November 2014

Christmas Day, 1979.  As per the request of the acting government (the prior Afghan president had been assassinated at this point and replaced by a Soviet-friendly one named Babrak Karmal), the Soviet Army crosses the border into Afghanistan (Source Essay: “The Invasion of Afghanistan” by James von Geldern).

In a speech to the Russian people via radio, Karmal tells the people about the invasion, saying that the prior president, Hafizullah Amin, was a proprietor of mass murder and torture, and that he was an American CIA agent, and therefore was executed.  He then says that the Soviet Union will always try to uphold the ideals of democracy and independence, and will free Amin’s political prisoners, abolish all of his oppressive and inhumane laws, respect Islam and the practices of its followers, and among other things, assistance provided to the Afghan schools (“SPEECH BY BABRUK KARMAL”).

What I find most interesting is the imperialistic attitude that the Russians had even into the late 20th century.  Great Britain had acquired colonies like India and Australia hundreds of years prior, and by the time the 1970’s came, they had moved on from that imperialistic attitude.  I noticed that Karmal used promises that made it sound like they had invaded for holistic and humanitarian reasons, which would serve only to justify the invasion to the public, much like the United States did when we went into Iraq (come for the weapons of mass destruction, stay for the people).  I also find it interesting that Karmal would even go as far to say that Amin was an American CIA agent, which was likely just a bit of propaganda he threw out to justify the invasion to the people of Russia and to further deepen people’s distaste of Americans, since this speech came at an ever critical time in the Cold War, with tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union coming to boil.

 

 

Sources:

“SPEECH BY BABRAK KARMAL.”  The Current Digest of the Russian Press,  No. 52,  Vol.31, January  23, 1980, page(s): 4-5. Minneapolis, USA.  http://dlib.eastview.com/browse/doc/13629303

The Strugatsky Brothers were an author duo which rose to fame during the 1960’s as science fiction writers.  Their books initially were lauding the way of Soviet thought, they later very quietly spoke of the downfalls of Soviet society.  For example, Noon: 22nd Century, published in 1962, praised the science that was commonly attributed to the way of Soviet thought.  However, by 1972, with the publication of Roadside Picnic, they had shifted to social criticism.  The book spoke of a strange Canadian land in which a strange artifact was f0und, but no one bothered to check and see where it

came from.  This sense of apathy and acceptance was critical of the Soviet intrepidity and sense of duty.  They became hugely popular in the Soviet Union, which made public officials uneasy, especially with the continued publication of works that were critical of Soviet society (Source Essay “Strugatsky Brothers” by James von Geldern).  In fact, one author even believes that the Strugatsky brothers were espousing a kind of “people’s capitalism,” which was certainly a major change from the communist/socialist society they lived in at the time (Federovich 20).

I find it interesting just how influential literature can be in society, especially during times of revolution and change.  Since Stalin was long dead, the Strugatsky brothers were free to write what they wished, with very little fear of “disappearing.”  Public officials could do little but sit and hope that the public did not try to revolt and establish the aforementioned “people’s capitalism” in the government.  This is not the only time that literature has influenced society, however.  Thousands of anti-British leaflets were printed in the years preceding the American Revolutionary War, the adventures and life of a slave in “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” brought many of the unknown horrors of slavery to light in the time around the American Civil War.  I find it interesting to see how literature has influenced society in other countries as well, instead of always focusing on the United States.

Information Sources:

Fedorovich, M.  “NOT ONLY ENTERTAINING READING.” The Current Digest of the Russian Press, No. 6, Vol. 18, March 02, 1966, page 20.  Minneapolis, USA.  Accessed 2 November 2014.

Source Essay “Strugatsky Brothers” by James von Geldern