I posted two months ago that I had left the US to... somewhere. Well, it was Belarus. Because my mom is from here. So there's that. I'm just one smol human bean with vicious brain worms, but I'd be happy to answer questions about/from the perspective of this point on the Google Maps before we're disconnected by the Iron Curtain 2.0.

(It's evening here, I have a few hours, but if I don't answer your question I'll get back to it tomorrow I promise (unless it's redundant/silly/makes me mad lol))

E: I'm going to bed but I'll answer any new questions when I'm up, as promised.

  • Shoegazer [he/him]
    ·
    2 years ago

    Interesting. Western media had me believe that Lukashenko was on the verge of being overthrown because most of the country was protesting. You said that no one is talking about about the USSR there. Is there any nostalgia for it at all like Russia? Do people think their lives are better now or better under socialism?

    • Yanqui_UXO [any]
      ·
      2 years ago

      He was a bit on the verge of being overthrown back in 2020 indeed, when peaceful protests suddenly turned not so peaceful. Then he did an Allende but better and also lived. Actually Belarus never rejected its Soviet past, unlike Russia even, and that's why we have very good relations with China too. There's a giant Lenin statue in my hometown, and there's one in every person's hometown here. There was never such a rabid neoliberal period in BY as it was in RU under Yeltsin. There is generally nostalgia abt the Soviet past in the ex-USSR countries, and now that shit is hitting the fan I suspect it will intensify. Or not. Ppl born in the 90s obviously haven't experienced that past, and they haven't really been taught about it either.

      • Shoegazer [he/him]
        ·
        2 years ago

        Holy shit I’ve never seen that image of him lmao. Is he carrying an M4? :bern-disgust:

        Thanks for the insights. I’m curious what the next wave of communism will look like over there. But considering you said that basic needs are provided, it doesn’t seem like there would be any reason to revolt for now.

        • Yanqui_UXO [any]
          ·
          2 years ago

          AKS-47U. On the one hand, the Communist party is the 2nd most powerful and largest party here. On the other, here it's not even China, as far as communism is concerned. In practice, maybe, it's a very social govt, but ideologically no one is trying to build a communist paradise here. It's about 50/50 state vs private enterprise, which is still very good, but it's spurred by necessity rather than Marx or Lenin. Lukashenko mourns the demise of the USSR very much though, so there's that. It's very pragmatic, very practical, rather than ideological here.