Prepare for a barrage of American chatter about Russian in the coming months. I already got my fill today.

1) This Politico hit piece on Putin's Olympics, where he is taken to task for everything from everything from lobbying for the games, finding funding for the games, firing incompetent organizers and getting directly involved. Acts that to me seem like common acts of leadership are painted as authoritarian.

http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2...toDqWTnb-k

2) Press coverage of Putin discussion of the law against evangelizing gay lifestyle to children, which reads in headlines: "Putin warns gays to leave children alone" as if accusing them of sexual molestation. The Washington Post for example.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/puti...story.html

There is an overwhelming desire to misrepresent everything the man says. Problem I have is many of the things he says make complete sense to me coming from the leader of the Russian nation.

To my experience, gay lifestyle is fairly underground in the FSU. People do not come out of the closet, but the lifestyle exists. Generally straight people are not exposed to it and are a bit shocked by it when they see it traveling. It is consistent with their sense of rearing children that they would not be exposed to it, because it is generally not socially accepted or considered desirable behavior.

Putin defends the law as an attempt to preserve Russian culture, and I believe this is 100% sincere.

We turn around and insist on being able to evangelize a lifestyle to children that was not considered socially acceptable here in the US only a generation ago? Shouldn't we leave the raising of their children to Russian parents, to Russian mothers and fathers?

The fact we cannot even have a rational debate in the US about this issue is very telling and sad to me.

We went from being the world's cop to being the world's thought police about celebrating sodomy? And we can't provide an ounce of protest without being accused of hate crimes against gays or support of the Russian "dictator".

Honestly, I think this forum is the only place I know where folks would entertain supporting this view. The conservative and liberal presses are at one with Russia bashing.

Quote: (01-17-2014 11:52 PM)rastignac Wrote:  

To my experience, gay lifestyle is fairly underground in the FSU. People do not come out of the closet, but the lifestyle exists. Generally straight people are not exposed to it and are a bit shocked by it when they see it traveling. It is consistent with their sense of rearing children that they would not be exposed to it, because it is generally not socially accepted or considered desirable behavior.


The fact we cannot even have a rational debate in the US about this issue is very telling and sad to me.

The EU forced Lithuania to allow a homosexual parade in Vilnius a few years ago. It had something to do with compliance with the EU charter or constitution. There were far more protestors in Vilnius than participants.

Homosexuality was acknowledged as aberrant activity for thousands of years and then -- within one generation -- it suddenly achieved sacred cow status in the western world. Yea, try explaining that to the rest of the planet. It is not just Russia. The people of much of Eastern Europe feel the same.

Liberals like the idea of free rational debate, but they seldom allow it once they achieve power. Just look at all the speech restrictions at U.S. universities.

Vice article
http://m.vice.com/read/the-big-russian-g...r-olympics

Top Russia memes so far.

OMG. They kill puppies!
OMG. They don't like gays!
OMG. They have brown water! So gross!
OMG. They don't even have snow. They have palm trees. They are so stupid.

Its pretty crazy how blatant the hating on russia is.

I turned on the TV before the opening ceremonies today on CBC and there was a 5 minute montage of all the violence and terrorism that has happened recently in russia. Then they brought up stats saying they're all alcoholics who die young.

Imagine if the Olympics was in the USA and people introduced the country by showing a montage of school shootings, 9/11, and the aftermath of Katrina

LOLOLOLOL

The Russian Olympic team came out to a tatu song. HAHAHAHAHA

Troll Level - Putin

Fuck, I thought Google's gay banner would stay in their homepage (That I don't even visit), but then I see that is also in the EMPTY tab in google chrome. Fuck you Google, keep your gay propaganda in your pants, I don't need it down my throat.

Edit : On google's main page you can do it with adblock.

Edit2 : On newtab, you can go to :
1) Go to Chrome://flags
2) Find "Enable Instant Extended API"
3) Disable it.

That is all!

They spent 50 billions on these games, and built their infrastructures on swamp.

A lot of the coverage we see surely feeds on anti-Russian sentiments and I agree that it's too negative in general while it rarely shows the good sides of the country. But I don't see that the criticism of the Putin government and the Olympic committee is totally unfair or illegitimate.

The terrorist threat in that part of Russia is real and no fearmongering just because of the games.

