Comments on: Mikhail Kalashnikov: How One Soviet Tank Sergeant Changed The World

By: MrSmart

MrSmart — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 18:07:52 +0000

This blog provoked a lot of comment… good work! You dialogue with your critics and fans equally well

Great idea. Superb level of detail. Well-executed. The red hurt me too though!

By: jabar106

jabar106 — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 10:28:15 +0000

whoever made one of the best weapons ever to be used in combat has to be one of the greatest individuals in history. actually, the movie “Lord of War” had already praised the AK47 enough for me to say that Kalashnikov truly changed the nature of combat. however, i wouldnt go so far as to say that these legacies are “good”. from one of your pictures a child is even holding the same gun that he invented. i know he probably didnt intend on having this much effect on society, but nevertheless, Kalashnikov changed the world, making him great.

By: awoot103

awoot103 — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 02:17:40 +0000

Sorry I gave you a headache lol. The red was mostly to stick out, and it was in part because of his Soviet Red Army ties.

By: erobi105

erobi105 — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 00:33:20 +0000

I loved how much you clearly knew about your subject and the fact that you were not afraid to point out the huge extent of Mikhail’s invention’s effects. The fact that it has filtered down through history and changed the nature of warfare, a world-wide activity that nearly all nations participate in *coughs*sweden and switzerland*coughs*, clearly means this man had a huge impact on history. Plus, the fact that his motivation for it was to help fight the Nazi’s in WWII shows his patriotism and love of his people, and his wanting to defend them from people who were trying to kill them/take over their nation is admirable. In short, very good blog (on an apparently very controversial topic), and you effectively showed the greatness, aka large influence, that Mikhail Kalashnikov and his invention was on history.

(PS: did you make the font red on purpose because Mikhail was working for the USSR? because if not, dude it gave me a headache reading it in that color.)

By: awoot103

awoot103 — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 19:06:56 +0000

*won last year, not one

By: awoot103

awoot103 — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 19:06:31 +0000

I’m just going to point out that some of you need to look up “greatness” in the dictionary. Benevolence has nothing to do with it. Kalashnikov was, and still is, a prodigious engineer. The fact is, the world would be markably different without the AK. That is what makes him great. Keep in mind, Hitler one last year. Who is worse, a patriot helping his comrades stay alive, or a racist mass murderer?

By: arome102

arome102 — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 16:51:43 +0000

Mikhail Kalashnikov’ ak-47 has had an enormous impact on the world, both negatively and positively. I like how you mentioned how the development of the ak forced the development of other guns.

By: ldavi103

ldavi103 — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 16:40:55 +0000

This is a very well-researched, well written essay. However, I disagree with your choice of individual. How can some one who invented a better way for people to kill themselves be the Greatest Individual? The AK-47 is used for genocide and in street gangs and mobs around the world. Is this what makes people great, the ability to exterminate all others? No, thanks.

By: iwalc100

iwalc100 — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 13:00:36 +0000

Wow. Okay so this is definitely a VERY influential person. I mean honestly. He’s right (in the quote above)- he should have invented something useful that didn’t have the ability to mow down hundreds of people in minutes. That being said, it probably would’ve been done by someone else anyway. It would’ve been nice if you spent a little more time on his influence around the world, like give a number for how many AK47s are produced each year or something like that. Otherwise, good job and well done. Good idea for a topic as well!

By: cludw108

cludw108 — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 01:35:01 +0000

Allright, I can’t really talk since my post is about someone affecting the way battles are fought too. However, your basically saying that the Kalashnikov is the greatest individual because he created something which could make war easier, quicker and more efficient? He’s great because he perpetuated violence and war?

I’m not gonna argue with you on the fact that he had a great influence on the world and the the AK-47 is a fantastic weapon, but I don’t see him as the greatest individual in history.

I think your post is great though. Very interesting.