I Didn’t Win But…

Recently, Russia Now, the prestigious supplement that is inserted into the New York Times, Washington Post and 13 other major newspapers around the world, asked for submissions about people’s impressions of Russia. Format: 800 word editorial. I didn’t win, but I thought somebody might think this perspective was worth publishing. I think it’s fair, accurate, and probably a minority opinion in the United States. But, who cares, I’m on this journey to an unknown destination…

Essay below:

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My Russia,

Behind the Headlines

by M.G. Crisci

I’m an American businessman and author with absolutely no Russian ancestry. My Dad was a butcher and my Mom a telephone operator. I grew up on the streets of New York, and had to scrap for everything I have.

Four years ago, destiny seemingly made a decision. I should write the complete story about the world’s first female fighter pilot, one of the great heroes of The Great Patriotic War, Lilia Litvyak.

Despite her military exploits—Lilia completed 278 missions, scored 15 solo kills, assisted on numerous others, and became Hitler’s worst nightmare. Unfortunately, history had not treated her kindly. She was shot down for the fourth and final time, 17 days before her 22nd birthday. Her childhood, her friends, her loves, her determination, her remains and her plane were lost in time for 66 years.

So we traveled to Russia and Ukraine, lived with its citizens, visited Lilia’s modest gravesite in the tiny fodor of Marinovka, Eastern Ukraine, ate and drank with ordinary citizens in towns and cities. Most importantly, I collaborated with two incredible women, Valentina Vaschenko and Yelena Sivolap, who decided this befuddled American should help them make Lilia more than just a footnote in history. Their love and support gave me a perspective about Russia, its people and culture, that few Americans have ever experienced, much less believe.

Before my journey, I believed what most Americans believe: Russia is a borderline, third-world country; it’s citizens are a skeptical and secretive people who depressingly dramatize their past history, and drink themselves into oblivion at will; and, country’s leaders support an aberrant form of socialism that condones violations of human rights and views bribery as the normal course of business. Those that do not fit into the prior categories are either violent spies or vicious gangsters. How do American know that truth? Simple. We see these truths in our motion pictures, television shows, and press articles written by reporters who have never seen the inside of an ordinary Russian home!

For three years, I gathered materials never seen by Americans and reconstructed Lilia’s story— as I believe she would have liked it written. I now realize there is was a grand plan to Yelena and Valentina’s constant lectures. “Every detail, every word, every conversation, must be true to the real Russia.” And, so it was I learned of patronymics, Yesenin, Father Frost and granddaughter Snegurochka, Morozko, burzhuikas, voronoks, Stalin’s dreaded Advisor, and so much more.

I also learned the Great Patriotic War was, by far, the greatest tragedy in the history of the world. As one Russian explained, “There would not have been a Normandy if the blood of 30 million Russians had not been spent.” I visited the unimaginable—mine shafts where people were buried alive and stopped in town centers where Nazis hung children for sport.

My journey taught me other things. Those mysterious, secretive people were actually kind, generous and understated. They would give what they had, if you showed respect and sensitivity. Yes, the language is difficult to grasp, and the inflections seem harsh. But, to a Russian, that is the way it has always been. Ironically, they think New Yorkers talk funny!

And, Russians don’t have 79 cereals to choose in supermarkets, but, there are supermarkets. There is food for all, movie theaters, coffee shops, metros, taxis and shopping malls. Russia is now the 6th largest economy in the world. I’m certain less than 1% of 300 million Americans would have ever guessed that.

Clearly, Russia is in the midst of a historic transition. A transition that will take decades before THE Russian form of socialist democracy emerges. It’s also clear, America preaching “let us show you the way” is not the way. America started with a clean slate. We didn’t want British rule. So we left, found a new place—a land of immense abundance. There, we created a culture with no baggage. I am proud to be an American. Our political system works for us, but many of our allies have their own versions of democracy that work equally well for them.

The final matter to touch on is business. I do not purport to understand the “Russian Way” of business. It does appear to have its flaws. Older Russian businessman act guarded, until they feel you can be trusted. At that point, a deal is a deal— contract or not. By contrast, the younger entrepreneur professes a love for the American way of business. “We do deal. If we don’t like, we break deal…just like Americans.” Naturally, their rationale offended me. They noticed and said, “What is so offensive. We read your papers. We know of Maddoff, Ebbers and Kowalski. Do you think that is a secret?”