…because I wanted to make sure that everyone has seen at least part of the excellent yellow journalism coming out of Russia this month. This is a couple weeks old now, but Reuters thought enough of it to actually report on it when only the first clips were released, but now you can see the whole thing on YouTube [ru]. [2nd & 3rd segments]
As for myself, I caught wind of this when fellow Central Asia blogger Turan and Iran wrote on the topic and posted the YouTube links and a synopsis for those without Russian language skills. I will add that the post was pretty one-sided, as well, and the comments are an enjoyable read for those without blood pressure problems. While my Russian is hardly fluent, the news story is pretty easy to follow. Overall, it was an excellent chance to see the less savory tactics that are used in journalism. Special Correspondent [Специальный корреспондент] is, to my mind, the Russian version of 20/20, a soft-news telemagazine. However, the Russian version seems to specialize in exposé and sensationalism, with slightly less class and tact than Barbara Walters or Hugh Downs.
The main argument is that the United States maintained the Manas air base as part of its campaign of colonization, most shamelessly admitted by the Embassy releasing a calendar comparing the Kyrgyz to Native Americans. I think the embassy understood that their attempts to build community in the region by comparing our own country’s nomadic prairie cultural history with Kyrgyzstan’s could be misused, but this is pretty comical. Look at the disdain this Russian journalist is administering to the calendar – it’s so blatant, the hatred these Americans have! Why don’t you compare the payment for Manas to the beads traded to Native Americans for land? Oh, don’t worry – they did that, too. Except I don’t think Native American chiefs were able to horde the beads all to the themselves, using those same beads to pay for their relatives to be jet-set elites. Still, you gotta love the style of the show. They have really mastered the flash cut, the slow pan, the ominous music, and the obligatory dramatizations and mock-ups.
This post was written by...
Michael Hancock-Parmer – author of 158 posts on Registan.net.
Michael earned an MA in Central Eurasian Studies in 2011 and remains a student at Indiana University pursuing a dual PhD in Russian History and Central Eurasian Studies. He served 6 months in the Peace Corps in Uzbekistan in 2005. After the events in Andijan and the subsequent closure of the program, he served 2 years in southern Kazakhstan, returning to the Midwest in 2007. His general area of interest is on post-Timur Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, centered on the Syr Darya river valley.
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{ 2 comments }
are you a moron? The kyrgyz likely ARE akin to native americans.
I will back you up though, that US leadership are like shy puppies when it comes to host nations. It’s a joke how racist our leadership is. Including Obama. I should correct myself in that they’re just white-bred, not racist. There is a HUGE difference. Hatred? I think not. You’re too extreme in your accusations.
@dh: It’s fun how rude people think they can be because they are commenting on blogs. It’s not as bad as YouTube, of course. Do you really expect someone to calmly and respectfully respond when your first question is “Are you a moron?”
Of course I’ve very familiar with the argument that the Native Americans are related to the Turkic, Tungusic, and Mongolic people – considering all the shared vocabulary and traditions, etc. But what, exactly, is your point? I understand you are completely unable to understand sarcasm, which is what the comment was. Let me explain:
“…but this is pretty comical.”
That was your clue. Something COMICAL is coming.
“Look at the disdain this Russian journalist is administering to the calendar – it’s so blatant, the hatred these Americans have!”
You see, I don’t actually think Americans hate the Kyrgyz. In fact, the WHOLE POINT of this article was to make fun of the Russian journalists assumption that there is a seething undercurrent of hatred and racism just beneath the surface at Manas. Are we clear now? Try not to be so rude in the future.