28-06-2009, 01:43 PM
I have to stand back sometime and simply rub my eyes.
Until 1990, Russia was the despised bogeyman on whom nuclear war was envisaged. Throughout the 1990's it was the "wild east" where mafia's ruled and Uncle and the west plundered and gobbled up its riches to their hearts content. Then in this new century it started becoming the evil empire again as Putin took back control and slammed a billionaire or two in prison.
Now we want it for our ally against China -- who Nixon brought into the western fold during the 1980's, but who is not to be our enemy.
In three generations it has gone from essential but hated ally to deadly enemy, then arms-length friend, back to deadly enemy and now to be courted as essential ally again.
What a fookin shambles.
Until 1990, Russia was the despised bogeyman on whom nuclear war was envisaged. Throughout the 1990's it was the "wild east" where mafia's ruled and Uncle and the west plundered and gobbled up its riches to their hearts content. Then in this new century it started becoming the evil empire again as Putin took back control and slammed a billionaire or two in prison.
Now we want it for our ally against China -- who Nixon brought into the western fold during the 1980's, but who is not to be our enemy.
In three generations it has gone from essential but hated ally to deadly enemy, then arms-length friend, back to deadly enemy and now to be courted as essential ally again.
What a fookin shambles.
The shadow is a moral problem that challenges the whole ego-personality, for no one can become conscious of the shadow without considerable moral effort. To become conscious of it involves recognizing the dark aspects of the personality as present and real. This act is the essential condition for any kind of self-knowledge.
Carl Jung - Aion (1951). CW 9, Part II: P.14