We discovered our parents were Russian spies
theguardian.com
theguardian.com
This shows the power of any major secret service. They can do literally anything they want. They don't care about anything except their own survival, and they will easily adapt to any circumstances and any political climate.
The KGB along with the party and the Soviet Army were kind of the ironic counter part to the balance-of-powers system the US has. Each one had its strengths and weaknesses and they could keep an eye on each other. KGB was special because it had the information, the best educated people, it knew were resources were, how to get to them etc. When people talk about a conspiracy cabal that would control and pull strings behind the scenes, it was that cabal.
Because of the KGB was best positioned to take advantage of the power vacuum and many had turned to grab as many resources as possible after the fall of the Soviet Union. The most patriotic communists had turned super-capitalist practically overnight.
But at the same time, however, by late 80s and 90s few really believed in the "cause" so to speak. They probably all just wanted cushy jobs, fancy apartments and big pensions when they retired. And of course there were a lot of defections.
Even this group of spies from the story, remembering how many were making fun of their stupid and outdated methods, or praising the FBI for uncovering them, was ultimately betrayed by a defector. So was Hanssen.
Wondering if perhaps now SVR is in a better position today, as at least there is no need to pretend do believe in any great communist cause and then be disillusioned later, and defect. Perhaps now it is just business -- "You get a good job and if you betray us we'll find you and sprinkle some Polonium-210 in your tea".
And that is the reason we should get rid of them. It's anti-democratic in large parts.
I wonder how you can wonder about those days, unless from being part of more younger generations where those days sadly don't mean anything any more.
Do you know that the way PIDE/DGS imprisoned some students is part of the genesis for Amnesty International?
This is mis-stating (I suspect deliberately) the situation under Canadian law. They weren't "stripped" of Canadian citizenship (as can happen to war criminals who lie on their citizenship applications); rather, it was discovered that they had never been Canadian citizens in the first place. Their parents lied to them and told them that they were Canadians; but the fact that they were harmed by their parents' fraud is not a reason for the fraud to be made reality.
On the other hand, the Canadian government does seem to be wrong when it comes to blaming them for the circumstances and annulling Alex's student visa. The fact that have they lived in Canada and identify as Canadian seems like strong considerations in support of an application for a visa or even permanent residence; the fact that they were tricked into thinking that they were Canadian once doesn't mean that they shouldn't have the opportunity to truly become Canadian.
> it was discovered that they had never been Canadian citizens in the first place. Their parents lied to them and told them that they were Canadians
You misunderstood a key fact from the article: They were born in Canada.
"You are probably a Canadian citizen if you were born in Canada", according to:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/citizenship/rules/index.asp
where "probably" means there are very obscure exceptions that only a bureaucrat can dream up.
This means diplomats, ambassadors, and other staff working in embassies etc. They get immunity from Canada's laws, and usually taxes, but in return get no benefits from being there. They aren't considered residents of Canada.
Unless you're claiming 7 billion people in the world were born in Canada, the most distinguishing fact about these two is obviously not that their parents pretended to be Canadian.
Not at all. I'm claiming that 7 billion people are not Canadian citizens due to the circumstances of their birth.
Then, as I said, the most distinguishing fact about these two is obviously not that their parents pretended to be Canadian.
There really is no point in arguing this since you believe the circumstances of someone born in Canada, raised to some extent in Canada, and having an affinity with Canada are analogous to someone who doesn't even know Canada exists, like a large proportion of that 7 billion you talk about.
BTW, did you edit your other post? Not that it changes anything, but I don't remember it saying "victims of not being born Canadian citizens" when I replied.
To be legit, that's at least two separate people coincidentally downvoting the same day old posts at the same time, on a Page 5 submission.
> Everyone who is born in Canada is eligible for Canadian citizenship, with one exception: those who are born to employees of foreign governments.
Had the same thing with my kids. Born to me (Canadian). So instant citizenship. But to travel I've got to get their Canadian passports, which requires other docs, including the passport from their other country of citizenship. I asked if I already had that other passport, could she apply for a visa? Nope, she's a Canadian citizen, even if there is no documentation other than a birth certificate with a (naturally born) Canadian parent on it. They had quite a look of enjoyment as they explained I'd have to do double the work for zero benefit.
Or have about those Canadians who work legitimately for foreign embassies? Canada clearly has those [1]. I assume their kids don't have their citizenship retracted.
My guess that this is meant as some sort of punitive action against the parents, but it seems wrong to punish the children. Even assuming the kids knew, as the article pointed out, what's a 16-year old who finds out his parents are foreign spies supposed to do? Call the FBI? I can see children in a totalitarian country reacting that way out of fear or an excess of patriotism, but have we really reached that point here in the West?
So while the kids's psyche are probably quite damaged, they won't be going hungry.
Very interesting read.
Edit: my bad. I did a search and it didn't return anything.
"If Tim and Alex’s story sounds eerily familiar to fans of The Americans, the television drama about a KGB couple living in the US with their two children, that’s because it’s partly based on them. ..."
SPOILERS
They eventually reveal themselves to the daughter and she tells her priest. It's really pushing suspension of disbelief for me that the several additional mouths stay shut.
The problem I'm having is that it doesn't really invoke any Cold War aspect any more.
They basically just are Americans, meeting with other "Americans", watching American movies or David Copperfield, visiting EPCOT or EST, alongside some rather tedious non-political espionage. They (very suddenly) don't seem to have any solid association with the Soviet Union or "the cause" any more.
The now sadly all too rare Rezidentura scenes (with some of the most interesting aspects and characters of the show IMO) and Reagan clips just seem like tacked-on lip-service to the original concept.
No doubt a bit of TV license. Just like the top spies or doctors spend time doing boring labwork a low level worker could do.
Thanks for ruining the season for me. =(
> If Tim and Alex’s story sounds eerily familiar to fans of The Americans, the television drama about a KGB couple living in the US with their two children, that’s because it’s partly based on them.