3-12-2010; 11:47 PM
Today, we had our excursion that I have been waiting for for a few weeks now!!! We went to the "Cold War Museum" -- which was actually an old, Soviet (secret) bunker. ("Spetzob''ect 'Taganskaya'" -- Literally: "Special Object 'Taganskaya.'")
Nowadays, the "secret bunker"'s entrance is marked by a not-so-subtle, big, red star on the gate in front of the entrance!
While we milled about in the small yard outside of the door, Vika (our assistant RD) handed us all a little miniature passport / ID card sort of thing; all of which featured a lovely picture of someone in an gas/chemical protective uniform!
Before too long, we were being ushered inside, and began making our way down 18 or so flights of stairs, to a depth of 60 meters below the ground.
Once we were down into the tunnels, we got a few introductory facts -- such as the fact that the rumbling we kept hearing was that of the Circle line of the Metro! -- and went to watch a video about the Cold War.
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In the end, I found it to be a rather horrifying video -- we ALL did some truly awful things in the arms race…
We saw footage of tests that the US had conducted at sea, to determine the effects of a nuclear device being exploded both above a fleet, as well as at a depth of 30 meters underwater.
We saw video from a test that the USSR conducted, as a psychological demonstration -- it was *not* a nuclear weapon -- but it was so powerful that the energy produced in the explosion was equal to 1% of the sun's energy, and the subsequent shockwave traveled around the world *three* times….
ALL of the tests were just *awful* to look at! And to think that we did such a thing, ourselves, to the planet… In the name of two differing political ideologies? Just to scare the hell out of each other? None of it was worth what we did to the planet, or the harm I believe we did to generations of people in the US, in creating an atmosphere of mistrust and fear towards Russia.
On a Cultural Note, it was interesting to see how some of the subject matter in the video was explained/discussed. For example:
1. The film was very positive, in terms of saying that the US had come to the Soviet Union's aid against the Germans, during WWII.
2. When they spoke of the message the US received at the Potsdam Conference -- that we had successfully tested an atomic bomb -- the video's narrator said that the United States had gained the strategic and military upper hand.
3. On the subject of the first dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan, the video said that the US, "Chose Japan as its first testing ground of an atomic weapon." -- To me, that's not overly biased in any direction; however, when they spoke of the second bombing on Nagasaki, Japan, they said that we dropped the bomb on, "47 million peaceful people."
Those bombings were horrible, awful tragedies, that didn't only affect Japanese people (there were POWs, and citizens of various nationalities in both cities) -- and they certainly were not carried out without a great deal of deliberation, and planning as to where and how they would be dropped. In fact, concerning Nagasaki, where the bomb *was* dropped saved a great many non-combatant citizens' lives. There was a mountain/hill range that stood between the industrial part of the city (the target), and the "dwellings" part of the city, where the larger part of the population lived. The terrain helped shield more citizens from being effected by the bomb and its fallout.
Suffice it to say, I was shocked, and hurt, as a US citizen, to see that that was the only thing said about our actions -- like we had cavalierly chosen to kill 47 million *peaceful* people.
Of course, for added effect, following that statement, and the footage of the explosion of that bomb, they showed a picture of the skulls and skeletons on the ground in Nagasaki -- the casualties of the bomb.
4. Concerning the Cuban Missile Crisis, many of us were surprised to see the film say that the USSR had realized that, were a (nuclear) war to begin between themselves and the US, the US would have the upper hand, strategically, and scientifically. Thus, the decision to move the missile unit to Cuba was done as an act of desperation, more than anything -- with the rational being, the only way to keep from being completely crushed in a war was to put the fear into the United States of an imminent attack on their major cities.
When a US spy plane was shot down *without* Krushchev's express permission, however, Krushchev realized that he couldn't control the situation in Cuba any longer, and that a nuclear war might be started just on one person's whim -- thus, he was willing to work with Kennedy and the US to resolve the situation.
