The Russia That Might Have Been

[Rhiannon12866]

1. I actually visited the USSR back in the late '80s with my grandmother and a peace group she joined

Back then, under Gorbachev, hope was alive with his more progressive policies of glasnost and perestroika, openness and transparency - though the Soviet hardliners were trying to roll them back in the face of Reagan's tough stance towards Russia and Gorbachev at the time. I cannot imagine what the people are facing now with Putin's attempt to recreate the worst days of the USSR, let alone his horrific unprovoked war which has decimated the male population of all ages.