The fact that they just shut down the last non-statesupervised TV station should concern everyone who cares for free speech.

The organizers had several years to build up hotels, accomodations and infrastructure in time, yet they apparently fucked up and wasted billions of taxpayers money, too.

As for the anti-gay issue, I don't really see that Putin cares really so much about preserving Russian culture. Russian society was already homophobic before they introduced the new law and to the best of knowledge gays never had any notable representation in the Russian public. Seems like Putin just used these sentiments and turned them into law to solidify his popularity.

Some people really have a double standard when they deplore gay "propaganda". On the one hand, they rightly refuse the ludicrous notion that gender roles are only socially constructed and have no basis in nature. On the other hand, they fear that children who are by default heterosexual can be converted into gays by culture. No one has to cheer for gay people (I don't) but to deny that homosexuality is an evolutionary fact is rather lame.

I do think the bigotry gays experience in Eastern Europe is wrong. You can't vilify people for something they have no choice in. At the same time, when you give gays an inch they take a mile. Russians look at the west and see how gay values have taken over due to tolerance and anyone that doesn't put homosexuality on equal footing is publicly shamed. They want to avoid this slippery slope where the end game is teachers reading gay storybooks in class to children as has happened in the USA.

Quote: (02-07-2014 12:30 PM)FrenchCanadian Wrote:  

They spent 50 billions on these games, and built their infrastructures on swamp.

Kinda like DC!!

OMG im dying over this one

Quote: (02-07-2014 01:14 PM)speakeasy Wrote:  

Russians look at the west and see how gay values have taken over due to tolerance and anyone that doesn't put homosexuality on equal footing is publicly shamed.

It used to be that you could say, "let them mind their own business and I'll mind my own business, and I don't really care what they do in the privacy of their own homes, but I don't think they should be beaten up."

But now, the pendulum has shifted so far that unless you are 100% in support of having gay "pride" parades everywhere, and if you even dare to question whether it's actually a good idea for gay couples to adopt kids, you are a terrible, terrible, bigot.

Quote: (02-07-2014 12:22 PM)WesternCancer Wrote:  

Its pretty crazy how blatant the hating on russia is.

I turned on the TV before the opening ceremonies today on CBC and there was a 5 minute montage of all the violence and terrorism that has happened recently in russia. Then they brought up stats saying they're all alcoholics who die young.

Imagine if the Olympics was in the USA and people introduced the country by showing a montage of school shootings, 9/11, and the aftermath of Katrina

I think that there is legitimate criticism of Russia's political process (or absence of it) and especially the curtailing of freedom of the press.

On the other hand, all the cultural criticisms are vapid and tedious. People live differently in different countries and in different cultures. Leave them alone.

The other legitimate criticism of Russia is the condition of Olympic complex and the housing for athletes. If China could do it, then Russia could have done it -- if they cared. Otherwise, they should never have hosted the Olympics. That idiocy was self-induced and they cannot blame anyone else for making themselves look stupid. I mean damn, Salzburg was the runner up to host the Olympics.

Quote: (02-07-2014 01:14 PM)speakeasy Wrote:  

I do think the bigotry gays experience in Eastern Europe is wrong. You can't vilify people for something they have no choice in. At the same time, when you give gays an inch they take a mile. Russians look at the west and see how gay values have taken over due to tolerance and anyone that doesn't put homosexuality on equal footing is publicly shamed. They want to avoid this slippery slope where the end game is teachers reading gay storybooks in class to children as has happened in the USA.

I very rarely watch TV. I stopped in 2008. It was on last night (visiting relatives) and all I heard was gay, gay, gay, gay, gay, gay. Kids were in the room. Gay themes. Gay jokes. Gay behavior. It is so terribly annoying. I always thought what consenting adults do in their own bedroom (or bathhouse) was their own business.... but today we are in the age of gay propaganda.

I want to watch the Olympics. Gay, gay, gay, gay. LGBT community. Community? When is the last time you saw lesbians, gays and transexuals hanging out as a "community". A coalition of special interests, maybe.

The Russian Onion video is brilliant (and funny). It basically communicates to the US: look at your own situation and history before criticizing others. You will never see the press criticizing the sports leagues or corporate sponsors for not being more supportive of gay athletes, because of the money involved. Russia makes an easy target in line with the deep Anglo/American Russophobia. The situation and law are constantly misrepresented.