On our way out from the video, to the next part of the exhibit, Misha, bless his heart, said, "Nuclear war is *awesome!*" -- and if I hadn't been in such a pensive mood, I might have been able to laugh with him, and how he meant his comment (entirely facetiously) -- but at the time, all I could do was just give him an absolutely horrified look, to the tune of, "How can you say that?!?" -- If you want to talk about the sheer impression of the explosions, he's right -- they were quite awesome in scope and power -- but I reiterate, in a truly awful, and horrifying way.
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Concerning my own family history, I have to say that I was touched, even to be standing in a Soviet bunker. You see, my Granddaddy was a triple qualified pilot in the Army Air Corps (during WWII), and subsequently, in the Air Force. That means that he was qualified to fly, navigate, and work as a bombardier on the various bombers.
I remember hearing stories, as I was growing up, about my Granddaddy having to be "on call" during the Cold War, to potentially have to go fly (bombing) missions over Russia.
So, all I could think, as I was standing in that bunker, was that I was standing in a place where people had worked, who were afraid of men like my Granddaddy. I was standing in a place where people like my Granddaddy may have been called to attack. I was standing in a place where people like my Granddaddy may have been afraid that they would be called to attack -- for the sake of what an attack would mean for their families, and for the entire world…
I'm not sure I can really explain what feeling that is like… Suffice it to say, I felt very humble. And sad that, at this point in my life, I couldn't call my Granddaddy and tell him about that experience; that he was not around for me to be able to show a turn around to -- e.g. -- "50 years ago, you were "enemies" with this country; and you might have had to attack them -- but look where we are now! I am here, studying, and learning and having a good time, and everything is OK."
I wished I could… I'd like to think he'd have gotten a kick out of the fact that I'm here… Or at least, that he'd have understood what I was doing. After all, he and my Nana -- and three of their young children! -- lived in Japan for 3 years, after World War II -- they knew what it was like to experience life in a country that had once been an "enemy," and to enjoy the experience!
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A short time later, we were in another part of the bunker/museum that had been converted into a few different displays. Some were devoted to communications, some were devoted to some of the uniforms used during the time of the Cold War (gas/chemical protection, Military Uniforms), and there was even a full, scale model of the whole bunker system.
Fast Fact -- concerning the gas/chemical protection suit -- it seems that at the time, soldiers had to be able to put them on in 40 seconds or less.
For better or worse, this part of the museum also had a few rifles that people could also take out and pose with…
Please let it be understood: I LIKE guns! I've been around them my whole life, and I have ZERO problems with them! I quite enjoy shooting! But I also RESPECT guns…
… So when I saw one of the guys in our group swing round with a 1974 model AK-47, and stand with it pointing into a group of people -- well, I about flipped out.
A few guys saw the utter look of horror that crossed my face when I saw this, and they immediately assumed that I was anti-gun… A 15-second or so tirade that consisted of a mash-up of the following "Gun-Laws" (excerpts, not a complete list) came spilling out of my mouth, accompanying the look on my face :
1. ALWAYS treat a gun as if it is LOADED! - AKA - A gun is ALWAYS loaded!!!
2. NEVER point a gun at anything you don't *INTEND TO SHOOT*
3. ALWAYS treat a gun as if it is LOADED!
4. Keep your finger OUT of the trigger guard until you are ready to shoot!!!
5. Always check to make sure the breech is clear when you are handed a gun -- but even if you "see daylight" through the barrel -- rules 1 and 4 apply!!!!
-- And following that tirade, they realized that I wasn't gun-averse, I was *pro* gun -- and pissed at the mishandling and disrespect of the weapon.
Finally, Misha came over with the AK-47, after everyone had finished having fun with it, and said, "I think this may be slightly better off in your hands…" (We had gone shooting together before.)
It was at this point that I started talking to Jared, and cleared him up, for good, on the fact that I truly loved guns, and shooting. He had shot an AK-47 once before, so he was a sport for me, and checked the barrel, and I flipped it off of its Automatic Mode. After that, well...
… What's a Gun-Girl to do with a good-looking rifle but sight it? … So I did! And when I looked up, I saw Misha, Eric, and Jared standing there -- all with stars in their eyes…
I said, "What?"
