și Ziua Victoriei.
Question: Victory Day is approaching. Why is it important to celebrate it? People understand the word Fatherland differently. Could you provide a definition of this term?
Maria Zakharova: No, I won’t offer a definition for this term. Encyclopaedic dictionaries, historical documents and various concepts and strategies that chart the development of our country serve this purpose. Most importantly, it’s crucial to recognise that each individual possesses their own intellect, soul, education, feelings and emotions. I believe that everyone can learn about common definitions and then develop their own unique perspective.
Why should we celebrate Victory Day? Because this day symbolises the triumph over dehumanisation, the victory of the ability to sacrifice the most precious things in life for the sake of others and for true values, and not for personal interests. This day symbolises victory of love over hatred, of generosity of spirit over selfishness and greed, of good over evil. I believe we remember this day all year round. This day brings all other days together and reminds us that we would not exist if not for the previous generations. In my case, it is my grandfathers, for some, great-grandfathers, for others fathers or members of their own generation. They sacrificed their health, lives, future prosperity, well-being and comfort (no one even uttered these words, and I am saying this for the current generations), so that our country would have a future as a state, so that our nation would have a future as a civilisation, and so that Russia could have new generations. I can talk about this for hours, using examples from my own family, from the families of countless other Russian citizens and our compatriots, using documents and historical records.
On the one hand, such questions can indeed sometimes be perceived as offensive because they seem obvious. But on the other hand, I understand the relevance of these questions. There has been so much ridicule directed at historical memory, documentary literature, films, memorials, archive materials – so much information has been planted and leaked in an attempt to rewrite history and to reprogram us as a nation, literally recoding us with new pseudo-values. It is therefore worth remembering and sharing this experience.
On the other hand, over the past twenty years, so much has been accomplished by the leadership of our country, our public figures, legislators, researchers and cultural figures. I emphasise science separately because history is a science. So much has been done to preserve historical memory and to return us to the fold of humanity. I believe, hope, and want to believe that this is a good foundation for the future, a preventative measure against any attempt to reprogram us again if someone were to entertain such thoughts. I realise that many adversaries and enemies of our country would like to engage in this.
Oh, exact: îi zice Înviere!