24 Years!

It is 24 years ago today that the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics collapsed and the United States won the Cold War and became the sole Super Power (which we have managed to maintain for 24 years despite several ups and downs.) I have many friends that were once Soviet citizens and while the very old tend to forget all the bad things (war, famine, deportation, arrest, rationing. Gulags, the KGB and complete lack of freedoms) and only remember what they see as good things. The same is true with the very young who didn't grow up in Soviet times, but learn a patriotic propaganda history. The majority of people I know who were once Soviet citizens (many still living in the former Soviet Republics) just want to lead a life that they decide. They don't want to question the decisions of others, as is the Russian way,  but they know that things are going back to the old ways and so their old habits of keeping your head in the sand and going with the flow come  back out. In the past 24 years the lives of former Soviets have changed in a dramatic way. Some have gone through post-collapse: wars, rationing, dictatorships, etc. while others have enjoyed a life of freedom and prosperity they had never known before. I guess that is the case of every empire/dictatorship once it collapses: there are those that benefit and those that suffer. Some former Soviet Republics have opened themselves up to the rest of the world while others maintain strict isolation. Some have truly democratically-elected governments while others have the same dictators they had during Soviet times with the only thing changing is the name of their political party. There is one positive things I know for sure that wouldn't have happened if the events of 24 years ago hadn't occurred: I wouldn't have met so many interesting former Soviets (both within the former USSR and around the world.) For those living in a repressed, dictatorship in one of the former Soviet Republics the only thing that can bring about a change for the good is standing-up for your rights and freedoms. It worked in August 1991 when the Commies staged a coup to maintained their tight grip on power and the Soviets of Moscow and other cities stood-up against them and did so mostly non-violently. People who simply keep their heads in the sand can't complain about things. Only those that try to make change happen can.