December 8th - Soviet Union Dissolves

On this day, in 1991, the Soviet Union called it a day and the Commonwealth of Independent States was born free, as free as the wind blows. The Soviet Union dissolved like the Wicked Witch of the Eastern Bloc. Hello Pulitzer.

The Soviets, now there was a movie villain we could all understand with the added bonus that we didn't know enough about soviet culture to realise that all the characters were based on incorrect and offensive stereotypes. The main problem westerners had with the soviets is that they were socialist, or communist, or something.

The word "soviet" means "council" and that's how the soviets did everything. Want to build a road, form a council. Want to run a factory, from a council. Want to invade a minor nation at the Russian border, form a council. Everything was managed by a big council known as the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.

Of course, power built on beauracracy is only as effective as the population's willingness to believe in that power. The Soviet Union was destined to fail because they were not the righteous Americans, now ere they even one of the nice european nations like Italy or Portugal.

Like an underwhelming Pheonix rising from the ashes, the Commonwealth of Independent States was born as the Soviet Union died. Now, all the little countries that made up the Soviet Union could really be free. It says so right in the name.

The CIS is like a confederation, which isn't much of a reference point. It's more like a metaphor, in that everybody thinks they know what it is but when asked they rarely give the correct definition. Let's say the CIS was like the original European Community because you've never heard of either.

The CIS is more than just a name because it does have powers that extend beyond national borders. These powers are in areas like finance, lawmaking, and organising "Hands Across Kirghiz" events. They have also contributed support to the UN for peacekeeping operations. Anything involving a council and they're in like Flynn.

Check out the the Commonwealth's name in another zany language, "Sodruzhestvo Nezavisimykh Gosudarstv ". No wonder all of Eastern Europe is still in the dark ages.

The Commonwealth succeeded where the Soviet Union failed. Sure, they haven't achieved world domination but they have achieved a nice, quiet, relaxed life without the threat of nuclear anihilation. This is to say nothing of their meaningless, token gestures of support for the United Nations.