like these you really feel your power over the machine'...


...To be suitable for operating and to actually operate are different things altogether. As a crane operator you only become a master of the craft when, one truly wonderful day, you suddenly feel machine's complete obedience. When you feel that the crane 'understands' your slightest moves, and is ready to give you everything it's capable of. That's the state of mastery over technology, which cannot be put in words. You have to experience it yourself"


("Young Technician" #2, 1983; from the article by A. Valentinov; picture by V. Lapin)


WCitfifvcQg.jpg
 
"It can feel nice to fall ill once in a while: you don't have to do homework, friends come to visit, and relatives try not to upset you... But a day or two passes, and all of this becomes unbearably boring.


One boy, who was often ill, invented a whole country that spanned his bed. Ships sailed along the folds of his blanket, and he himself was...


...the giant great and still
That sits upon the pillow-hill,
And sees before him, dale and plain,
The pleasant land of counterpane


Then this boy grew up, became a writer and wrote the well-known book called "Treasure Island", using a hand-drawn map from his childhood. That's how imagination can help us in most surprising ways...


("Young Technician" #3, 1983; from the article by S. Nikolaev)
 
Over a hundred million people were murdered by communist regiems it's quite possibly the single most murderous system of government ever devised and it firmly belongs in the dust bin of history.

The fact that it's proponates are not treated in the same manner that neo nazis are treated like if one of the greatest injustices of our age
 
Admiral Chekov said:
In the last decades, topics related to life in the USSR have been sinking ever deeper under layers of misconceptions and stereotypes


Of course, the Soviet system wasn't perfect. But, this period in history used to have and still has things to say in its defense. It wasn't all about bludgeoning people's brains with propaganda slogans. Soviet writers and journalists were able to conduct a dialogue, to present arguments. Much of what they wrote is relevant today. Some of those things can actually make us think and, maybe, help us become better persons


Here is a selection of small excerpts from Soviet magazines. Of the kind that served to create an everyday cultural landscape in the USSR. I think I'll start with the magazine for school-age children, "Young Technician" (re-reading old issues right now)...
Click to expand...

Of course was not perfect.Perfect communism you have in North Korea where people who survived are cogs of commie machine.

When ,soviet proverb show why you failed:
You could not be member of commie party,honest and smart.

Becouse only idiots belived in your propaganda,and those who made career were opportinists - who,when Reagan faced them with choice disband state or die,choosed disbanding soviet state.
sralin in their place would die.

P.S i bet,that german newspapers were even better in comrade Hitler times - he really cared about german workers,when sralin keep soviet one in shit.
But,so what? both german nazis and their soviet allies are genociders,and should be condemded both.

P.S seems you look like kgb,could you deliver some soviet info about ukrainian evil spirit and polish army fighting kgbstan?
i really miss such propaganda.
 
Last edited:
It's important to note that while the West was still struggling with gender segregation of its armed forces, the Soviet Union continued its long proud tradition of allowing its Warrior Women to serve on the frontlines, and allowed them to achieve their highest potential, becoming some of the greatest soldiers that served in the 20th Century.

I of course speak of Lyudmila Pavlichenko Natasha Volkova.



It's also important to point out that while the decadent West was revered for its advances in Chronotechnology (ie time travel) the Russians were leaders in such divergent scientific fields as well, like when they reversed the result of World War Three, eliminating the threat of corruptive Western Capitalism from dominating the world and helping uplift the culturally marginalized and victims of Western imperialism/colonialism with one singular time travel operation.



If the West's entire legacy of power is based on the work of one JEWISH scientist, then their ideology is clearly weak. Good work comrades!
 
Last edited:
Husky_Khan said:
It's important to note that while the West was still struggling with gender segregation of its armed forces, the Soviet Union continued its long proud tradition of allowing its Warrior Women to serve on the frontlines, and allowed them to achieve their highest potential, becoming some of the greatest soldiers that served in the 20th Century.

I of course speak of Lyudmila Pavlichenko Natasha Volkova.



It's also important to point out that while the decadent West was revered for its advances in Chronotechnology (ie time travel) the Russians were leaders in such divergent scientific fields as well, like when they reversed the result of World War Three, eliminating the threat of corruptive Western Capitalism from dominating the world and helping uplift the culturally marginalized and victims of Western imperialism/colonialism with one singular time travel operation.



If the West's entire legacy of power is based on the work of one JEWISH scientist, then their ideology is clearly weak. Good work comrades!
Click to expand...


There's also Roza Shanina for Soviet WWII female snipers:

 
ATP said:
Yes,i read memories of polish prisoner who meet polish priest from Ukraine on Magadan.He blessed at least 100.000 corpses before soviets arrested him.
Click to expand...

Lets not the forget the fact that russian troops raped polish women on the way to germany during the second world war or how they tortured and imprisoned polish patriots after they occupied their country.
 
Cherico said:
Lets not the forget the fact that russian troops raped polish women on the way to germany during the second world war or how they tortured and imprisoned polish patriots after they occupied their country.
Click to expand...

Of course,but it could be worst - most polish woman survived not raped, when all germans and hungarian were.
And,they raped soviet womans from german concentration camps,too.
Althought,at last once it had good result - one german commie girl who was liberated and gangraped by soviets stopped belived in communism.

And,they murdered "only" 200.000 of poles from 1945 till 1956 - when,in the same time,at least million soviets died each year.
And,when polish cyvilians were exiled to Kazachstan,they lived in the same shit as locals/except NKWD goons/

But,for @Admiral Chekov it is nothing - probably his granpa was in gulag,but as NKWD thug,not prisoner.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 1 (members: 0, guests: 1)
Back
Top