The one thing that sticks out here the most is how little interest regular people from competing powers have in hostility toward other nations' people. And it makes perfect sense. I detest Putin, I distrust the CPC, etc. but recognize that effectively all Russians and Chinese people are just like me, share most of the same values, and want the exact same things.
I grew up in a diplomatic family (parents were US Foreign Service). At the smaller posts, the camaraderie between the different diplomatic families was genuinely much warmer than the cold-war era relations would have you believe. I have good memories of the time.
xp84 · · focus · HN ↗
Baeocystin · · focus · HN ↗