In Soviet Russia, Olympics watch you!

Quote: (02-07-2014 03:51 PM)Tail Gunner Wrote:  

Quote: (02-07-2014 12:22 PM)WesternCancer Wrote:  

Its pretty crazy how blatant the hating on russia is.

I turned on the TV before the opening ceremonies today on CBC and there was a 5 minute montage of all the violence and terrorism that has happened recently in russia. Then they brought up stats saying they're all alcoholics who die young.

Imagine if the Olympics was in the USA and people introduced the country by showing a montage of school shootings, 9/11, and the aftermath of Katrina

I think that there is legitimate criticism of Russia's political process (or absence of it) and especially the curtailing of freedom of the press.

On the other hand, all the cultural criticisms are vapid and tedious. People live differently in different countries and in different cultures. Leave them alone.

The other legitimate criticism of Russia is the condition of Olympic complex and the housing for athletes. If China could do it, then Russia could have done it -- if they cared. Otherwise, they should never have hosted the Olympics. That idiocy was self-induced and they cannot blame anyone else for making themselves look stupid. I mean damn, Salzburg was the runner up to host the Olympics.

There are many things to look at in Russia with a critical eye. But most of the current press is fueled by Russophobia, pure and simple. Athletes and commentators are stunned by the quality of the facilities. That is a lot more important than some accommodations for the press. Also, in Russia if you are important, you will be treated well. If you are not, you are on your own. Name one important person, even in the press, who is reporting about a shitty hotel room. None.

What about complaining about general Russian crackdowns on freespeech? the takeover of the Vkontakte social network by friends of Putin. These are more substantial issues and they get no press. None.

Glad to see Ukraine finally made the breaking news with this story about the guy on the Kharkov to Istanbul plane. It fit the media's theme of the week about the Russian Olympics being unsafe.

Some people on Facebook are cheering on Germany for sending in its team in rainbow colors. I'd be careful about teaming up with Germany against Russia. It didn't work out so good the last time.

Quote: (02-07-2014 03:51 PM)Tail Gunner Wrote:  

Quote: (02-07-2014 12:22 PM)WesternCancer Wrote:  

Its pretty crazy how blatant the hating on russia is.

I turned on the TV before the opening ceremonies today on CBC and there was a 5 minute montage of all the violence and terrorism that has happened recently in russia. Then they brought up stats saying they're all alcoholics who die young.

Imagine if the Olympics was in the USA and people introduced the country by showing a montage of school shootings, 9/11, and the aftermath of Katrina

I think that there is legitimate criticism of Russia's political process (or absence of it) and especially the curtailing of freedom of the press.

On the other hand, all the cultural criticisms are vapid and tedious. People live differently in different countries and in different cultures. Leave them alone.

The other legitimate criticism of Russia is the condition of Olympic complex and the housing for athletes. If China could do it, then Russia could have done it -- if they cared. Otherwise, they should never have hosted the Olympics. That idiocy was self-induced and they cannot blame anyone else for making themselves look stupid. I mean damn, Salzburg was the runner up to host the Olympics.

From what this American athlete's blog and the Reuters story are now saying, the Athletes LOVE the accommodations (and Sochi). Some are calling it "Disneyland." Which casts further doubt on the mainstream Western press' motives / agenda here.

http://noahhoffman.com/olympic-life-day-3/

http://in.reuters.com/article/email/idIN...AD20140207

And honestly 'Freedom of the Press' is BS in the West...we need freedom from our feckless, overly left-wing and 'victimology' mainstream press quite frankly. They are completely out of control and only follow certain politically correct agendas that generally represent a small minority of each society. It's a joke at this point. This includes the BBC, CNN and most of the national European press outlets. If you listen to those outlets as your main source of 'news' you're not getting the full story and are being misled daily full stop. I think it's fair to say you should be questioning / challenging everything they say.

Quote: (02-07-2014 04:02 PM)rastignac Wrote:  

Quote: (02-07-2014 03:51 PM)Tail Gunner Wrote:  

Quote: (02-07-2014 12:22 PM)WesternCancer Wrote:  

Its pretty crazy how blatant the hating on russia is.

I turned on the TV before the opening ceremonies today on CBC and there was a 5 minute montage of all the violence and terrorism that has happened recently in russia. Then they brought up stats saying they're all alcoholics who die young.

