Tuesday, October 07, 2003
I believe that under Stalin's rule, Russia wrongly became a powerful nation because many lives were spared to come to that point. Stalin arrested and killed anyone who he believed to be a counter-revolutionary. Stalin heavily industrialized Russia and created collective farming and increased food and coal productivity. Although Stalin made Russia a more powerful nation, the way he achieved this economic stability was wrong, Stalin sacrificed human lives. Although it seems that a country's economic stability and power seems to be the most important objectives to rulers, the safety and freedom or their people should be their primary concern. Stalin's decision to end human life to reach his goal is not a justifiable reason for his domination.
Was Stalin as bad as Hitler?
Stalin
Was Stalin as bad as Hitler?
Stalin
Wednesday, October 01, 2003
Animated History
As a class, we have been talking about the history of communist Russia. When I was a little girl, I loved the story of Anastasia. I have investigated the “real story” of Anastasia and this is pretty much what happened. While the Tsar led his army into battle during the war there was a food shortage in Russia due to the record breaking cold temperatures. Riots were breaking out in the capital and they eventually became so severe, that the Tsarist asked her husband to return home. When the Tsar returned home, he was forced to abdicate his throne while the family was placed on house arrest. Riots and street demonstrations were becoming more prevalent and dangerous that the leader of the new Provisional government, Kerensky, arranged for the family to be moved to an undisclosed location. They were moved to the Governor’s mansion in a town in Siberia. Another revolution broke out in Russia and the Communistic Bolsheviks took power. The Tsarist asked her children to sew all of their diamonds and other jewels into their clothing. On July 16, 1918 the family along with four servants was taken into a basement and shot. The story has it that the jewels sewn into Anastasia’s clothes protected her from getting shot.
For those of you who haven’t seen the animated version, this is nothing like it. Of course there aren’t Russian men with fur hats on singing and dancing in St. Petersburg, but the story is completely different. In the animated movie, Anastasia’s family is betrayed by Rasputin, a friend of the family. Anastasia’s family escapes while Anastasia is left behind. Although her family dies, her grandmother remains and holds a search to find her missing granddaughter. Of course while there is the search for the missing granddaughter, Anastasia falls in love with a handsome Russian man and goes shopping in Paris. So what does shopping and boyfriends have to do with the history of communist Russia? The answer is absolutely nothing. Is it wrong for young children to learn about important historical events from fictional animated movies?
As a class, we have been talking about the history of communist Russia. When I was a little girl, I loved the story of Anastasia. I have investigated the “real story” of Anastasia and this is pretty much what happened. While the Tsar led his army into battle during the war there was a food shortage in Russia due to the record breaking cold temperatures. Riots were breaking out in the capital and they eventually became so severe, that the Tsarist asked her husband to return home. When the Tsar returned home, he was forced to abdicate his throne while the family was placed on house arrest. Riots and street demonstrations were becoming more prevalent and dangerous that the leader of the new Provisional government, Kerensky, arranged for the family to be moved to an undisclosed location. They were moved to the Governor’s mansion in a town in Siberia. Another revolution broke out in Russia and the Communistic Bolsheviks took power. The Tsarist asked her children to sew all of their diamonds and other jewels into their clothing. On July 16, 1918 the family along with four servants was taken into a basement and shot. The story has it that the jewels sewn into Anastasia’s clothes protected her from getting shot.
For those of you who haven’t seen the animated version, this is nothing like it. Of course there aren’t Russian men with fur hats on singing and dancing in St. Petersburg, but the story is completely different. In the animated movie, Anastasia’s family is betrayed by Rasputin, a friend of the family. Anastasia’s family escapes while Anastasia is left behind. Although her family dies, her grandmother remains and holds a search to find her missing granddaughter. Of course while there is the search for the missing granddaughter, Anastasia falls in love with a handsome Russian man and goes shopping in Paris. So what does shopping and boyfriends have to do with the history of communist Russia? The answer is absolutely nothing. Is it wrong for young children to learn about important historical events from fictional animated movies?
