The Russian Public

We are nearly packed. As in the past Tanya is taking a lot of candy, nuts, coffee, tea, and clothes for her son, mother, and brother in Russia. She claims those things are better here than what can be purchased in Russia.
Last week I was surprised to read in the lead edditorial in the Los Angeles Times which said, "The Russian public is wildly anti-American". I wrote my first ever letter to the editor in response to this statement. They have not published it and it is unlikely that they will. Here is what I wrote:
"Re: "Listening to Putin" editorial, June 14, 2007
I was stunned by your assertion that "the Russian public is wildly anti-American" because it is so different from my experience.
In thirteen visits to Russia, I have never experienced anti-American sentiments. I find Russians to be intelligent, warm-hearted, hospitable. They are adept at separating the policies of the current American administration from the people of America. The majority of Russians I know oppose the war in Iraq, but that's true of the majority of Americans I know.
Russians love our music, our movies, and even our flag. Two years ago I brought a six foot long American flag. On the 4th of July we displayed it on my host's veranda where we had a barbeque to celebrate Independence Day. Two days later my friends brought the flag along on a picnic and proudly displayed it in public. Was their behavior wildly pro-American?"