Eh.... I mean, she's talking about Russians, not Russia. Like, how individuals act. I think that there's probably a case that judging national character based on country policy is kinda frustrating. You go back a couple hundred years, and it was pretty common for Empire A to go take over nearby Country B if it could. I think most people had a national leader somewhere back in time who probably did some fairly unpleasant stuff.

Like, Putin's running Russia. And Putin's Russian. And Putin affects a lot of Russians, and has a lot of ability to direct the actions of a lot of Russians. But Putin also isn't what it means to be Russian.

Like, say you're German, and Hitler is in power, right? I mean, I'm not saying that there weren't Germans who didn't do some pretty unpleasant stuff during that period. Or that people weren't pretty pissed at Germans at that point. But, like...Hitler also isn't what it means to be German.

Here are a bunch of Russians that came over to the US or their kids.

Isaac Asimov, Michael Bay, Bernie Sanders. I think that most people aren't gonna say "Ah, Russia is doing X, so they are bad people". She didn't make the call to attack Ukraine. She's not killing people in Ukraine. She's not even in Russia...in fact, it sounds like she's in Mexico because she's trying to leave Russia, which I imagine isn't all that easy. Like, she's upset because she's being judged on her nationality. I mean, I get that.

Taking out anger at Putin on her doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

[–] [email protected] 32 points 6 months ago (2 children)

Your Hitler example is perfect IMO. There were many beyond Hitler in Germany that deserved the hatred directed at them whether directly through horrific acts or indirectly due to their apathy or ignorance. The civilians in the towns directly adjacent to liberated concentration camps were forced by allied forces to aid in the cleanup and recovery of the camps and their victims. Many of these 'innocent Germans' expressed outrage at their 'undeserved' treatment like as seen in this video. They didn't deserve sympathy either.

At a certain point 'I am just an innocent wittle civilian who has done nothing wrong' is a cop-out. "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good [people] should do nothing" -Burke.

To be clear this isn't to justify warcrimes on civilians. It is merely to say her crocodile tears fall on deaf ears.

[–] froh42 3 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

All those Hitler comparisons hit very close, as I'm German, born long after the war. It was. my grandparent generation that allowed things to happen.

I have utmost respect for people who speak out against atrocities their country does, but in sucj a case - Hitler or Putin - being silent is agreeing.

The woman in this video just whines how everyone treats her badly. If she had said one time, she understands because of what her country does - and then say, how it makes her life bad, I could somehow sympathize. This way - I can not.

I have a Russian coworker who started business meetings with a minute of silence for the Ukrainian victims during the full invasion. That is something I can respect.

I never got any details, but I have reason to believe my own grandfather arranged himself with the Nazis, some say he was a party member. Others say, he and my grandma hid someone from them. Nevertheless he managed to own a soft drink factory (and quickly got a Coca Cola contract after the war)

I'm fucking fed up with people who arrange themselves with dictators and are just opportunists. As this woman obviously is.

[+] [email protected] -6 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (1 children)

Fun fact - Hitler was elected.

There's potential evil in everyone, born everywhere. It's hard for most people to swallow, but it's true.

[–] AnUnusualRelic 17 points 6 months ago (2 children)

Hitler wasn't really elected. His party never once had a majority vote. He got 30 ish percent iirc.

He was nominated as Chancellor as a cop out to try and appease the masses which he had stirred up.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 6 months ago (1 children)

And then used the Reichstag fire to invoke emergency powers and take full control

[–] AnUnusualRelic 3 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

Yes, obviously it went quickly downhill from there (as per the plan).

[–] [email protected] 0 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

It was closer to 40, but yes, he never won a majority nation-wide. Minority governments are a thing though, and he got the job democratically. It's accurate to say he was elected.

[–] iarigby 12 points 6 months ago (1 children)

If Germany had a nazi problem for a full century and different political powers, damn right that would represent Germans

[–] [email protected] 4 points 6 months ago

@iarigby @tal and there is good reason for it. This Lady proves it. Total lack of empathy. Somebody explain to her that murderers, terrorists and assassins are not well liked. At least outside Russia.
...and lots of russians are like this Lady. She is the rule, not the exception.

#RussiaIsATerroristState

[–] [email protected] 0 points 6 months ago

@tal @don True, but there is also the argument (somewhat theoretical) that, if these people had stayed where they were, they might have changed the course of history. Maybe. Or not. We might also have completely lost them and their contributions to the world. Who's to say? And, no, leaving Russia is not easy right now. She's risking not just her life, but that of family left behind. It's brutal to live in Russia now.