Found an interesting new RSS feed which includes a word of the day. Today's word is Potemkin.
Grigori Aleksandrovich Potemkin was an 18th century Russian military officer and politician. Who was rumored to have built fake villages along the banks of the Dnieper river in order to impress Empress Catherine II. Potemkin, who had recently conquered the area, wanted to impress Catherine II by demonstrating the value of the area he had captured by showing off a wonderful village.
Today the term potemkin village or just potemkin is used to describe a staged, deceptive or hollow event. Particularly hollow or deceptive political maneuverings.
1 comment:
Very interesting--North Korea has what is called "propoganda village.
We were able to see it last time we were in Korea on a tour to the DeMilitarized Zone. It's basically the exact same deal. They even have loudspeakers that play music and stuff for show to the S. Koreans.
love, N
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