


	Remember me on this computer
	Forgot your password?
	Register

MT news

The Moscow Times Moscow Guide – Winter 2008

Since the middle of autumn one of the most important topics of discussion, could only be … no, not the financial crisis… New Year! The winter issue of The Moscow Times Moscow Guide is entirely devoted to New Years celebrations. Seven great ideas for celebrating the “Night of Nights” will help readers finalise their plans and choose how and where to party, give fresh ideas and lots of practical advice.

And don’t forget – problems will come by themselves, but happiness and luck need an invitation. That why the more cheerful and light-hearted your celebration of the coming holiday is, the happier and more successful 2009 will be for you.

The Crisis: Signs of a Kremlin Fearful Of Unrest
Sociologist Yevgeny Gontmakher has painted a disturbing picture of what might emerge from the financial crisis, forecasting continued unemployment, huge protests and spreading violence.

Market Matters: Huge Grain Harvest No Boon for Farmers
This year Russia is enjoying the biggest grain harvest it has ever seen -- and farmers couldn't be more worried.



Thursday, January 08, 2009 Updated at 31 December 2008 22:36 Moscow Time.

The Moscow Times » Issue 4030 » Opinion

Exchanging Freedom For Security and Food

13 November 2008

THIS IS YOUR SPACE

HAS SOMETHING you read in The Moscow Times startled you? Are you angry, excited, puzzled or pleased? If so, write and tell us what's on your mind.
We welcome letters to the editor and have devoted this space to printing your comments. You can send your letter directly to Opinion Page Editor by e-mail at oped@imedia.ru; by fax at (7-495) 232-6529; or by post to The Moscow Times, 3 Polkovaya Ulitsa, Bldg. 1, Moscow, Russia, 127018. (If you are writing from abroad, send it to The Moscow Times, c/o IPS, 666 5th Ave, Suite 572, New York, NY 10103.)
Write in English or Russian. Praise us, criticize us or give us new ideas. Do you detect a bias in our coverage? Let us know. Think we did a good job? Please tell us.
All we ask is that you include your full name, the city from which you are writing and a contact telephone number in case we need to get in touch.
We do edit letters for grammar and style. In some cases, we cut long letters in order to fit the available space -- though we try to take care not to distort or water down your point.
We look forward to hearing from you!

In response to "Eagerly Waiting for Change -- Within Russia," a column by Yevgeny Kiselyov on Nov. 6.

Editor,

I agree there is room for improvement in Russia's version of democracy, but most Russians are willing to exchange freedom of speech for a full plate and personal security.

But I assure you that this is not a uniquely Russian trait. It is shared by almost everyone, including in the West. Remember, for example, what happened after Sept. 11 and the Muslim-phobia that followed?

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is far from being a model democrat. But Boris Yeltsin, who was often praised in the West as a democrat, was a complete failure as president.

Democracy is built step-by-step. It is a evolutionary process, and Russia has shown progress. It has passed the point where a Stalinist or a populist buffoon could be elected president. Let's give Dmitry Medvedev a chance and see what he can offer in terms of democratizing the country.

Mladen Matosevic
Helsinki

Editor,

After reading Kiselyov's comment, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that press freedom in Russia has not been completely suppressed, despite Putin's best efforts.

Paul Zazulak
Toronto

"No" to Saber-Rattling

Editor,

Moscow assumes that U.S. President-elect Barack Obama is inexperienced and unwilling to "play hardball." It couldn't be more wrong. He is a force to be reckoned with.

If Moscow threatens the United States, Obama will push back. If Moscow is looking to negotiate with Washington, it would do well to refrain from saber-rattling.

It is often said that the United States needs a good war to pull itself out of economic hard times. World War II helped the country pull out of the Great Depression. Many of us do not want to go that route again. Guns for butter? Let's just say no.

Barbara Bryant
Alexandria, Virginia

Editor,

President Medvedev needs to understand that with the election of Barack Obama, this is a rare opportunity to create a truly safer and more humane world. And the beauty of this is that it advances all of our national interests.

When Medvedev threatened to deploy missiles in Kaliningrad, located between U.S. allies Lithuania and Poland, the day after Obama was elected, it was another flawed attempt at muscle-flexing. Medvedev should try a little harder to be a global leader.

Chip Steiner
Fort Collins, Colorado