I AM REMEMBERING A VISIT IN THE HOME OF A FRIEND OUTSIDE SMOLENSK SEVERAL YEARS AGO. WE WERE EATING SHASHLIK OUTSIDE IN THE SIDE YARD WHEN THE MOTHER OF THE HOME BROUGHT OUT A BOX OF MEDALS. WAS SHE A SOLDIER? DID SHE WIN THESE MEDALS IN THE GREAT WAR? NO. SHE WAS AWARDED THESE MEDALS BECAUSE SHE WAS THE MOTHER OF TEN CHILDREN. 5 BOYS. 5 GIRLS. SEE, DURING SOVIET TIMES, CHILDBIRTH WAS CONSIDERED A GOOD THING. CHILDREN WERE CHERISHED. THAT IS NOT TO SAY THAT CHILDREN ARE NOT CHERISHED TODAY, BUT YOU'LL SEARCH A LONG TIME TO FIND A FAMILY WITH MORE THAN 2 CHILDREN IN RUSSIA TODAY. MOST TIMES IT'S 1 OR 0.
MY POINT TODAY IS NOT "TO HAVE CHILDREN OR NOT". IT'S DEMOGRAPHICS IN RUSSIA. THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE BY SERGEI BALASHOV GIVES AN ACCURATE FEEL FOR WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE POPULATION WISE.
http://www.russiaprofile.org/page.php?pageid=Culture+%26+Living&articleid=a1240941436
WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR US?
IT'S PRETTY INTERESTING TO ME SINCE WE'VE BEGUN WORKING IN SOUTHERN RUSSIA AS WELL AS SMOLENSK NOW, IN THE MUSLIM REGION OF ADYGEA. HAVE YOU SEEN THIS CLIP?
MY POINT TODAY IS NOT "TO HAVE CHILDREN OR NOT". IT'S DEMOGRAPHICS IN RUSSIA. THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE BY SERGEI BALASHOV GIVES AN ACCURATE FEEL FOR WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE POPULATION WISE.
http://www.russiaprofile.org/page.php?pageid=Culture+%26+Living&articleid=a1240941436
WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR US?
IT'S PRETTY INTERESTING TO ME SINCE WE'VE BEGUN WORKING IN SOUTHERN RUSSIA AS WELL AS SMOLENSK NOW, IN THE MUSLIM REGION OF ADYGEA. HAVE YOU SEEN THIS CLIP?
CHALLENGING!