Opinions on Russians

[Æmeric]

The Russians never made it to the Moon.

[Hors]

But Russia intervenes in European affairs, holding gas deliveries as a sabre over the nations of Europe.

Yeah, when Russia only flexes its muscle "Europeans" shriek in trepidation...

[Hors]

The Russians never made it to the Moon.

Ok, so it's 10 to 1 in favor of Russia

[Manifest Destiny]

NASA Astronaut fatalities stand at around 22 vs 4 Soviet Cosmonaut fatalities.

There have been no USSR / Russian Soyuz fatalities since 1971 while the USA have suffered a number of fatal accidents since that time.

Two things to keep in mind here:

1) America's space program has been far more active than the USSR/Russia's, so it's best to judge by per capita deaths than overall numbers.

2) There's a big difference between people dying in actual accidents (like an exploding space shuttle) and the government saying, "Who cares if it's safe. Put Vlad on the rocket or else!"

Florence Griffith-Joyner and Marion Jones were / are from the Communist block?

There are steroid users from all nations, but it was very prominent among Eastern European communist nations during the 1980s. And we're now seeing cheating of another sort with China: under-aged athletes.

[Hors]

America's space program has been far more active than the USSR/Russia's,

I don't think so.

Certainly not in the last decades, when the Russian space program is absolutely dominant.

There's a big difference between people dying in actual accidents (like an exploding space shuttle) and the government saying, "Who cares if it's safe. Put Vlad on the rocket or else!"

Sounds you're naive enough to believe in freedom of American press and that every thing American is the best...

[Manifest Destiny]

I don't think so.

Certainly not in the last decades, when the Russian space program is absolutely dominant.

Because of immense cooperation from the USA, of course.

[RoyBatty]

Sorry but I don't buy the "they put a gun to the peasant's head and made him walk the plank to fly the thing" argument. I also don't see how the US Space program is any safer than the Soviet / Russian one.

Regarding professional sports, steroid use is universal and ubiquotous. Professional athletes around the world cheat on a professional basis because that is what it takes to "be the best". Some get caught, many don't. Neither the Soviet Union nor Russia nor those evil Communists had or have a monopoly on steroid use. We all know that so why point the finger at "them"?

[Manifest Destiny]

Sounds you're naive enough to believe in freedom of American press and that every thing American is the best...

I don't think everything about America is the best. But it's damn sure better than the tyrants and mass-murderers who ran the USSR.

[Hors]

Because of immense cooperation from the USA, of course.

Sure, it was the American taxpayer who paid for the success of the Russian space program, no doubt about that!

I don't think everything about America is the best. But it's damn sure better than the tyrants and mass-murderers who ran the USSR.

Yeah, you ARE naive.

But what do you think about countless victims of American imperialism and colonialism?

[Sarmata]

Russians...well historicaly Russians aren't our(Polish) friends, becouse of rivarly for Eastern lands, occupation of our lands, and over 50 years of communism. But I personally have a bond of symphaty to Russians, maybe becouse of our Slavic roots, or maybe becouse that we are just quite similar? Although we Poles are more "westernized" by our culture and faith, and Russians are still more tough and sever than us When I look at Russian country in the map I feel respect...but I still remember 1920 when We can stop them
I consider Russians as Europeans ofcourse, but there is difference between ethnic Russians and "others".
And their contributions to our civilization...well just look at the List of Nobel laureats ...but it's much more of them...