Looks like it was my turn

[Fedzilla_Bob]

I think you have to get a permit in order to photograph specific areas now. Which is fine. At least with extra effort you can get a permit. It does, however, reduce spontaneity.

In the case of my freind, it's hard for someone who was a teenager during WWII, is a very staunch supporter of her government, and also had a long career with the US Department of Defense. She views Washington as her town and the place to exercise her liberty, which she feels is a birth right.

 

[bobofish]

How does the saying go? Forgive me if I butcher it a bit:

Heaven is where the British are the policemen, The cooks are Italian and it's all organized by the Germans;

Hell is where the Germans are the policemen, the cooks are British, and it's all organized by the Italians.....


Toungue in cheek, my fine European friends.


Of course people who have never lived in or at least had extensive first hand experience with life in a police state can't really understand how things work.. It's a constant balance of trying to live your life and hopefully have a positive influence. Most of us in the West have no idea, and most Europeans don't even know that there's still a dictatorship in Europe.

I for one had an interesting experience in the Ukraine a few years ago...since I hold an American passport, I have both advantages and disadvantages going from place to place (this before our recent shenanigans) however the border guards in ukraine still think in terms of USSR policies.

I remember not only did I have to jump through several rings of fire to get a damn visa to go there for a week (my Polish wife was welcomed with open arms) but the special visit form I had to sign said stuff to the effect of "when you are entering the USSR.."

And then there was the 2 hour long interrogation when I entered the country for real, only because I spoke to them in Russian, and casually mentioned that my parents are from the Ukraine...it was really quite amusing, because I knew they had nothing to gain by asking me questions, and they knew what they were doing was silly.

At the end of it, it was just a big joke, but I did notice that the police there were still very much "the other." I assume things are getting a bit better now that Kutschma is gone.


Varjag, I have every sympathy for you, and I hope that Lukaschenko bites the big one one of these days, and your country which has suffered enough is allowed to move on.

 

[rover]

What's next? A license that allows you to photograph in their district? Said tongue in cheeck but I feel it is not far off target.

Well, yes actually. I think that you can buy a license from the National Park Service to use a tripod. I may be wrong about this, but worth checking on. I will do so when I head to Washington next.

 

[rbiemer]

Dear Varjag,

I'd like to put it on record that the opportunity to communicate with you, and others like you (there are not many, and that is meant as a compliment) is one reason why I like RFF so much. It is a privilege.

Cheers,

Roger

Eugene,
I second Mr. Hicks' statement!
I try to keep in my mind that the rights I have should not be taken for granted. Your travails remind me how much is at stake here. And how lucky I am by way of geography.
Keep your spirits up, Eugene, you've got friends here.
Rob

 

[varjag]

Roger, Bobo, Rob, thank you for support.

A person living here is permanently bombarded by state propaganda, and no matter how smart you are sometimes it seems that you're just a lousy whiner, zealot and a reject from otherwise happy society. In this light I extremely value any fresh perspective from outside.

Belarus wasn't always like that; we had a pretty liberal by all standards state in early 90's. Then with the introduction of presidency (and election of our first and only president) things started to change gradually. None of the changes was big enough to cause a revolt, but their combined effect was dramatic, even if unnoticable. I actually didn't even realize where we had gone to until I've worked and lived in Scandinavia for a while. After my return I suddenly realized that I've enjoyed greater liberties with a temporary work permit in Norway than as a national of Belarus. This wasn't only the standard of living or freedom of speech, but totally different mode of interaction with state representatives. Too bad many of my compatriots never seen the difference.

So watch your governments, citizens of the free world. No matter how well the system was designed it can be broken on purpose, although admittedly it is harder to do in societies with established democratic tradition.