This goes both ways. Putin and the hardliners in Russia portray NATO as the boogeyman and the United States as this nasty villain. With state-run media controlling ONE voice, Putin's, he can pummel people's minds with propaganda with impunity. You can blast the CIA as interfering meddlers, and I can give you the same on a platter with the exact analogous interference, intrigue, and corrupt power-mongering---the KGB and later FSB.
Bottom line is Russia is Orthodox. So are we. It's a really big oversimplification to think that since Putin and the Russians are Orthodox that they are in the right, and the evil West is in the wrong.
I think this passionate patriotism for foreign Orthodox countries and a self-hatred toward our own mother land is not only unhealthy, but it perpetuates the stereotypes of non-Orthodox about us that we're ethnically-centered and that some of us have more loyalties to enemy nations than our own.
I am sharply critical of the CIA like you are. I think every American president has had his hands soiled in some major coup or "intervention" or cheesy war to further the military-industrial complex, but I also am not going to throw my country under the bus completely. This country has done great things for its people, for the world, and we've offered more aid and help as well as support for most of the world than Russia has ever thought of offering. We've done great harm in bad foreign policy, but we've also saved lives, fought for freedom for so many, and have in many ways made the world a better place as well. We're a mixed bag.
At some point, I must say, it sounds like some posts in TAW are rooting for Russia's victory, and the West's demise. And for people looking into Orthodoxy, inquiring, that might produce some scary reactions. I would've been aghast and probably turned and run if I had read some of this pro-Russia/Russia can do no wrong/America sucks and is the root of all evils stuff when I first came here! :o:o:o
Orthodoxy is a faith, not a nation. It's right teaching and holy sacraments, not a politburo or a congress or an army or black ops. It's a spiritual refuge in an ugly world, not a flag or a manifesto of seculars. Orthodoxy should know no borders or exclusivities of language or color, dress or cuisine. It's a faith created by Christ Jesus Himself, not a patriotic allegiance. I can't speak for everyone, but if you look at me, I'm American born and raised. Proud to be one. I don't wish for its demise. Then there is Tapi, from Finland, proud of his country, Orthodox like me, and yet scared of Russian incursion. Then there is Jesus Madrid from Spain, Orthodox, Spaniard. There are folks in here from all walks of life and nations. We don't all look to Russia for hope and her victories or failures don't further Orthodoxy or affect me. Just as I don't trust Putin and raise an eyebrow at his intrigues, I do the same with Obama and his pro-sodomy agenda and socially decaying principles.
I said nothing about hating our enemies, I spoke about prayers for the defeat of our enemies. There's also a prayer for pacifying the nations and forgiveness.
A (lingering) hatred of the enemy in terms of geopolitics usually arises from a national humiliation. Unfortunately This is what NATO has been manufacturing through psyops and manipulation. Whether through "balkanization" or the demonizing of a specific group of people so their adversary can go running to the bosom of NATO to be protected from the bogeyman..
