 |
| In 2019 I organized a study tour of Russia for members of the Global Network. We went to Moscow, Crimea and St. Petersburg. While in Moscow we met several members of Russian Veterans For Peace (VFP) and heard from their Executive Director Aleksandr Rassokhin (in the center behind the Russian flag holding papers). Below are his words recently sent to US VFP members who inquired about his position on the Ukraine-Russia situation. |
Уважаемые Друзья!
Respected friends,
Буду писать по русски, так как возможности интернет позволят Вам перевести смысл более точно, чем я смогу написать по английски.
I write to you in Russian, because your translations would more accurately convey what I am trying to tell you, than if I tried to write in English.
Во первых мы ( ветераны и члены нашей организации и поверьте подавляющее большинство наших граждан) считаем, что на Украине идет война России с коллективным Западом во главе с Соединенными Штатами.
First of all, [Russian] veterans, members of our organization, and believe me the great majority of our citizenry consider that what is happening in Ukraine is a war between Russia and a Western collective with the United States at its head.
Мы считаем. что все годы со времен распада Варшавского Договора, возглавляемая Соединенными Штатами Европа, сделали все, чтобы эта война состоялась.
We believe that, ever since the collapse of the Warsaw Pact, Europe (under the leadership of the United States) has done everything it could to ensure that the conditions for this war would come about.
Мы одобряем войну только в одном случае. Россию прижали к стенке и требуют от нее "застрелиться".
We support this war only because Russia has been backed up against a wall, and they [unspecified] demand that we commit suicide.
И мы будем защищаться до конца.
But we will defend ourselves to the end.
Мы вынуждены были это делать. Иначе сказать-это США и их "союзники" спровоцировали эту войну.
We were forced into this. In other words, it was the USA and its "allies" who provoked this war.
В общественном сознании США и Европы, Россия и "русские" профилируются как люди второго сорта. Изгои и дикари, которые не имеют право на существование.
The USA and Europe seem to think that Russia and "the Russians" are second class people, not deserving even the right to exist.
Мы видим тотальную ложь и лицемерие по отношению к России.
[All] we see are complete lies and hypocrisy when it comes to Russia.
Если Вы думаете, что во всем виноват Президент Путин и нужно только его убрать, чтобы окончательно решить вопрос существования России, то Вы СИЛЬНО ОШИБАЕТЕСЬ.
If you think that all guilt lies with President Putin, and that if only he could be removed [from power], then the question of whether Russia even exists is thereby solved, YOU ARE MAKING A HUGE MISTAKE.
Вы помогли русским сплотиться.
[All you are doing] is helping to unite the Russian people.
Allow me to repeat the words that President Putin said. "We have no need of a peace in which there is no Russia."
(Could also be translated as "We have no need of a world in which there is no Russia. The word mir means both "peace" and "world".)
И русские победят в этой войне. Либо весь мир сгорит.
And the Russian people will win this war, even if it means burning up the whole world.
The USA and NATO are the primary instigators of war. But we will not lose, no matter what the cause. Even if the entire world is against us.
В 90 годах, мы впервые познакомились с Вьетнамскими ветеранами Америки. Представители этой организации приезжали в Россию.
In the 1990s, we met for the first time with American veterans of the War in Vietnam, who had sent their representatives to Russia.
We learned that we had much in common as regards peace in the entire world. And on a trip to the USA, I met with a Mr. Jerry Genesio and the Veterans For Peace. We were delighted to find people of the same mind in the very country we always regarded as a potential aggressor.
И мы делали все, чтобы через народную дипломатию укрепить связи и не допустить больше конфронтации между нашими странами.Я знаю, что большинство Американцев такие же простые люди как и мы. И мы не хотим никаких войн.
And we did all we could through citizen diplomacy to strengthen ties [of friendship] and to prevent further confrontation between our countries. I know that the majority of Americans are just simple people like ourselves, and that we both have no desire for any war.
But the words of simple people counted for little. Throughout all these years, NATO kept encroaching upon the borders of Russia with its military might. Today we see the result.
Америке нужно перестать относиться к планете как к своему заднему двору.
America needs to stop thinking of the rest of the world as its back yard.
If you would only respect the wishes of others, then they will respect you. War* will only end when America stops interfering in the affairs of Russia and other countries.
Нам не нужна Американская демократия, которую Америка насаждает по всему миру, прикрывая свою сущность захватчиков и агрессоров. Пусть Америка живет со своей демократией как хочет.
We have no need for [the sort of] American democracy, which America imposes on the rest of the world in order to cover up its own robberies and aggression. Let's let America live with its own democracy however it likes.
Russia has a great history. We do not need to be taught how to live. We don't need to be civilized [Not a literal translation, but it's what he means.] Our Bolshoi Theater is older than your country!
Мы не хотим свободной любви, гомосексуализма и прочей мерзости. И нам не нужно угрожать. Для нас мир это мужчина и женщина. Традиционная семья. Вера в Бога и спасение.
We do not want [your] free love, homosexuality, or any other sort of filth. And we will not stand for any threats. In our country, marriage is between one man and one woman - the traditional family. Faith in God and in salvation.
* Could also be translated as "the war". There is no word for "the" in Russian, so Aleksandr might mean "this war" or "all war". Without further context, there's no way to tell.
3 comments:
I appreciate the translation and most of the views expressed, but must say that Mr. Rossokhin lost much credibility with me with his gratuitous homophobia.
Homosexuality is not a choice or a lifestyle and is certainly not filth. It reminded me of the time the president of Iran was asked why his country persecuted homosexuals and answered college students in NYC saying that there were no homosexuals in Iran. Huge laughter ensued.
That's why we don't understand each other. You can stereotypically explain your love of homosexuality in any way you want. This is your right. I have the right to explain my dislike of Sodom sin. There is a saying in Russia: "Don't go to someone else's monastery with your charter."
And by the way, my last name is Rassokhin.
Post a Comment