Russians have not got used to People’s Unity Day and call it “an artificial calendar day”. Orthodox Christians marked November 4 as the Day of the Kazan Icon of the Divine Mother, Muslims were preparing for Eid al-Adha, while the older generation was preparing for former Soviet holidays. Nonetheless, People’s Unity Day is becoming more civic, as leaders of public organizations say.
Nikita Yakhnenko, press secretary of the Young Russia Movement
We have arrived at Pushkinskaya Square – “Young Russia”, “New People” and the “Union of Tver Communities”. About 1500 people are taking part in the festival at Pushkinskaya Square in the center of Moscow. The event is called “We are of the same blood with you” and we donate blood to demonstrate that Russians are unique in their appearance. Everyone, regardless of nationality, is taking part in donating blood, because blood has no skin colour or eye shape and we came to demonstrate with deeds that the country is single, the people are single and we are a single state.
Anton Demidov, leader of the Young Russia Movement
We want to say that there are no barriers, neither ethnic nor linguistic. We are a single nation. In order to help your neighbor get better, you need a kind and warm heart. Today we have badges on our chests we made for the event with inscriptions in various languages of the Russian peoples saying “I love you, Russia”. The Mordovan people are a brotherly nation. We fought together on the battlefields of the Great Patriotic War, we sent the first man into space together and we will build the new Russia, we shall modernize it, we shall hold sports events. It is an honour for me to express love for my country in the language of a brotherly nation “Bon vichkan, Rossiya”.
Igor Gribanov, leader of the New People Movement
We can’t tear Russia apart. We live as a single organism. This is our power, this is where our unity lies. Unfortunately, there are people searching for a solution to their problems using some sort of “-isms”. One of the most dreaded “-isms” is nationalism. Some people, through their weakness, their complexes, start searching for enemies. This has never ended up well. If it turned into a mass effect, the whole state would fall into ruins. Even those who touched upon this disease would become ill. This is why the thinking youth, the youth who understand our power and where we are moving, has gathered here today. And today we are donating blood that our peoples spilt together, which united us. And blood is what holds together the organs of our body, what makes us united. We will share it, share part of our of our soul, our warmth and we will never sell our Russia off to anyone.
Kantemir Khurtayev, Chairman of the Union of Student Communities
Today is a holiday, the Day of People’s Unity, but, unfortunately, there are people in our country that doubt our unity, our brotherhood. The fact that we gathered here, so diverse, living in different parts of our country, representing different peoples living in Russia, citizens of one country, loving our homeland, respecting each other, demonstrates that these provocateurs will never succeed. The problems we face in inter-ethnic relations are a result of our turning away from our origins. Young people who have lost their roots become involved in inter-ethnic conflicts and fights. The problem rises from a lack of culture, we are losing our traditional culture. This means that we will never see misbehaving Caucasian youth on Moscow's streets, for instance. They are not the bearers of traditional Caucasian culture. Drunk fans should not be associated with young Russians either, because these people are not the bearers of Russian culture, which gave me a chance to understand the greatest achievements of science, culture and the arts. All non-indifferent and constructive forces must unite, because there are no disagreements between Russians, Caucasians or any other peoples living in Russia.
Ali Khazrat Khasanov, Chairman of Russian muftis
Peace to you and the mercy of Allah and his blessing. Russia is a unique state, inhabited by over 140 nationalities. We are a multinational and multiconfessional state. If Europe likes to talk about “tolerance”, which translates from Greek as “patience”, we must not just express patience, but also be friends. This is our foundation. If we were not friends then we would probably not stand together and be the world’s biggest country. Great Allah said in the Holy Quran that he created people as tribes and nations to allow them to learn about each other. And we must take this as a basis – to learn about each other. If anyone wants to shake our peace we will say “no!”.
Author: VK
