Don’t Speak Your Native Tongue!

By Stephen Wilson, one of our reporters abroad

Speaking either Russian or English in the wrong place at the wrong time can lead to ugly incidents indeed! Currently, because of what’s happening in Ukraine, some very uncomfortable situations arise.

"I was born in Kiev.  I have German citizenship.  I am Jewish.  It is not your business what language I am speaking.  Are you against me for being Jewish, German, Ukrainian or Russian?" angrily retorted a woman who had been speaking Russian to her two children at a restaurant in Disneyland, in Paris.  The manager, hearing a middle-aged woman speaking Russian to her two children had approached her and asked, "Are you speaking Russian?  Are you Russian?"  The manager was stunned by the unexpected sharp wit.  

She had picked on the wrong person!  The woman was the sister of a Russian businessman Yevgeny who has heard of many such ugly incidents.  "My sister told me the incident was very unpleasant," stated Yevgeny.  

Then, Yevgeny informed me of an incident when one of his friends who had a young 5-year-old Russian daughter studying English at the British International School in Berlin being bullied every day by other children during the first weeks after the 24th of February when the “Special Military Operations” in Ukraine were launched.  The girl was coming home in tears every day.  The atmosphere in Berlin had deteriorated so much the family decided to leave Berlin.  

There have been many cases of Russians returning home to Russia to escape an unpleasant atmosphere where Russians have been asked to leave restaurants and denied rooms in hotels.  Also, some lecturers have refused to teach a hall full of students unless the Russians leave.  Some of the incidents seem petty.  A Russian tourist who sought to purchase 8 items of perfume from a duty-free shop at an airport was not allowed to buy them because the French firm strictly refuses sellers in Turkey to sell their items to Russians.

Yevgeny has heard of many incidents.  He told me, "I was surprised that my father-in-law and his wife were wanting to leave America and come and live in Russia.  They told me the atmosphere is so bad because you have this backlash against Russians and they would be better off in Russia.  This is despite the fact that my father-in-law's wife was born in America.  So I'm busy right now, trying to arrange their journey to Russia.  You would usually expect the opposite."

At present it has become highly problematic for Russians to obtain a visa in Europe.  And it does not matter if you are an opponent of the Russian government or a dissident critical of the “Special Military Operations.”  It is as if a new iron curtain has been erected and Russia has been sealed off from Europe.  

But what happens if, say, someone speaks English in Moscow?  It can sometimes lead to awkward situations.  The main problem usually comes from angry drunkards.  I think the best response is to try and humor them or appear agreeable.  Well, agreeable within reason!  

Once I dropped into the local post office to buy some stationary.  One member of staff always likes to practice his English with me.  On one occasion we exchanged greetings and a man clad in a green uniform {perhaps a security man} waiting in the queue asked me, "How is your President?"  I answered, "I don't have a president.  I am not an American but from Scotland.  There is a big difference."  He answered me, "Oh it is good you are not an American."  I encountered him again where he silently shot me a curious glance.  Well, at least he never gave me the evil eye or assaulted me.  

Not far from this post office, I visited a cafe in late August.  A drunk man of 64 turned up and poked my shirt asking, "What band is that?"  I answered, "I don't have the slightest idea.  For me this is just another clean shirt."  He sat down at my table and offered me a swig of vodka.  At first I politely refused, saying alcohol makes me ill.  So he offered coca cola instead.  He started to say something odd about Taiwan and whether I had been there or what I thought of it.  

Then he later launched into a tirade against the younger Russian generation.  He told me, "They are not very patriotic.  They won't go and serve at the front."  Then he asked a 41-year-old man at the next table "Why are you not serving in the army?"  The stranger answered, "The army don't pay me enough money."  The old man turned to me saying, "See what I mean?  They don't care about their country."  

This man was going up to complete strangers with too much familiarity and asking provocative questions.  I managed to prevent him tapping the shoulder of some woman with children.  Later, he was bemused when I asked him to drink a toast to 'the long-suffering people of Ukraine.'  After that I made my excuses and left for work.  

I have also had neighbors ask me "What do you think of the ‘Special Military Operations?’ "  I have told them that "I hate war and would prefer people to sit down and negotiate a ceasefire and final peace agreement.  You have to speak to people you strongly dislike."  They answered, "So you are a hippy? Make love not war?"  Well, that is the biggest compliment I have ever received.  People who know me well would laugh at that comment.  This is because my shelves are full of some military history books, model soldiers, and tanks which I fondly collect.

