COLUMNISTS

Deidre Dare

I swore to everything holy that I would never do it again. So, this was a sacred vow, an unbreakable promise. Despite that, I broke it.

Alas, notwithstanding all vows to the contrary, I find myself seeing another Russian man!

The problem is that these Russians are irresistible. The Truck Driver, a well-regarded and extremely intellectual writer, is all about paddle boating in Gorky Park, weekend trips to Kazan, museum outings, bringing roses and writing poetry to me. Alone, that wouldn't necessarily do it - but I haven't laughed as hard as he can make me laugh in a long time.

For instance, yesterday he called and said, "Is this the US marine base in Lebanon?"

I, not knowing who was on the line, said, "No. I'm sorry, but you've reached a private number in Moscow."

He continued, "You are American, no? I'm sure I dialled correctly," and we went on like that until he said, "Ah, Dare, you foolish girl! It's me!"

He told me on our first date that he felt like he was made out of left-over parts. That his face was the face of a professor from the mid-west, his hands the hands of a lion tamer and, he added a bit mischievously, his cock the cock of a truck driver (hence the nickname, the "Truck Driver").

Anyway, the Truck Driver told me, over a dinner of champagne and roast chicken, that he thought that Putin was "not into" a free press and that set me off on a rampage that took him by surprise.

I can no longer take people criticising the Russian government. I suppose it's bearable from Russians but from expats, particularly journalists, it's unendurable. It reeks of self-satisfied arrogance and superiority. None of which is deserved, as I will now prove.

First of all, indirectly, I work for the Kremlin and I see every day how hard my "boss" works to make sure this paper is independent, how strongly they feel they are providing an essential public service: information.

The Western press, on the other hand, did nothing but blow the US government throughout the Iraqwar and it only takes one word to prove that: "Embedding".

But it's more than that. Democracy in this country is young and I decided to look up the first 20 years of "democracy" in England and the United States to see if we Westerners really have anything to brag about. 

The Magna Carta, which the English like to boast of, came into being in 1215. Trust me, the years 1215-1235 were not beautiful years of democratic utopia, quite the opposite. Look it up if you doubt me.

As for my homeland, the years 1776-1796 were no picnic either, not to mention that we still allowed SLAVERY.

As for supposed Russian government corruption, I really don't think either the Brits or the Americans have any right to throw stones these days.

And then there is Putin. I like the guy. In my opinion Russia needs a strong leader. We ALL need strong leaders right now. Who really wants a wimp as their head of state? Besides, Putin is the sexiest of them all (Obama is too much of a goody two-shoes for my bedroom taste) and has an IQ of 136, which is close to (but not quite) my own.

I'll take Putin over that zealot Bush or that lying scoundrel Blair any day.

The problem with expat journalists is that they all think they're Bob Woodward or something and that they're helping Russia out and exposing some evil. They seem to think they are giving the West "breaking news" when all they are doing is spreading negative propaganda that is much more harmful than they realise. And that would be bad enough.

But it's the hypocrisy of it I can't stand. It's all so holier than thou.

Personally, I can't endure another conversation about Bad Russia. It's been done a million times and it bores me, no matter how much I've had to drink or how many painkillers I've taken.

I'm no Russophile - I find all those "phile" people affected (Francophiles, Anglophiles, etc.). I live here purely for the adrenaline rush of Moscow and, if anything, I'd refer to myself as an Earthling-o-phile. But come on man, give Russia a break.

"I will fall in love with you," the Truck Driver told me when I concluded my harangue, "and, I admit, you're not all wrong. But I suspect you will ruin my life."

(God these Russian men are dramatic, aren't they?)

At any rate, I haven't read a really revolutionary expose about the Russian government in years (despite what these Western journos may think they've written).

Oh wait! Yes, I have. This one.

xxoo

DD

Deidre Dare's novel "Expat" and "Moscow Moment" video reports can be viewed at: www.deidredare.com