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Holtz column - Putin up with Russia

Regular Gazette columnist Jim Holtz talks about Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The news media are currently agog over Russian President Vladimir Putin. Reports from the Ukraine are filled with questions about the man’s motives. What are Putin’s plans? What does Putin want? What will Putin do?  The pundits and commentators don’t seem to have a clue, which I find rather odd. The clue to Putin’s motives is easier to figure out than any Russian ruler since Stalin, and he provided the key to his personality and goals himself. Any 62-year-old male who thinks he looks better with his shirt off than on is an open book. Putin hunting shirtless, shooting shirtless, horseback riding shirtless, all manly activities by a man who wants the world to see just how manly a truly manly man can be.I imagine as a boy Putin probably started off just as my cousin Phil did, at the age of two taking off all his clothes whenever company came to the house. At that age, Phil was quite the sensation, suddenly bursting into the living room and dancing around in front of everyone completely naked. All the ladies present thought it was cute; the men rolled their eyes. No doubt little Vladimir was likewise an exhibitionist as a toddler, cavorting in front of friends and relatives in his parents Leningrad apartment. Then perhaps like Phil, Vladimir was persuaded by his mother to restrict his stripping to fewer articles of clothing. In Phil’s case, it was his socks and shoes, but Vladimir, perhaps filled with stories of the glorious revolution, opted for more manly exposure, hence proudly stripping off his shirt. And then perhaps the male relatives, relieved that the boy was no longer prancing about completely naked, praised young Vladimir for his manly chest and manly abs. Such praise can be addictive to a young man.Of course once Vladimir was in the KGB he could brazenly remove his shirt in front of friends and relatives, indeed in front of anyone, and not be censured or criticised at all. More likely, enthusiastic praise of his manliness dramatically increased; after all, who wants to be arrested and sent to the Gulag.Now, finally, as an aging demagogue, Vladimir has been able to recreate the joy and freedom of his childhood. No, he can’t run naked in front of his parents’ friends as he would like, but shirtless on a horse, he can imagine himself naked, like a manly Russian Lady Godiva, flaunting his bare chest before the entire world, imagining that he is young, invincible, and powerful, as well as desirable to women and enviable to men.So what are Putin’s plans? What is he going to do? Certainly not what is best for Russia or the Russian people, but whatever courses of action will allow him to maintain his vivid self image of manliness at the highest level for the longest period of time. Jim Holtz is a Boundary-based writer.