Russia's Cossack Revival

[bananas]

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/17/world/europe/cossacks-are-back-in-russia-may-the-hills-tremble.html?src=recg

The Cossacks Are Back. May the Hills Tremble.
By ELLEN BARRY
Published: March 16, 2013

STAVROPOL, Russia — Outside this city’s police headquarters on a recent night, a priest in a purple velvet hat and gold stole moved from one man to the next, offering a cross to be kissed and drenching their faces with holy water from a long brush.

And so began another night of law enforcement as Cossacks, the fierce horsemen who once secured the frontier for the Russian empire, marched out to join the police patrolling the city.

In his third term, President Vladimir V. Putin has offered one clear new direction for the country: the development of a conservative, nationalist ideology. Cossacks have emerged as a kind of mascot, with growing financial and political support.

The Kremlin is dipping into a deep pool of history: Cossacks are revered here for their bravery and pre-modern code of honor, like cowboys in the United States or samurai in Japan. But their legacy is bound up with battle and vigilante-style violence, including campaigns against Turks, Jews and Muslim highlanders.

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[LAGC]

1. I don't much care for their politics or their faith...

But it is quite interesting seeing how well they've recovered since being nearly wiped out by the Bolsheviks after they (as part of the Reactionary Whites) lost the Russian Civil War (against the Commie Reds), with all their lands being stolen from them, etc.

Its sad that they harbor such xenophobic sentiment (against Jews and Muslims) but its kind of understandable considering how big a role Jews played in the Bolshevik revolution, and all-out war against their Eastern Orthodox faith.

While it might be fun being a kid growing up with all those military drills, those poor kids could be part of Russia's next civil war: this time between Christian vs. Muslim instead of Commie vs. Capitalist.

Could be some dark times ahead for the Russian Federation.