"Russian spring" II?

two Moscow rallies

a British correspondent lamented as we chatted near Pushkin Square of his not being able to see “the other rally”, as he must stay and report on “this one”. I was not so bound, having gone to and observed the “Pro-Putin Rally”, and then to see the “Anti-Putin Rally”.

there has been some recent talk of a “Russian Spring”, but in fact the “Russian Spring” happened in the summer of 1991, August. (though that was a different “wave” of socio-political change in the world, related to the fall of the “Iron Curtain”.) with many contemporary commentators this seems to have been already forgotten, though there were tanks on the streets then, and there was an order given to take the Russian “White House” , surrounded though it was by some 15,000-25,000 Russians who wanted a new, better country.

it is a step forward in the political development of Russia that enough people have shed enough fear to come out onto the streets at protest rallies: Bolotnayas I and II, Prospect Sakharova, the “Great White Ring” around the “Garden[less] Ring” of Moscow...
and tonight there were two rallies in Moscow. while there were many police at hand – off to the side ready if need be – this was, and is, not a “Russian Spring” as in summer 1991. perhaps it might be better named Russian Spring II.

in 1991 some 99% of the population of Moscow went about their daily lives as if nothing were happening around the Russian "White House"...as if to say: ‘you decide if we live in the USSR, or something different'. that defense of the Russian White House was said by many of those who were there to have gathered the brightest and most beautiful faces…

there was a rally tonight of those who clearly belong to the crowd, and one of those who do, or would, not.