Post AGdcJpWWu8srNBh2Po by matiaslavik@snabelen.no
(DIR) More posts by matiaslavik@snabelen.no
(DIR) Post #AGbw5iGyfxd9b82qNE by rysiek@mastodon.technology
2022-02-18T19:29:06Z
1 likes, 9 repeats
The #Ukraine situation is getting heated. There are fedi discussions about this, and there will be more.It is worth being mindful of the fact that there are plenty (if not a majority) of Russians who do not condone nor support the aggressive course of action taken by the Kremlin.They have protested in the thousands on the streets when they were denied fair elections. Many have paid the price for trying to have a voice.It's easy to drop into using "Russians" as a mental shortcut.Let's not.
(DIR) Post #AGdcJpWWu8srNBh2Po by matiaslavik@snabelen.no
2022-02-18T20:28:39Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@rysiek Yes, please! People need to learn the difference between: Country - Government - People.
(DIR) Post #AGdcJqFYCktdcokzaa by Aurochs@mastodon.madrid
2022-02-19T14:59:28Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@matiaslavik @rysiek I try to say Putin.
(DIR) Post #AGdcMAsWTldIBO69KK by publius@mastodon.sdf.org
2022-02-19T14:59:54Z
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@rysiek Indeed, one doesn't even need to be Russian, per se.Stalin was a Georgian, and yet typified the "Autokrator of All the Russias" as purely as anyone since Ivan III of Muscovy first conceived of the title.
(DIR) Post #AGeWqESPKgOvP1nBXk by rysiek@mastodon.technology
2022-02-20T01:32:49Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@publius nationalities are social constructs. Borders are lines in the sand. It's all make-believe, apart from human suffering.
(DIR) Post #AGfLCSa2V1ALHe9dnk by publius@mastodon.sdf.org
2022-02-20T10:57:05Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@rysiek As a cosmopolitan myself, I try to acknowledge the weaknesses of my own intellectual position.Nationality is a social construct, but we humans are social animals after all. I am an avowed opponent of "Blut und Boden" ideologies, & not shy in saying that the principal purpose of borders is the control of those within them, but I am somewhat more sympathetic to the concept of "nationality" in terms of shared cultural background, narratives, metaphors, et cetera.
(DIR) Post #AGfxw8eUiisf3ZRkno by tsvety@social.yesterweb.org
2022-02-18T22:03:50Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@rysiek is there any real evidence for anything happening?
(DIR) Post #AGfxw9B6lSy6gihndY by rysiek@mastodon.technology
2022-02-18T22:06:52Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@tsvety yes. But that's not the topic of this thread.
(DIR) Post #AGfxw9jUhcTSPMnGEa by kino@mamot.fr
2022-02-19T01:53:40Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
Sorry @rysiek I don't think you get to slip "kremlin aggression" in there as it it were a given and then claim questioning of said as off topic. Funny, I had you pegged for a man of better integrity, but it seems there are deep wounds that are far from overcome in ex-USSR, which I do not (obviously) understand fully. It just seems a shame given that the "clear and present" danger does not really seem to be at Kremlin. @tsvety
(DIR) Post #AGfxwAB92oaln7jLKi by kravietz@agora.echelon.pl
2022-02-20T17:02:00.511360Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@kino it seems there are deep wounds that are far from overcome in ex-USSR, which I do not (obviously) understand fullyHappy to help: Eastern European countries have no territorial claims against Russia and no major issues with Russia other than unwillingness to be occupied by Russia once again.The list of Russian claims against Eastern European countries is… rather long. I may list them if you like after I come back from a dinner.Important note: when speaking of Russia I mean Putin’s circles, not Russian society.@rysiek @tsvety
(DIR) Post #AGfxwAgh9VpTMyUXVg by kino@mamot.fr
2022-02-20T17:38:16Z
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@kravietz @rysiek @tsvety When in Poland, chatting with rideshare companions and such, I did hear a lot of this sentiment. Were it not for russia, poland would be [ insert great adjective ]... Like in Chile, were it not for spain.. Mexico.. were it not for the US. Ireland, were it not for the British... ok that last one I have a certain bias towards, at the same time I can't argue that the irish are their own worst enemy. [cont..]
