My name is Caleb Maupin. I'm the leader of the Center for Political Innovation,
and I'm the chair of the U.S. delegation
that attended the World Youth Festival. Well, the first time I ever visited Russia
was for the 2017 World Youth Festival. And then I have been to Moscow
a number of times since then I've also been to Yalta,
and now I'm back here in Sochi. And I find Russia
to be a very lovely place, full of kind, welcoming people, people
that are very charming, people that want to help you hav
e a good time and really would like
to connect with the rest of the world. They tell us that Russia is an isolated
country and that's just a lie. I mean, Russia has many friends and deep,
deep relationships with countries all across the planet: in Africa,
Asia, Latin America, etc.. And I hope that Russia's relationship
with the United States can improve. And that's why I'm here. I'd like to see better relations
between the United States and Russia, and I don't like the direction
our leaders are
currently taking things. So I was asked to talk about stereotypes. One stereotype of Russia that we get
in American media a lot is that Russia is a country full of criminals,
that if you come here, you'll be kidnaped. People will rob you at gunpoint, etc.. I haven't seen any of that.
I haven't seen any criminal activities. I haven't seen any guns the whole time
I've been here. I haven't seen anything related
to crime or drugs or anything like that. I see a very safe place. You know, I would brin
g my family here. You know, if I had children,
I would be happy to go on vacation here in Sochi,
take my family to the beach. I'm not seeing criminal activity. I'm not seeing anything
to make me afraid to come here. The image that we have of Russia
and the United States is of some kind of, you know, militaristic third world society
where people are always engaged in criminal activities.
I don't see that at all. I see a very modern, industrial,
civilized country that has trade and diplomatic rela
tions
with a number of countries. I was also asked
what parts of Russia I'd like to visit. I'd like to see more of Southern Russia. And I'm here in Sochi. This is Southern Russia,
but I'd like to see some of the regions that are in the southern region,
some of the more Islamic regions, how they differ from life in Moscow
and St. Petersburg, etc.. I'd like to get to know the different nationalities of Russia,
the different republics. That's something I would like to do. I'd also like to see the n
ew republics
because again in the US media we're told that these areas are conquered,
these people are occupied. Well, I know that that's not true because I look at alternative media,
but I'd like to talk to the people. And at the festival I had the pleasure of meeting people
from Donetsk, meeting people from Lugansk. I've been to Yalta and Crimea, so
I'd like to see the new republics as well. You know. But I would really like Americans to see
that this is a very civilized country. This is a cou
ntry with a lot of wealth and a lot of cultural heritage,
whether it's the music of Tchaikovsky or Shostakovich
or the writing of Maxim Gorky, the people here have a really deep
knowledge of their history and culture. A lot of Americans can't
even find their own country on a map. But you talk to Russian young people,
they are very knowledgeable about where they came from,
the history of their country, and they're also plugged in to a project
of national rejuvenation and growth. They're enthusias
tic
about what their government is doing. Their government is mobilizing them
to be part of a project to raise up productive forces and develop
a very different atmosphere from the West. Very optimistic, as opposed to the pessimism coming
out of Western civilization at this time. I would love that. I would love to travel around
Russia and get to know the country better, get to know the soul of the Russian
people, see the different regions. The potatoes are very good the way you you
you have your
potatoes and you serve them with the spices
and all of that. Also, some of the
the stew that you make, the beef stew with potatoes and the different things,
that's also very, very nice. The spices make it very, very tasty. Also, I will say I love your lamb
because, you know, I grew up in Ohio. My grandfather was a farmer
and he raised sheep and we would eat lamb for Easter
and for other holidays. And I had the opportunity
to visit a restaurant in Sochi and have some of your lamb. And it's very
well prepared. You prepare your lamb very, very well. So I love your lamb as good. And you can't get
lamb is very much in the United States. It's more rare. We have a lot of beef
in the United States. But your lamb here is delicious. Well, my wish is that many foreigners
will come to Russia and get to know the people here,
and that this will strengthen the bond and the growth of the new economy
that is emerging in the world with the BRICS countries. And that trade will prosper
between countries
and growth and optimism and the belief
that tomorrow can be better than today. This will be fostered and cultivated
by what you're doing with your project with foreigners in Russia.
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