Imagine if the Olympics was in the USA and people introduced the country by showing a montage of school shootings, 9/11, and the aftermath of Katrina

I think that there is legitimate criticism of Russia's political process (or absence of it) and especially the curtailing of freedom of the press.

On the other hand, all the cultural criticisms are vapid and tedious. People live differently in different countries and in different cultures. Leave them alone.

The other legitimate criticism of Russia is the condition of Olympic complex and the housing for athletes. If China could do it, then Russia could have done it -- if they cared. Otherwise, they should never have hosted the Olympics. That idiocy was self-induced and they cannot blame anyone else for making themselves look stupid. I mean damn, Salzburg was the runner up to host the Olympics.

There are many things to look at in Russia with a critical eye. But most of the current press is fueled by Russophobia, pure and simple. Athletes and commentators are stunned by the quality of the facilities. That is a lot more important than some accommodations for the press. Also, in Russia if you are important, you will be treated well. If you are not, you are on your own. Name one important person, even in the press, who is reporting about a shitty hotel room. None.

What about complaining about general Russian crackdowns on freespeech? the takeover of the Vkontakte social network by friends of Putin. These are more substantial issues and they get no press. None.

Glad to see Ukraine finally made the breaking news with this story about the guy on the Kharkov to Istanbul plane. It fit the media's theme of the week about the Russian Olympics being unsafe.

I'm with you here, but the West is throwing stones from glass houses what with their own repressive speech codes and politically correct ideologies, particularly within academia, corporations and the media. And they are pretty hypocritical in constantly challenging Russia while not saying a whole lot about China and giving them the benefit of the doubt every time. It's all about the $$s at the end of the day and it doesn't cost them much to posture against Putin/Russia. Funny but I don't see the US going on and on about Saudi Arabia's treatment of gays.

Quote: (02-07-2014 04:03 PM)ColSpanker Wrote:  

Some people on Facebook are cheering on Germany for sending in its team in rainbow colors. I'd be careful about teaming up with Germany against Russia. It didn't work out so good the last time.

Well that's another Western European country I'm not rooting for!

Russia successfully reclaimed some swampland in a good location for the key Olympic facilities in Sochi.

American translation:

OMG. Can you believe it. They built the Olympics on a swamp!

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree...utin-hands


A surprising good article from the Guardian

Quote: (02-07-2014 03:51 PM)Tail Gunner Wrote:  

I think that there is legitimate criticism of Russia's political process (or absence of it) and especially the curtailing of freedom of the press.

You just wrote that on an off-shore message board under an anonymous identity to hide from an American Media who considers anything we write on here ThoughtCrime and would willingly destroy our careers to promote their message of tolerance, just to get a quick jolt of feeling superior before taking a bite of their cronut, then flicking to the next article about a celebrity.

Quote: (02-07-2014 06:29 PM)Emancipator Wrote:  

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree...utin-hands


A surprising good article from the Guardian

meh not so sure about that. Just more left-wing PC pro-gay garbage from the Guardian. About all the article does is point out that homosexuality is outlawed in places like India and Nigeria, and oh golly gee how awful that is and how the world needs to do everything in it's power to stop it.

So it's all in the context that MORE needs to be done to help gays spread their lifestyle. At this point I don't see how any rationally thinking person could see it any other way. As most of us in the West know the Gay Lobby and media are spiraling out of control trying to foist their agenda on heterosexual males and females and now even children (that would be the 'gender neutral' stuff going on in the Anglosphere and now France). One would note that the Russian law as drafted is not 'anti-gay' as the ridiculously PC Western press call it but rather targeted toward homosexual propaganda directed towards children. Yeah it's Russia and they could potentially jail you for anything if a certain politician there pushed for it, but meanwhile in the UK they are jailing people for tweeting inappropriate thoughts.

Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie and the rest of these actor apologists can just p*ss off as far as I'm concerned. They have zero credibility.

I don't know why, but I subscribe to Rolling Stone Magazine's FB feed. They did a post on the Russian cop's singing a version of the Daft Punk/Pharell song "Get Lucky". I didn't even have to look at the comments to know it would be filled with pro-gay vitriol:

https://www.facebook.com/RollingStone/po...1579583637

It's like all out obsession.