(DIR) Post #AGfxwB7zW1fCjdGL3Y by kravietz@agora.echelon.pl
2022-02-20T17:52:29.225044Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
@kinoGranted that Russia occupied Poland from 1792-1918, tried (and failed) in 1920 and once again from 1939-1989, the sentiment is somehow justified. Other than that, Poles and Russians love to whine blaming others for their failures, so it's quite convenient. Granted however that Poland last occupied Russia in 1612, the blame is slightly more justified on the Polish side ;)@rysiek @tsvety
(DIR) Post #AGwH928YeYMKfAp7nU by rysiek@mastodon.technology
2022-02-28T14:39:08Z
1 likes, 8 repeats
This is important, so reboosting myself, because shit like this is proposed:https://www.forbes.com/sites/stuartanderson/2022/02/27/critics-reject-rep-swalwells-idea-to-expel-all-russian-students/Russian people are not the aggressor. Students studying in the West are not a threat. Putin is.And the biggest threat to him is an educated population able and willing to govern itself.Almost 5000 Russians got arrested in Russia for anti-war and pro-Ukraine protests.Russian people are not the aggressor. Punishing them (as opposed to Putin) is only going to make matters worse.
(DIR) Post #AGwHMTkzH53M5aD4qW by wauz@muenchen.social
2022-02-28T15:04:09Z
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@rysiekWorking class is always paying the bills that the ruling class makes. That's why 'we' (counting myself and friends as part of wc) always have to have a close look on that, what politicians do. When they go telling you things like patriotism, there is danger of getting hurt.Ukrainians shouldn't complain about 'Russians' after watching 8 years of war against the Donbaz. War hasn't started this year. There was war since 'Maidan Revolution".If you don't want war, don't let your gov start
(DIR) Post #AGwLaVXZq5PnUYslSC by sj_zero@social.fbxl.net
2022-02-28T15:51:30.227712Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@rysiek For the purposes of warcraft and statecraft, it's a distinction without a difference. If you pick sides and help the Ukrainian state against the Russian state, you necessarily harm Russian people, either directly or indirectly, and individual Russian people are agents of the state. Putin isn't driving tanks or shooting guns or firing cannons, Russian people are. Putin isn't the one trading with other nations, Russian people are. Putin isn't the one making payments back and forth through SWIFT, Russian people are. If Russian espionage including attacks on critical infrastructure occur, it won't be Putin carrying that out, but the Russian people -- potentially including Russian students.Pretending you can make that distinction is naïve. If you want to intervene, do so with conviction, in the knowledge that intervention *will* hurt someone else whether you want it to or not.
(DIR) Post #AGwRh7Hx0Oku1m6k6a by zleap@qoto.org
2022-02-28T16:59:56Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@rysiek Agreed anger (or protest) should be aimed directly at the Kremlin. In particular Putin and his inner circle supporting the war.
(DIR) Post #AGwXZtSYcdGspt0YWe by pthenq1@mastodon.la
2022-02-28T18:05:52Z
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@rysiek It has to be done. They are free to go and depose Putin if they want to return to study in Freeland.Cancelation works
(DIR) Post #AGwZJfMvRZ5sPPlPRQ by rysiek@mastodon.technology
2022-02-28T18:25:20Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@pthenq1 well gotta say, that's a remarkably shitty take.
(DIR) Post #AGwZaTGZh39TnSo3Cy by pthenq1@mastodon.la
2022-02-28T18:28:24Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@rysiek Yep!Less bloody though.Lot of people is getting used to poop their vote and avoid facing the consequences of it. It is time to stop that behavior.
(DIR) Post #AGwZoilypxw7wZI6Fc by rysiek@mastodon.technology
2022-02-28T18:30:57Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@pthenq1 you do realize that a). people are arrested for even mentioning "no to war" on the Russian streets; b). Russia had not had fair and free elections for ~2 decades, right?I mean, clearly you don't. Not sure why I even bother.
(DIR) Post #AGwaZFHwHH7g6qQLSq by pthenq1@mastodon.la
2022-02-28T18:39:22Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@rysiek If it bleeds, it can be deposed.Besides it makes sense. If we are banning technology to Russia, that must cover university access.
(DIR) Post #AGyKVG5OyL3CAa3w2q by Asimech@mastodon.social
2022-02-28T20:53:18Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
@rysiek I always have to wonder about the logic of "let's make sure everybody from a country only have access to their country's propaganda, that'll teach their dictator!"