Mr. Prokhorov,
It has been more than 5 years I started this blog in hope of one day to talk to you. How else could I contact and talk to you without hiring a PR company, I'm not sure. You publicly said that you're not using computers, don't even have a cell phone (which I don't believe), but your point always was that you do not want to be bothered. People surround you are not keen to contact you with anyone who is not on your "exclusive" VIP list of rich and famous.
Well, in my humble opinion that might be the reason of missing out on many down-to-earth things which are essential for getting into people's business, such as politics.
There is a saying in Russian "vek zhivi, vek uchis." Very true. There is never end to information, education and knowledge. I'm almost your age and learn every day. I can learn something from someone living in the street, from a cashier in grocery store, from a kid in high school, etc.
I understand how dangerous it can be to be so rich and famous, but in other hand each creates almost all realities in his/hers life. Big money can give you lots of freedom but also can be very isolating from basic human social interactions. Actually in the beginning of your blog you describe it as a most valuable thing in life. The problem is when you rely only on your employees to take your calls and correspondence and PR companies to set up your meetings, you can miss out lost of very valuable things in between. I don't want to dwell on this though. In one way I wasn't happy to see you upset when your second political party ceased to exist last month, but in other hand I was glad that now you'd have more time for other more important things in your life.
In one of my previous posts I asked you to come and help Americans, learn how politics work on the ground (instead of hearing it from political commentators in Russia), then go there and do it like no one else. It's like in technology, instead of staring new, take the best already in existence and build the better one on it. I'm sure you know this, but looking at people who were surrounding you in political arena in Russia, wasn't looking promising to me. I can explain why, should you want to hear. So, it wasn't really surprising to me that things didn't work out the way you planed.
There is a war in southeastern regions of Ukraine, which is bordering Russian Federation and populated by mostly ethnic Russians. I didn't see that you had an open stand on this issue. Maybe I missed out? Where is any public announcement about your position on that bloody, brother-killing conflict? You know, I know and the rest, who're actually involved in it directly, know that this is a proxy war between US, EU and RF. Why nor dive in it using your power and influence. Money can create influence if you invest it in the right "cause." Did you do it? Why didn't you or if you did why couldn't you get more productive results?
Well, all I'm saying is; if you'll will not have an open mind you'll come to lots of closed doors.
I'd like to tell you a clever political joke in Russian, but not here and not now.
Your political adventure has been a tragicomedy so far. I'd like to encourage you to see the light side. The dark side was the time and money you wasted, but not all of it was in vain. You said that the current gov, was taking your ideas and were using as their own. It happens everywhere. You can not potent the idea. If even it is true, then no need to feel bad; you contributed indirectly, which should be morally and psychologically satisfying. Money you can replace also. Only the precious time is irreplaceable and can not be bought by anything. Once it's gone, it's really gone, - forever! You don't seem to be too conscientious about it, though. Hope I'm wrong on this.
One thing I'm pretty sure of; you can do more good to Russian and American people in many other ways than through politics. Which channels are those and how you can use them will remain within me, because I do not have that much time to throw away for talking to myself.
I do not in any way benefit from this blog; do not use my real name for fame, do not advertise anything and not even allow comments. I never got any penny from anyone for doing this. I get only spiritual satisfaction, - my way of giving back to humanity.
Am I an amateur who has no higher aspirations? No, I have a degree in Philology and worked in professional journalism in former Soviet Union. First in the second biggest paper in my republic (didn't want to work at the first one, because of out of town travel requirement, then on National TV and Radio (on TV had my own program), then became a correspondent to a NY based American independent newspaper, then became its representative.
This is a brief overview of my career in Journalism.
Oh well, I emailed one of known sport commentators in town and asked him if he can find a way to connect us.
All I can do now is keeping my fingers crossed.
Best regards,
A.K.
