A few months old but still relevant (though sample is skewed to to the absence of people in their 20s and 30s).
RJ street Poll: SHOULD RUSSIA STILL CELEBRATE THE COMMUNIST REVOLUTION ON NOV. 7?
Vladimir Ermakov, 21, student The anniversary of the Great October Socialist Revolution is very important now, because in 15 years or so there will be another socialist revolution. It's inevitable – all the necessary prerequisites have been set in place. That's why we should celebrate this date. Everything that has happened has been a direct result of the revolution; it influences our way of life and affects today’s reality. We're still living under many of the communist regime’s rules. I'm sure the population still wants to celebrate this historic date, even though the U.S.S.R. no longer exists.
Natalya Morozova, 68, journalist Nov. 7 was, is and always will be considered the rebirth of mankind. I know the history of my country and respect it very much. For the first time in world history, a popular uprising was not suppressed. After Nov. 7, the revolutionaries created a state that they really wanted, one that did everything for the working people. Of course, it was a long and difficult road to reach this target, but Lenin said it would not be easy. I'm a communist, and I think communism is quite an efficient system, while the Revolution is a sacred holiday for all Russians.
Yury Kalinin, 70, Retired Red Army officer The Great October Socialist Revolution opened a new epoch, not only in Russia but in the world. We lived it for nearly a century, and we can't pretend it never happened. Every nation has a memorable date in its history. For example, in France people still celebrate their revolution, and our revolution is no less important. And the day of Nov. 7 isn't a holiday only for me, but also for the whole Russian nation. Today, the title of this date is different, but nobody has changed the very core of the subject.
Nina Kuharenko, 47, nurse I have a lot of good memories concerning this holiday. It's difficult to get out of the habit of something good. Today we don't celebrate it like we did during Soviet times; there aren't the colorful demonstrations. ... But in spite of this, my colleagues like to celebrate Nov. 7 every year. We don't relate this holiday directly with the victory of the Socialist Revolution or anything like that. It doesn't mean that I don't respect the advances of the revolution, though. Frankly, I don't find our present regime any better. But it wouldn’t make sense to cancel the traditional holiday.
Alexander Ivanov, 67, chief of post office It's essential to restore the former title of this anniversary and celebrate it every year on Nov. 7-8. This is an event we should forever be proud of. The revolution wasn’t brought about by a few individuals or leaders, it was the determined struggle of the whole Russian nation. In 1917, the working class took up arms against the bourgeois regime. People couldn't tolerate the crying injustice. They had no other course than to fight the regime, which brought about the revolution. ... That's why this date is still a great victory.
Chris Doss The Russia Journal