I just thought I'd add to the conversation that one branch of my family tree is Russian. Every single member of the family on that side of the family, born in Canada or not, are among the most bigoted people I know. I see them maybe once a year and there is no chance I make it through a visit without hearing something involving "the Jews", "Blacks" or "Gays". Usually at that point is where I walk out of the room and let the less easily offended members of my family listen to their hate speech while I do something more productive.
It is something deeply ingrained in the culture there, and it's going to take a lot of work and a lot of time to fix.
|