Similarities between Russia & America

My American friends keep telling me I never say anything positive on this site so I figured I’d do so.

Many Americans and Russians never ponder, thanks to so much cold war era propaganda, the similarities between our two countries.

The symbol of Russia is an eagle, as is the symbol of America.  Both in fact derive from the same source; the symbol of the Roman Empire.

The flag colors of Russia are White, Blue & Red, the same colors which make up the American flag.

Both Russia & America have a long standing commitment to a representative government; The Russian ‘Zemsky Sobor’ elected democratically the Tsar following the end of the Rurik dynasty.  Unlike many European assemblies of the time the Zemsky Sobor had representatives from all walks, including lower class and rural citizens.

The climate of Russia, despite being often maligned for it’s extreme colds, is generally not unlike that of Northern American states, especially New England.  Russia also has sub tropical cities not unlike Southern California, or Florida.

Again despite cold war propaganda, as well as modern exaggerations of the American separation of Church & State, both nations are predicated on a deep Christian heritage.  Early American states quite legally had state Churches, and religion continues to play an important role in life and politics in America.  The Orthodox Church, even during the era of Soviet oppression, has always shaped Russian life and attitudes, and continues to do so today.  No photo of the Russian capital can evade the several Churches, and the Church is the most respected institution in Russia according to polls.

In both nations, due to their size and number of remote regions, automobiles are as popular as public transport, at least since the fall of communism when it was illegal for common folks to own cars.  Both nations drive on the right hand side of the road.