A Russian in a Telegram chat reflects on how America’s image has shifted from commanding respect to indifference. Once admired for its bold, iconic style—cowboys, muscle cars, rock music, and confident figures like Rambo or sharp TV lawyers—America felt like a formidable rival that pushed Russia to strive harder.
Now, the commenter sees a nation of distracted, comfort-driven people, glued to phones and living in algorithms, far from the dangerous or driven ideal of the past. While Russians still enjoy America’s cultural aesthetic—blue jeans, guns, and open roads—the modern reality feels uninspiring, like a faded myth. The disappointment lies not just in America’s decline but in the realization that Russia’s Cold War loss wasn’t to a grand adversary, but to a culture of convenience.
Fascinating.
Comment from a Russian in a friend’s Telegram chat:
— MILO (@Nero) June 22, 2025
There was a time when America, even as an adversary, commanded a certain respect. The imagery was iconic: cowboys with cigarettes, muscle cars roaring across desert highways, loud rock music, leather jackets, swagger. It had a…