Source - http://www.bta.bg/en/gallery/image/4896311

Victory Day Parades and Marches Mischaracterized/Unreported in the West

One would think the entire world would celebrate and pay tribute to those who defeated Fascist Germany. One would think that the world would be united in coming together to remember all of those that suffered, but endured to eliminate this scourge on humanity from existence. Unfortunately, no. Not only is this remembrance barely addressed in the West, it even goes as far to mischaracterize the celebrations in Russia and former Soviet Republics.

Enter NY Times' chief idiot posted in Moscow since 2005, Andrew Kramer. Clearly, Mr. Kramer has learned little, if anything, while posted in Russia about its people, customs, and most importantly, it's absolute hatred of WAR.

Some of the folks Mr. Kramer wants you to fear

Yes, I know that in your daily dose of Western propaganda that is the MSM you are shown time and again about this vast Russian war machine poised to devastate Europe at a moment's notice. You are shown pictures of police officers and told they are soldiers. Russian hackers "influencing" your elections, funding the NRA, stealing your Uranium, etc, etc, etc. You hear all about the "increases in Russian military spending".

What you aren't told is that nobody and I mean nobody I have ever met in Russia has anything but disgust for war. That big budget Russian war machine is 10% of that of the U.S. or 40% of France, Germany, Italy, and GB combined. It's less than Saudi Arabia spends. When was the last time you heard the NY Times worrying over the huge amount of Saudi military spending.

For me, I'm used to this steady drip of ridiculous anti-Russia crap. One of the ways that I thought the world might see beyond this is to learn about the anti-war remembrance marches of the Immortal Regiments conducted by Russians the world over.

You see, the goal of these marches is to remember those that gave their lives and/or limbs to save their country from an evil plague that swept through Europe. To demonstrate that these heroes will not be forgotten, to educate their young people on the seriousness of this history while making it an enjoyable enterprise that binds their countrymen together. It also sends a clear message to anyone with designs on Russia and its copious flow of resources - It says, we lost 30+ million people and we're still here. We kicked the Nazi's asses when everyone else laid down (or joined them). We put up with Stalin, Socialism, the economic disaster of the 90's and we're STILL here. We will bloody your nose and our grandmothers will kick your ass back to where you came from so leave us alone.

So, in comes Mr. Kramer with his supposed report on the over 1 million people that marched in the Immortal Regiment in Moscow. Somehow, he not only misses the point of the marches, but he can't even get simple facts straight. From the article -

The marchers in Moscow, gripping their portraits and walking slowly, sang “Katyusha,” or the Little Katya, a wartime song about a truck-mounted rocket launcher that was instrumental in victory. - New York Times - Andrew Kramer

"Katyusha" is a love song written during the war that became extremely popular. It is about a girl, "Katya" waiting for her love to return from the Front. "Katyusha" is an endearing form of the name, which actually comes from the full name, Ekaterina. All this is pretty common knowledge to even the most junior students of Russian history, language or culture. The name was given to the rocket launcher AFTER the song became so popular.

Group of Marchers Singing Katyusha on Victory Day

Mr. Kramer goes on to lament the emergence of Soviet era symbols in the marches as if he thinks everyone should forget it WAS the Soviet Union. He also goes on to claim that images of Stalin are prevalent. There may be some of those, but I couldn't find a single one in 1 hour of video footage and photos. I found many of Jesus though - perhaps Mr. Kramer is confused.

This is why nobody can expect or trust the mainstream media to report honestly. Mr. Kramer has been in Moscow since 2005 as a reporter. There is absolutely no way that he actually thought this song was about a rocket launcher if he had asked a single Russian. Therefore, he either didn't ask because he is a shitty reporter (this is the case anyways) or he is misleading his readers intentionally and is a shitty reporter.

If you read his other "hit" pieces, you'll quickly realize, like I did, that Mr. Kramer has an axe to grind either because of some personal animosity or because his bosses tell him how to report it. In any event, the 4th Branch of the people's government continues to fail us in the U.S.

It is a shame that many Westerners don't realize that the Russian people are not much different than other Europeans and Americans. They all want better lives for their children, nicer homes, and maybe a nicer car. They love their families and take great pride in the accomplishments of their ancestors especially those that stood in the face of fascism.

In America, we call this Patriotism, but when Russians do it, we call them Warmongers.