Russian attitudes to the past

Perhaps it's an artifact of who I speak with, or who I am, but I am struck by the attitude of Russians towards the past.

There is uniform contempt of the Soviet period -- even discussion of the War tends to suggest the Soviets were as much an enemy of the Russian people as the Nazis.

And remember the Nazi killed 26,000,000 Soviet citizens. And they are not remembered fondly in St. Petersburg.

Perhaps this view is best shown by a tee shirt with Lenin, Stalin and Hitler, apparently burning in Hell with the title (in Russian) "The Party is Over".

The Czars are remembered more fondly -- although the last Czar is described as either a fool or somewhat crazy. Russians often suggest England is the ideal nation -- a monarchy with a democracy.

The current regime seems tolerated, even liked, with Putin often being called King or Czar. In fairness, St Petersburg at least seems prosperous and safe. And peace, order and good government has, as Canadians know, considerable virtue.