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V900's avatar

Wow! Those Russians sure are crazy and have turned WW2 into a state religion! You mean like Veterans Day, Armistice Day, Poppies and half the monuments in London and DC?

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Jake Steijn's avatar

Of course most of that - in the UK - is in remembrance of UK losses in WWI. which is understandable. In the u.s. it’s just more “buy stuff now.”

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JennyStokes's avatar

From what I have learned recently: Because of the 27 million who died there are very few people in Russia who do not have a family member/neighbour who died.

This is truly important to remember which is why their Remembrance Day is so important.

Thanks Julian.

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Tracy Jarvis's avatar

This shoulder be required reading for every American.

Thank you Julian,

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Discount Plague Doctor's avatar

That quote about "state religion" and all that jazz is the most blatant, unashamed, involuntarily hilarious example of projectionism I have ever seen. A great example of, speaking of religion, looking at a speck of sawdust in someone else's eye and paying no attention to the plank in one's own.

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Marvin Gardens2's avatar

When the war is not "over there".

Americans know jack shit about war.

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Anne Nicholls's avatar

I have felt this about Putin from the first I heard of him. You have confirmed. I have heard several people call him a “thug”. I’m afraid such people will never resolve much of anything. Thank you for this.

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Sue's avatar

When life begins in a country where family, country and above all God, they honour their ancestors that gave their lives for it. When you are there because of that.

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jsarnak's avatar

This is why they hate Putin. He is nothing like any of the so called "ruling class" I refuse to call them elite because they are anything but... They were all born to wealth, there is not a politician in the "west" or since nothing is an absolute, I will say there is very few politicians that were not born into a trust fund life. In the US you see politicians claiming to be combat veterans like Fruitcake Graham who was a lawyer in the reserves, Fing disgusting. Even JD Vance who I like, was some type of media guy or photographer.

I really disagree with your sarcasm or your attempt to belittle the Russians for remembering their struggles and you mock Putin for calling soldiers "Heroes". Modern Day Russia is like 1950's U.S. when communities stuck together and people attended the same church. Many were not terribly religious BUT it was one of the ties that held the people together. Look at the West and especially the "writer" class they really do think they are better than.....but take a look at the pitiful excuse for community that exists today. Meanwhile Russia is becoming stronger as a Nation and as a people.

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Julian Macfarlane's avatar

I did not belittle the Russians or mock Putin for calling soldiers "heroes". The OPPOSITE!

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Jack Sprat's avatar

Beautifully written Julian, the melancholy the tone invokes is reminiscent of Hemingway.

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Sue's avatar

It's deeper, they still have a long winter and a real family social reunion, as long ago did old cultures were they met beside the fireplace where stories and legends were even sung. the

soul of our family country and God above all.

That was the way how we can read The Odisee, the Iliad, all the Irish, Kelic

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dacoelec's avatar

Thank you, Julian, for the amazing and touching article!

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Michael Peck's avatar

Thank you for that fascinating read - but what is the source of that first quote from some western commentary?

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Rolf Nilsson's avatar

"If you read my special article 3 in the Putin series". I would very much love to do this, but it looks like you won't put me on the send list. Unfortunately!

Rolf Nilsson

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Julian Macfarlane's avatar

I have several "Rolfs" on the list, including Rolf Berg below. But I don't see your name. Are you "RoffoB"? Send me an email address. I will be sending RoffB, access links to the Special Articles storage sites, where there are 6 special articles for download. If you are using Apple, use the MEGA site -- it's Apple-friendly. Some people tried buying coffee through Substack but they don't allow that. You have to to https://buymeacoffee.com/julicow.

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RoffoB's avatar

Jag kan mejla den så du blir nöjd. roffeberg@bahnhof.se

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Julian Macfarlane's avatar

I am resending the download links to your email. THANK YOU!

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Bogheim's avatar

WTF ....svenska ???....nice but Julian needs google translate...

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RoffoB's avatar

The message was for Rolf Nilsson who didn't get download links, so i sent him those.

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judybee's avatar

Hi Julian, per your instructions I bought you coffee on May 13 and I received a thank you from you. However, I've never received access to the Putin series which I am eager to read. Can you help?

Thanks,

judybee

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Julian Macfarlane's avatar

Yes. I figured out a workaround. It seems you are not receiving my emails. Go to the buyme site and check my Posts. You will find my most recent post has the download links to TWO cloud storage sites. There you will find the most recent “special articles” and also my book on ageing and the necessity of doing it gracelessly. (Book dreadfully in need of revision!). Please contact me directly at julico@gol.com if you have any problems.

Your friend,

Julian

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judybee's avatar

Thanks, Julian. I finally saw this and got the files. I appreciate your followup!

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Angostura's avatar

I would love to read the Putin series of articles If I would've received the so much praised and promoted link to download them. As a monthly supporter and occasional extra buyer of coffee I am kinda pissed off by Julian for not getting the promised link.

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Lucy's avatar

It should be noted that Biden was not born with a silver spoon. Biden is from working class roots.

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Julian Macfarlane's avatar

The Dems have been spreading this story. But....

Biden's father led an affluent lifestyle as a young adult, "sailing yachts off the New England coast, riding to the hounds, driving fast cars, flying airplanes" while working as an executive for, and experiencing the largess of, the Sheen Company.[14][16] The Sheen Company was founded and owned by Bill Sheen, Biden's paternal great-uncle.[14] Bill Sheen had invented a material that he then manufactured as lining for cemetery vaults. He subsequently secured a number of US government contracts to make water-tight sealant for merchant marine ships during World War II and renamed the family business to Sheen Armor Company.[17][16] Early in Biden's life, the family relocated to a "four-bedroom Dutch colonial in a Boston suburb, with plenty of money and perks to fly back to Scranton to visit the Finnegans whenever they wanted" so that Joe Sr. could run Sheen Company's branch office in Boston; Biden's sister, Valerie was born there in 1945.[17] Joe Sr. and his cousin, Bill Sheen Jr., were close friends *wikipedia"l.

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Julian Macfarlane's avatar

Wikipedia

Biden's father had once led an affluent life, but suffered financial setbacks soon after Biden was born, and for several years the family lived with Biden's maternal grandparents. Beginning in 1953, the family lived in an apartment in Claymont, Delaware, before moving to a house in Mayfield, Delaware.[1][2][3][4] Biden's father later became a successful used-car salesman, maintaining the family in a middle-class lifestyle. At Archmere Academy, the later 46th president Joe Biden himself was class president of his junior and senior high school classes, and graduated from Archmere in 1961. At the University of Delaware, Biden earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1965 with a double major in history and political science. Archmere is a private, Catholic, prep-school.

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