Welcome to the Dissident Mama podcast #19. In this episode, I talk Tim Kirby, independent journalist and creator of the This is Russia: Tips, Tricks & Travel – a fascinating YouTube channel that is also cross-published at Russia Beyond. RTTT is where Kirby shows viewers “all about life in and travel around the biggest country on Earth.”
But this American doesn’t just give viewers an inside glimpse into his wild travel and living-abroad adventures, his vlog sometimes takes a deep dive on a more personal note, such as “The most Russian American – Why Tim Kirby left the United States” video. Even though he has been ruffling tail feathers in Moscow for many years, this was my first introduction to Kirby, and I was blown away by his candor. It was as if this guy has been a fly on the wall in my home.
So much of what the former radio-host expressed is exactly how I feel and think about the sad state of America and how, in my opinion, Russia may be the only country left on the entire planet that is willing to resist globohomo (which is why my family and I are praying to pull off a move to Russia – that is, if the country ever reopens its borders to US citizens). Is Russia really the “last best hope” of mankind, or at least, the last refuge for traditionalists and conservatives Christians?
We’ll see what Kirby, who the Wall Street Journal castigated as “a kind of Kremlin-appointed Joe the Plumber,” has to say about that, as well as find out what happened to his now-defunct geopolitical video segment on RT called Kirby’s War of Words. Fortunately, the Ohio native, now Russian resident still does geopolitical writing and is currently a contributor at the Strategic Culture Foundation. You can also follow Тим Керби at Facebook, Instagram, and VK for all you Russian speakers.
Mentioned in our conversation are Russian political analyst Aleksandr Dugin, the indispensable book “Albion’s Seed: Four British Folkways in America” by David Hackett Fischer, my 5-part “Puritans” series on understanding the historical, cultural, and religious difference between North and South (and the diverse people groups therein), the travel and political vlogger ADV China, and Kirby’s own This Old Russian House Renovation Guide.
Comments
Hard not to notice you haven’t received any feedback in the way of comments to this podcast. I could definitely be wrong, but should imagine the reason is because your readers don’t like the idea that you’re looking for a way to move to Russia and they’re too polite to say anything about it.
Momma always said, “if you ain’t got nothin’ good to say, then don’t say nothin’ at all.”
I’m a lot like the younger brother (can’t think of his name off the top of my head) in the movie, A River Runs Through It, when the elder brother asked him to go with him to live in Chicago: ‘Nah, brother, I’ll never leave Oklahoma.’
I’ve written here before that I’ve read everything Matthew Fontaine Maury ever wrote and then some. Which of course is a bit of an exaggeration, but only a bit of one. At the opening of hostilities in the WBTS, Maury was at the height of his career and was famous throughout the civilized world for his work in charting the ‘paths of the seas.’ At the time he was the most decorated American in history, having received medals from virtually all the maritime nations, including the Vatican. Just before hostilities opened he received two invitations – one from France, the other from Russia – to come to their countries at their governments’ expense and to live out the war there where he could continue his scientific endeavors, also at the full expense of the government of those countries. I thought you might like to read his answer to Constantine, Admiral of the Russian Navy:
Terry,
You’re sweet and I get what you’re saying. But times are making me tap into my pre-Confederate ancestors, the ones who fled persecution or sought opportunity for their posterity because where they came from wasn’t so safe. In other words, their homes were no longer homey, no longer rooted and part of them, no longer a snug fit, so they fled. Just like the “State of Virginia gave me birth,” too, it’s sadly an empty shell, and a poisonous one that feeds on its own. “When the invader is expelled,” I may return. But that will take an awakening of the Southern-born natives, which is I think not in the cards for now. And what is preeminent for me is my sons. They need a people, and currently, they do not have one here. Unfortunately, “the invader” reigns supreme. If only there were more Maurys today.
What you do, where you decide to live and for whatever reasons, is your business and none of mine. But did you know/were you aware that the movie The Undefeated would never have been made were it not for Mr. Maury?; that no sooner did he realize the invader would not be expelled from Virginia or the South, than he went straight to work using his influence and friendship with the Emperor of Mexico to secure a new homeland for his Southern brethren? Which was coming along nicely until, as General Lee predicted in a letter to Maury it would, the Yankee government “interfered” with the plan and the Emperor was forced to give it up.
I don’t think Maury gets credit in the movie (it’s been a while since I watched it, so I can’t really say one way or the other with confidence), but it was nevertheless Maury’s plan start-to-finish; he proposed it and drew it up, and Maximilian gave it the force of law slightly edited, appointing Maury as its director answerable only to himself.
Fascinating! I will have to look more into this. And by the way, 2020 doesn’t just need more Maurys, but more Terrys. 🙂