On my way to work, I’m listening to Echo of Moscow (a Russian radio station) — they’re discussing the introduction of a new school subject called “patriotic education.” Blah blah blah, some are for it, some are against it. Deputy Krutov says the subject is necessary, and that with the goal of fostering patriotism, half the textbooks should be rewritten altogether. After him, some other deputy — unfortunately I didn’t catch his last name — an opponent of the bill, says: “As for the idea that all the textbooks need to be rewritten and life will improve because of that, I’d like to say this: there’s a Russian proverb: ‘Blessed is he who believes.’