If my writing on Russia can be said to have a theme, it’s probably “bursting bubbles.” The way I see it, Russian people very often choose to dwell in a world of illusions that simply does not correspond to reality. They choose to live, in other words, just as they did in the USSR, and I find this outrageously stupid since the inability to perceive reality, and reform accordingly, is what destroyed the USSR. Russians have even gone so far as to choose to be ruled by a proud KGB spy, as if they wanted to take a do-over on the whole Soviet experience.

Recently, appearances would indicate four sensational successes for Russia in international competition. But if you look beneath the surface just a little, you see that instead of celebrating Russians should be reforming. Yet, as always, they depressingly do the former, not the latter.

So-called Russian Maria Sharapova ascended to the #1 world ranking in tennis. She’s the first Russian ever to occupy the top spot. Wow, great Russian achievement, right?

Not so fast. Sharapova has lived almost her whole life in the United States, learned her game there, and owns real estate there (but none in Russia). In fact, she spends virtually no time in Russia at all. And the only reason she’s number one now is that the actual best player in the world, Justine Henin of Belgium, suddenly decided to retire.

Admit it. You’re a little bit less impressed now, aren’t you? Maybe a lot less?

Then there was Russia’s win for best song at the Eurovision song contest. An impressive stride for Russian culture, huh?

Maybe not. The song was written and produced by Americans, and the general consensus is that it sucks. Have you downloaded it? Thought not.

Next came Russia’s win at the hockey world championships. A demonstration of frozen Russia’s potency in icy sports?

Not really. It’s the first time wintery Russia, which should dominate the sport, has won the title in 15 years, and the only reason it did so was a freak penalty involving the puck leaving the ice that left its opponent short-handed in overtime. Viewers were reminded that mighty Russia hasn’t been able to generate its own home-grown professional circuit, and therefore sends most of its top players to America to earn their livings.

And finally there was Russia’s big win at the UEFA soccer championship in Manchester England against Great Britain. Russia is suddenly a force to be reckoned with on the pitch, right?

As if. Russia was lucky enough to draw a British side that hadn’t seen the finals in four decades, and the Russian side was coached by a Dutchman and its star player was a Ukrainian.

Now, don’t get me wrong. A responsible person might very well say that Russians should see dramatic need to reform their sports establishment in these events, but that’s not the lack of reform I’m complaining about. Because, you see, Russia isn’t a country that can afford to concern itself with luxuries like sports. Russia is suffering from a horrific demographic crisis, with far more funerals each year than births (experts have even coined a new term for Russia’s problem, they’re calling it “hypermortality”). It has one of the world’s worst AIDS crises, and is doing nothing about it. It has virulent problems with alcoholism and smoking, and an emaciated medical establishment incapable of addressing them even if it were inclined to do so. So focusing the national attention on sports victories, even real ones rather than mere illusions, would be an atrocity.

And that’s to say nothing of Russia’s KGB-sponsored crackdown on civil society. Russia no longer has a real media establishment or a genuine opposition political party, nor does it have even vaguely independent local government. All the values of civilized, modern society are under direct threat of absolute extinction. The European Court for human rights is swamped with cases from Russians complaining that their own national court system can’t be trusted to treat them fairly, and Russia has lost far more cases before that tribunal than any nation in world history.

Meanwhile, Russians are dancing the streets, fiddling like Nero while their country is ablaze.