The excesses of the modern award system of Russia Automatic translate

Looking at the modern award system of Russia, a double feeling arises. At the same time, I want to cry and laugh. Well, why is it always like this with us? Trying to reform something, we at the same time cannot abandon the past, while constantly looking back to the west. The result is some kind of ugliness, which we have been trying for a long and painful time to apply to modern realities.

Starting in the 90s to create a new award system, our democrats were not particularly philosophical. To come up with something new is not easy, so they went the simplest way. Some of the awards were left from the Soviet Union, some of the awards were taken from Tsarist Russia. At the same time, without even thinking about how they will be combined.

Let’s talk about the orders. With medals, more or less everything is clear. The highest order of the Russian Federation is the Order of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called. It has the sign of the order, the order chain (hung on the neck), the star of the order and the order ribbon (hung over the shoulder). This award was established by Peter I, and looked quite harmoniously on the caftans of the XVIII century, especially embroidered with gold. But in modern suits with a tie, such a “splendor”, to put it mildly, looks ridiculous.

The following orders: St. George and "For Merit to the Fatherland", have four degrees. The first degrees are distinguished by the presence of order ribbons, which, as already noted, completely does not fit with modern fashion. Signs of the second and third degree are neck crosses. I would like to ask where these crosses should be hung today, over a tie, instead of a tie, maybe under a tie?

Royal orders were pronounced class character. They were awarded in strict accordance with the ranking card. Of course, the commoner, too, could get out in people and get a high reward. Only by this time he was no longer a commoner. Why gentlemen democrats revive archaic undemocratic rewards? Maybe they are haunted by dreams of wealthy estates with serfs? So they drag in the 21st century the old regime.

Next come the heirs of the Soviet period. The new authorities of Russia left in the award system commanders of the Suvorov, Ushakov, Kutuzov, Nakhimov, Nevsky. True, in the Soviet Union they were awarded only during the Great Patriotic War. But for the wide Russian soul, I do not mind the place in the list of awards. Let them appear, but the list is solid and long. For almost twenty years, these awards have only been listed as having a place to be. They had no statute or description. And only in 2010, finally, they were given the content and form. It turned out what was mentioned at the beginning of the article. At first they blinded, anyhow, but now they are trying to sort it out and straighten it.

The junior orders of Honor and Friendship are the twins of the Soviet orders of the Badge of Honor and Friendship of Peoples. But they are twins only in name and purpose. Their artistic performance is so wretched that you won’t look without tears.

Undoubtedly, Stalin understood the awards better. Under him, a very harmonious and understandable award system of the USSR was created. Of course not right away. The Communists also had to go through the path of trial and error. But the country’s highest awards were awarded to the people’s commissars and collective farmers with workers, generals and rank and file. Orders and medals for military merit stood above the "labor", as the country’s soldiers risk the most expensive, their own lives.

But what about today’s democrats? They only took care of themselves. The most expensive orders can only be received by high-ranking officials, and holders of honorary titles. The military, in general, throws a handout in the form of the Order of Courage. You can’t count on more. There are rewards (St. George, Suvorov, Ushakov, Kutuzov, Nakhimov), but they will be given only if someone attacks Russia. So you have to be content with the small.

Such is our democracy - the power of the people…

Misha potap