January 6, 2009
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I’ve received so many emails about the WSJ front page article in which the Russian expert, a professor and ex-KGB agent predicts that the US will falter and be split up into five zones (see map below, here is a link to the original article and here is a link to his video interview) and each zone will be controlled by another country like China, Canada, Mexico, and EU. Alaska would go to its “rightful” (more like wishful) owner – Russia. You get the gist. I could not contain myself, I had to respond with a letter to Mr. Ex-KBG.
Dear Mr. Ex-KGB,
Desperate times call for desperate measures. No kidding. I understand why you took the collapse of the Soviet Union model, added some wishful thinking and applied it to the United States. The Great US of A is not the Soviet Union; this analogy doesn’t work on this country. The Soviet Union was a collection of loosely assembled countries that shared little in common except … well, actually with the exception of common borders, I cannot think of a single thing that united them. Flag? Hymn? No, they were quick to disembark from the Soviet Union, turn the red flag into a doormat and desperately try to erase the lyrics of the Soviet hymn from their memory. Ukrainians, Byelorussians, and Russians had something in common, but Georgians, Armenians, Tajikistanis, and Uzbekistanis were always looked at by Russians as secondhand citizens. Estonians disliked Russia, but don’t blame them, they did not join the Soviet Union at will. The former soviet republics were happy to return to the pre-Soviet Union state.
Unlike the Soviet Union, in the US we share similar values, goals and traditions that developed over more than two hundred years. Geographic state borders have little significance, with the exception that in some states you are allowed to carry a concealed weapon; in some, until recently you could not buy alcohol on Sunday - that is just plain wrong, but I still remained in Colorado and did not announce my allegiance to the California Republic, as you would call it; in some food is very spicy - and that is alright; and in some gambling and prostitution are legal - and this is alright too. America is a melting pot. Sure we make fun of the New Yorkers’ fast talk or the Texan’s droll. But tolerant we are.
Due to the ease of mobility of employment, we constantly migrate from state to state, and our geographic loyalties don’t go further than our Alma Mater’s football team. Our geographic preference of habitation is a function of climate, employment, proximity of mother-in-law (it has to be at least two hours away, by a very fast plane if possible) and pure randomness. We have no allegiance to a specific state - we are citizens of the United States. Culture doesn’t divide us, like it did the Soviet Union, it unites us.Display article as PDF for printing.
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