Doug -----------
Russia isn't "my country" (I was born in Germany, frew up in the states and have a US passport) but I certainly do love this amorphous thing called "Russia." I want Russia to do well and I want people to feel proud of being Russian. I get a thrill on Victory Day. I have absolutely no intention of leaving. And Russia by no means can be called "lovely." It is full of injustice, squallor and misery. But I still love it, whatever "it" means (geographical area? people? culture?).
I am frankly baffled by this whole love of my country thing. I mean, what country is mine? I was born in Germany to a German mother and American father. One of my grandparents fought in the Wehrmacht; my other grandfather fought the Japanese in the Pacific. I lived most of my life in the US and now live in Russia. Which country is "mine"?
Chris Doss The Russia Journal