For a long time, I thought it would be fun to learn Russian. It had some of the cool linguistic and social features I (thought I) liked: slightly unusual alphabet, interesting pronunciations, great literature, crazy history.
I never did get past buying a Russian-for-travelers paperback at a used bookstore. Why bother? The Cold War was over, the U.S.'s interests had turned to other evil empires -- and one, ISIS, that was especially scary because it is an idea and not a place. Better to learn Chinese, or Arabic.
I am wondering now if it's time to brush up on the Cyrillic alphabet. A new Cold War may be on the horizon.
U.S. intelligence agencies say Russian-backed cyberattacks interfered with our nation's tumultous presidential election. President Obama imposed a series of sanctions that, essentially, said Russian diplomats at two U.S. embassies were really no more than spies. President-Elect Trump sais we should just "get on with our lives," and called the Russian leader "very smart." Trump pledges to be more sympathetic to turning Russia from adversary to ally -- a pronouncement that has raised the eyebrows of even some Republicans and (wow) The Wall Street Journal (after an obligatory bashing of the current administration).
Is it time for a reprise of John LeCarre's character George Smiley?
If I ever do learn Russian (very doubtful), part of the joy will be learning some Russian expressions -- they are rich and wonderfully playful. With the looming presidency of Donald Trump in this dangerous world, I wonder if we will live through another Cold War. I wonder if we will survive it.
One of those great Russian expressions, sometimes loosely translated as "When it rains, it pours": Беда́ никогда́ не прихо́дит одна́.
Literally: Trouble never comes alone.
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