The "Swan Lake" Syndrome

Back in Soviet days one knew that something critical was happening in the country when they showed the ballet "Swan Lake" on TV and ignored reporting the news. That's what was on TV when the Soviet Union was broken up and Gorbachev was taken hostage by the politburo.

Today they are showing these strange ethno-operatic motif videos from the 70's with beautiful cinematography. Strangely unburdened Kyrgyz running around in 70's sunglasses in the mountains and on the beach of lake Issyk-Kul with an orchestra using ethnic instruments like the komuz and jew's harp (temirkomuz) in the background. The women and men of the orchestra have national costumes on. The women wear hats with feathers that stick out and look like wings fluttering in the mountain wind. God, if only I could get my hands on this footage, I would take it directly to Walter Reade/Anthology Film Archives in New York.

There are reports that 300, 000 Bakiev supporters are moving here from Osh now. Supporters of Bakiev and those of the opposition are having a stand off at the old square near AUCA, the university where I teach. Bakiev has resurfaced and has stated that he is going to "take certain measures." If the opposition looses now they will probably be imprisoned and tortured...

The opposition will only win if America/Russia will back them. Right now they are ignored by everyone...

The TV makes everything surreal.