Yesterday one of my students looked very gloomy and upset. I asked him "What is the matter?"  He answered, "Have you heard the news?  The president has called for partial mobilization.  More people are going to be called up."  On the metro, on the way to teach a class, I read that President Putin had issued a law calling for partial mobilization.  What that means is that military reservists will be called up and not students or those doing one-year military service.  

The Russian army hopes to muster 300,000 soldiers to strengthen and relieve battered and battle worn troops at the front.  They also hope to organize referendums in the areas of the Russian republics to ask the residents living there to vote to become part of Russia. Note that very strict laws have been passed where people deserting or refusing service can be punished with 5 to 10-year jail sentences.  

But what has worried many onlookers is the statement made by Putin threatening to use nuclear weapons.  He has emphasized, "This is no bluff."  In other words, unless western backed Ukrainian troops don't retreat the Russians would resort to nuclear weapons.  This statement has indeed left many people wondering whether he would actually go to those lengths.  Is this a bluff or not?

I came across the mother of one 25-year-old student who seemed very anxious.  She told me “My son has already been called up by the military commission to serve in the Russian army.  But his health is not very good.  Those doctors who examine him don't always take this into account."

In fact, a lot of sick people including people you might regard as invalids can end up doing military service.  They are hardly military material. But if the recent official declaration about partial mobilization is fulfilled it means her son won't be sent to the front.

And what is the impact of this war in Ukraine, Russia and the west?  There are now destroyed houses, destroyed lives, and displaced people.  Russia has been flooded by 2.5 million refugees, and Europe has been engulfed by 3 million refugees.  It is impossible to arrive at an exact figure of the casualties.  

The Russian state admits that just over 5,000 soldiers have died while the other side can claim that the Russians have lost over ten times this amount {a staggering 80,000}.  Yet many people seem to see the war as some abstract notion or an unreal image.

Perhaps the full horror of this unfolding tragedy is beyond their imagination.  Some might as well be watching a football match.

How many people in Russia actually support the “Special Military Operations?”

According to an analyst, Valerie Fedorov, 6 months ago 71% supported the war while 21 % were against. Now the figure is 70% for and 18% against.  Despite a massive wave of sanctions, many Russians continue to support the “Special Military Operations.”  Sadly enough, some people I spoke to who initially did not support them changed their minds as a counter reaction against the anger they experienced abroad.  

The main predictions made that the Russian economy would collapse and there would be no food on the shelves has not materialized.  In fact, the ruble is still strong, and the sale of oil and gas has soared rather than declined.  When businessmen from Saudi Arabia approached Russia with the offer to purchase oil they were told by Russian oil companies they had too many orders… that they had no extra oil available.  The price of oil and gas has not fallen--but on the contrary has been boosted by this conflict.  

Yevgeny jokes that the sanctions have turned out to be a wonderful promotion for Gasprom.  Of course, it would be absurd to claim that the Russian economy has not suffered from the sanctions and that things are normal. 

Many people have lost their jobs with western companies, and people are more inclined to save their money for a rainy day.  Fewer people can afford holidays abroad and at home.  Economists estimated that Gross National Product had contracted by 5% this year and it set to fall by 2-3% this year.  

As far as the “Special Military Operations” are concerned, it seems that some people have actually gotten used to them.  After the initial emotions of surprise, embarrassment, and disgust, there is now almost an air of indifference where powerless people have returned to living their usual lives.  This summer, in Moscow, people were strolling in the parks, taking part in sport, and displaying a laid-back attitude.  They had become bored of the topic.  "Please don't talk about the subject of the “Special Military Operations” in Ukraine. I don't want to speak about it.  It upsets me."  

Some people believe that the war—and the impact of it—could go on for years.  They accept that such a negative prospect is inevitable.  But such an outlook can only discourage and dampen brave attempts to genuinely find a peaceful diplomatic solution.  

Perhaps the war could be ended in a matter of months--if only some statesmen and diplomats rose to the occasion and took the need for peace negotiations sincerely and seriously. Perhaps not. 

Meanwhile, as the horrible war continues, speaking either Russian or English in the wrong place at the wrong time will probably lead to some awkward situations indeed.