They responded: "That is *so* hot."
I laughed and rolled my eyes and said, "Take a picture, it'll last longer…." As they kept looking, I said, "… What, do you want me to come back in a skirt and high heels??"
I probably shouldn't have said the last bit, because they all very eagerly responded, "Uh, yeah!" And not too long after that, they asked, "How do you feel about a school girl uniform?"
"Do you want my hair in pigtails, too?? Geeze…" I shot back.
"Wait, how long is your hair?" They asked. Jared came around to get a look at the pony tail I was sporting. "What if you just let it down??"
Seeing as how the conversation was already so ridiculous, I shifted the rifle to one hand, let my hair down, and looked at them all, saying incredulously, "There, like that??"
After the three of them collected their jaws, in Stereo (where available), they said, "Oh, my God…"
I told Claudio about all of this later in the afternoon -- he was with them, too! XD
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Not too long after that, our guide called for us to put everything up, and took us to one more part of the bunker, where all the "Life Support" systems used to be held. (Electrical, Water, Ventilation systems.)
That part of the bunker had had essentially no restoration work done to it, and was currently serving as an example of what most of the Bunkers all across Russia looked like today.
Our guide also pointed out again that this was the first, and ONLY Soviet bunker currently open to the public.
The tour didn't quite end there, however -- as they threw in a good, "Cut the lights; cue the air raid sirens; and put on some announcement (I assume about how, "We're Under Attack")" experience for us. It really got under some of our group's skin -- but I'd been waiting for something like that to happen, so I wasn't too surprised when it came to pass!
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As it turned out, we were essentially across the street from the John Donne, so I went right there after our tour. I did a fair amount of interpreting for Pete, and I was also trying to figure out my bank statements, and get my accounts balanced out. = @_@ = Nightmare.
Speaking of nightmares, I still haven't heard from Dr. Gupta about future scheduling (at my University), or ACTR for financial aid for the summer… Speaking of, I'll need to get in touch with Wells Fargo, to see about getting another loan. = @_@ = Whew… This is all going to be fun. Or not.. Ugh….
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From the John Donne, I popped in at home quickly, and then went off to dance -- it still wasn't as good as Tuesdays at the Rhythm and Blues, but I still had some fun. Maxim was there (With his wife? Or a good Friend? Her name was Aliona (sp?) either way.) -- so I had fun dancing with him, and some other guy, right at the very end of the night, it was crazy!! (Which is to say, the other guy I danced with, we were dancing to a very fast-paced song, and he certainly put me through some moves! Thank goodness for being able to follow!)
I walked back to the Metro with Maxim and Aliona (See? Yet again! I didn't walk alone!!!) -- where we were just chatting more about my studies, and how I was liking Moscow -- and about their studies/work, too. We split ways before I transferred to my other line; on that second line, to my home stop, with two stops to go, a middle-aged gentleman (with his boyfriend, I think?) -- started chatting with me, asking me, "Sprechen zie English?" to start our conversation off. He asked where I was from - and I told him, the States. In return, I asked him, and he said he was from Germany. But he spoke fluent Russian -- so maybe he was from East Berlin? (Someone I was talking to about this proffered that idea -- and I must say, it hadn't even crossed my mind, at first!) In the end, apparently, he thought I was really pretty -- as when I was telling him I wasn't getting off at their stop, he said, "Such a pretty girl, lives at Kutuzovsky!" Ha ha ha. He seemed rather disappointed I was getting off of the train before him and his friend/boyfriend. I grabbed his name right as I was walking out the door -- Sergei. Life is good. =^__^=
Back at home, I guzzled quite a bit of water down like there was no tomorrow, did this little journal, and now it's time to brush my teeth and go to bed!!! [3-20-10 Note: It *was* little, before I filled it out!]
I have lots of work ahead of me tomorrow on the journal, and maybe checking out the other blogging website, to see if it'll upload pictures better. If it does, I'm so all over that, instead of sticking with the one I've been using. :/
Love,
Moscow Kitty; 11:56 PM
=^__^=
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