An image of Vladimir Lenin projected on a building as part of celebrations marking the centenary of the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution. Photograph: Peter Kovalev/TASS
Shaun Walker, The Guardian: Revolution, what revolution? Russians show little interest in 1917 centenary
Results of revolution led by Lenin are criticised as ‘ambiguous’ by Putin in what is seen as an effort to downplay revolution as political tool
“Lenin lived! Lenin lives! Lenin will live on!”
An excited orator cried out Mayakovsky’s line from the stage at St Petersburg’s vast October Concert Hall on Friday night, and brought rapturous applause from the nearly 4,000-strong audience, most of whom had red ribbons pinned to their lapels.
The event, organised by Russian Communist party, brought together communist delegations from Russia and abroad to mark the centenary of the Bolshevik Revolution, a coup by a small but determined band of Vladimir Lenin’s followers that would forever alter the course of Russian and world history.
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WNU Editor: Yup .... today is the day .... and I would think that this being the 100th anniversary of the Bolshevik revolution there would be more discussion, reflection, and debate on the significance of that date and how it altered world history. Alas .... with the exception of myself and a few others .... no one really cares. This sums-up how most Russians feel about this date .... On Revolution Centenary, Perplexed Russians Ask, 'Who Am I To Judge?' (RFE).
Update #1: I can only imagine .... What If the Russian Revolution Had Never Happened? (Simon Sebag Montefiore, New York Times).
Update #2: Russian Revolution at 100: Why the centenary means little to modern day Russia’s leaders – and its people (Oliver Carroll, The Independent).
Update #3: I give it about 30 years .... Gorbachev sees Russian democracy far off: biographer Taubman (Reuters).