Disagree. Чёрт с ними — does not translate “satan with them”, but sort of “screw them”; “there's nothing left we can save” or something like that. Чёрт с нами thus — screw us, nothing can save us, ...
The same goes with other slogans. Remember that was Brezhnev era, real soviet deep swamp time when politburo (top of uniparty) controlled everything. The only chance to say something to slightly awakening masses, at all, was through something that KGB (FBI) could not understand or compare to official narrative. Usually that was a slightly altered proverb or song, essentially mocking the powers that were. Think of Let's go Brandon — one can understand the actual meaning only knowing the story behind it; knowing what is mocked.
I'm sorry, but this is an official parade in middle of city. These things were always organized by the party. These were not some dissidents trying to "awaken the masses".
The whole thing is presented as a joke, yes. But there is a saying in Russian "in every joke there is a part of truth". To most people there it was a funny joke. The top party officials knew what they were doing, at the end of the day it's to mock God.
One of the trucks has a slogan "Without sin you will not catch any fish" (wasn't translated in captions). The other essentially translates to "Without sinning first, you can't repent". These are not meant to "mock the powers that were". It's self-depracating jokes, embracing sinfulness, sort of like gay pride parades now.
Disagree. Чёрт с ними — does not translate “satan with them”, but sort of “screw them”; “there's nothing left we can save” or something like that. Чёрт с нами thus — screw us, nothing can save us, ...
The same goes with other slogans. Remember that was Brezhnev era, real soviet deep swamp time when politburo (top of uniparty) controlled everything. The only chance to say something to slightly awakening masses, at all, was through something that KGB (FBI) could not understand or compare to official narrative. Usually that was a slightly altered proverb or song, essentially mocking the powers that were. Think of Let's go Brandon — one can understand the actual meaning only knowing the story behind it; knowing what is mocked.
I'm sorry, but this is an official parade in middle of city. These things were always organized by the party. These were not some dissidents trying to "awaken the masses".
The whole thing is presented as a joke, yes. But there is a saying in Russian "in every joke there is a part of truth". To most people there it was a funny joke. The top party officials knew what they were doing, at the end of the day it's to mock God.
One of the trucks has a slogan "Without sin you will not catch any fish" (wasn't translated in captions). The other essentially translates to "Without sinning first, you can't repent". These are not meant to "mock the powers that were". It's self-depracating jokes, embracing sinfulness, sort of like gay pride parades now.
Thats one thing I love about GAW. Whatever you don't know sombody here does. Thank my Russian speaking frens.