I agree with you that one single Russian idiot does not prove anything. Every country has their more than fair share of idiots. Russia´s people are certainly not worse or better than humans anywhere else.

But there is absolutely nothing great about Russia´s history.

Not in a thousand years have Russians known a government in their country that did not cheat simple people of their meagre possessions, that did not torture them, that did not take away their human rights, that did not lock people up for simply voicing their opinion, that did not stop a few selected from gathering obscene riches at the expense of the rest, that did not lie shamelessly, that did not act irresponsibly against its own people, that did not ruthlessly sacrifice thousands of its own people for the sake of staying in power, and that did not intimidate other countries for no good reason.

A great history simply cannot be built on such a poisoned fundament. There is no great Russian history; there is just a trail of oppression, blood, poverty, and tears.

There is only the hope that one day Russia will indeed become a great country. That leap forward can only be achieved by implementing human rights, ousting and then persecuting the criminals in office, and a number of other measures to join the ranks of civilized nations. Oh, how I wish to live to see that day.

Nobody can boast a "great culture" just because they have some famous old buildings in their country, or can refer to some great writers who died a century ago. Culture is what is lived today.