Don't Hate Russians for Their Government's Actions · 7:38pm Mar 29th, 2022
The title of this blog post really says it all, but I'll say it again once more for the people in the back:
"Don't hate Russians for the actions of their government."
Folks, it is possible to deplore Putin's actions and still think it's dumb to ban Russians from participation in E-sports. Just like it's possible for me to say "The Chinese government has literal concentration camps and is committing actual genocide" and still say "I have nothing against the Chinese people."
The Russian people (and the Chinese people for that matter, and to a much greater degree) suffer under tyrannical regimes. Criticizing their government is not the same as hating the people. By the same token, we should not blame the people as a whole because they have a bad regime stepping on their necks.
Incidentally, it's immensely hypocritical for large corporations, celebrities, and politicians who bend over backwards to appease to the Chinese government and turn the blind eye to the CCP's genocide and slave labor to then pat themselves on the back virtue-signaling by heaping condemnation and sanctions on Putin. Yes, they should oppose Putin's unjust invasion, but they should also sanction China for quite literally murdering people in concentration camps as they attempt to wipe out an ethnic minority. Heck, they should at least say "That's bad."
Also, let's not let Russia become the scapegoat for all societal problems. I'm not trying to propose solutions to those problems here, but whatever the solution is, blaming Russia for, say, inflation (which was already happening) is not a productive use of our time.
Anyway, this post will probably ruffle some feathers, but I felt like it was worth posting anyway.
Please be respectful of other commenters and remember that you probably have more common ground with people on the other side of the debate than you think; be the first to offer civil dialogue, and you may be surprised how many reciprocate. Even if they don't, at least you can know you tried.
Someone has to be the first one to stop shouting and start dialoguing, and it might as well be you.
If you disagree with this post, please feel free to message me. Unlike Putin's government and the Chinese Communist Party, I encourage people to speak their minds and think for themselves.
I hate putin for the action of putin, I feel bad for the russian people for their continually poor government
I put a downpayment on another set of pony books from the Russia-based Ministry of Image.
I get what you're saying, and as Christians, it is up to us to love our enemies. I do believe that most Russians are ignorant as to the true face of the conflict.
That said, I wound up reading a comment by a Ukrainian. He said that his people felt... Liut, or something like that. This Ukrainian word can't be directly translated into English, but it's a combination of anger, hatred, bloodlust, and revenge. Given that some 70% of Russians actually support the war (whether its because they believe in the propaganda or for some other reason), it's hard for those starving to death in Mariupol or those having their little children slaughtered by artillery shells to feel sorry for the average Russian.
I'm not saying you aren't right, nor am I saying revenge is okay. But Ukrainians, who are having civilians murdered by artillery, air power, or cruise missiles every day, aren't likely to listen.
Seems like this should be obvious, but somehow it is not.
Seems like every day I find myself asking, "Why is this something that has to be said?" And then I remember that our simian brains still perceive the outside world through a survival-first lens of fear and negativity. We may live in a society, but evolution either hasn't gotten that memo or is desperately trying, and failing, to keep pace.
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Must I inform you that I have friends in Russia, most of who are artists on DeviantArt (few of which I issue commissions on).
This is essentially Putin's War that's been unleashed on Russia.
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I don't hate Russians myself. I was merely pointing out the fact. I'm NOT saying that we should hate Russians; on the contrary, the love one's neighbor as ourselves is the second greatest commandment, according to our Lord. However, for those in the firing line, it's not so easy. This is coming from someone currently in a college class about the history of Russia up to 1917.
Antiquarian, I apologize if my previous comment was negative. I didn't intend to be inflammatory or insulting, nor did I say we ought to hate Russians.
It shakes out this way with corporations because everything is made in China, and nothing is made in Russia. It is not heroic to engage in activities where there is no risk.
I agree wholeheartedly with this sentiment. It saddens me that, to put pressure on Russia (as a country and government) we have to essentially crash their economy by straining it so hard. That's going to hurt everyone involved, especially the innocent Russian civillians. But to avoid all out world war, it looks like that's the price being paid.
It's even worse that china is being ignored in all this because of both the russian distraction, and that major media is practically owned by china.
It appears we have been visited by the third curse. "May you live in interesting times."
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It's interesting that you're prepared to concede that the 70% support figure comes from the population believing pro-war propaganda built to inspire wartime unity, but don't seem to consider the possibility that the 70% support figure itself is pro-war propaganda built to claim wartime unity.
I find it equally interesting that you're going to claim that you disagree with hating Russians while freely spouting a figure that would justify anti-Russian resentment towards people with nothing to do with the invasion, like say people with Russian heritage whose only 'fault' is the misfortune of having their heritage recognized by someone who is in bad enough mood to make a bad decision based on bad information.
I'm going to presume that you didn't consider any of that before saying what you wanted to say.
And that is all I have to say to you on the subject.
It was very much worth posting. :)
And I absolutely agree with the point you made. Hopefully as many cool heads as possible throughout the world will also agree with it, and things will end in the most peaceful way that they still can (since sadly by this point it's too late for 'total peace', in that total peace would have been the war not breaking out in the first place).
But as a Chinese, I hate your government, more hate the behavior of many of you, because your media block other countries' media, you always like to impose your own traditions, values on the people of other countries.
And those things you mentioned, have you ever been to Xinjiang? My friend lives in Xinjiang, and he is an ethnic minority.
You only like to re-read the media that makes money for traffic?