Today is international peace day in Russia

[Rhiannon12866]

I was there, once, for it, and will always remember. On September 1st, education day, school starts there, and things didn't go so well for them, this year. But, as far as September 2nd, peace day, is concerned, this means more than you can imagine to the Russian people. They were forced to fight on their own soil during WWII and will never forget and never want it to happen again. Even small children, whose parents were not even alive during WWII, know exactly what happened during that time and who, even from their small town, were lost during the war. Even the smallest schools have plaques of remembrance and a tiny, remote school that I visited, high in the Caucus mountains, has a museum, dedicated to WWII, where the children go to study. So, on this Russian international day of peace, I would like to wish all my friends on DU the same wish that was given to me by Russian schoolchildren, peace and friendship. I tried to post the message in Russian, but it didn't work.:shrug:

[nodehopper]

1. Huh, I don't remember the day of Peace being a big deal.

[Rhiannon12866]

2. Are you Russian? It means that much to them.

MNP (Peace) is stenciled on every window. This means more to them than I can express.:shrug:

[nodehopper]

3. I was born and grew up in the former USSR, lived there until 1991.

Don't remember it being a big deal at all. Maybe it is something that became a big deal in the last ten years.

[Rhiannon12866]

4. Really?! It was a huge deal when I was there

The schoolchildren were totally into it and we received buttons and saw stencils and banners. It made such an impression that I will never forget it. Of course, you must know of the preoccupation that the Russian people have with WWII, and with good reason. I was there for this before the Soviet Union fell, but I could have received the wrong impression, since I am of Russian descent, but was born in America. But I experienced this in Moscow and also in Krasnaya Polyana, high in the Caucasus Mountains. I was there as a member of a peace group, and I will always remember the passion of those Russian citizens that I met, to bring back a message of peace to America. They never want to experience war again.;(

[nodehopper]

5. hmmm. when were you there?

September 1st was always the Day of Learning, and Sept. 2nd was City Day in Moscow, but I don't remember any big deal Peace Day. What year were you there?

[Rhiannon12866]

6. September 1986. I remember that September 1st was education day,

the first day of school for Russian children. They looked so fresh and ready with their hair ribbons and white shirts.

I visited Moscow, Tbilisi, Sochi, Krasnaya Polyana and Leningrad, and found this to be the case everywhere I visited. I was a part of a peace delegation with my grandmother. I was very impressed, not only with the beauty and diverseness of the country, but with the kindness and welcome that we received from the people. They were just wonderful and I hope that I can go back someday.:-)