those who have protested have been jailed my friend... i happen to know this fact too well. There are of course, bad people too.
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those who have protested have been jailed my friend... i happen to know this fact too well. There are of course, bad people too.
I'll freely admit that's true. I'm aware of the protests, and of the consequences the protesters have faced. And I'm aware of those who've spoken against it by leaving the country as well. I don't have exact figures but both Finland and Georgia are reeling right now from refugees from Russia (which is a hell of an ironic turn of events to read about from a Ukrainian refugee district in Poland).
I'm simply saying while I sympathize with the latter, I'd have more respect for them if they were the former. But what of the main bulk of the population? Polls taken within Russia show overwhelming support for the war. Now I'm well aware a huge part of that is because everyone in Russia knows their lives are in danger from the FSB if they say otherwise, but it still doesn't change the impression most of my Ukrainian friends have, which is "our lives were in danger during the 2014 Maidan Revolution too. We did it anyway. Why can't you?" Having never had to oust my own country's government, I don't know what to think.
Regardless, the overarching theme here seems to be (at least from what I've seen) that the number of Russians who are not standing behind the invasion, honorable though they may be, seems to be a drop in the bucket compared to those who are. It's not a good image for the country as a singular entity. I'll say that much. And that doesn't come from anti-Russia bias. Frankly, I've been accused of the opposite (I have been frequently told "go back to Russia, Comrade," by other Americans despite having never been there). I'm a lifelong fan of Russian literature and ballet, absolutely adore Russian rock and roll (it's better than anything we've had in the West in any decade except the '80's), spent an entire year studying everything I could find about Catherine the Great and Grigory Potemkin for no other reason than personal interest, and opted to study Russian rather than Ukrainian when I first landed in Kharkiv, because I liked the sound of the language more. I was a huge admirer of Russia up until I was awakened on 24 February by their tanks, and even still I'm saying... well, let's just say this is far from Russia's finest hour.
...I would imagine Germany caught similar flack during (and immediately after) WW2. I know from my experience living in China that Japan still suffers a lot of resentment for the war. A lot of people who USED to think "it's just Putin, not Russia," have been repulsed by all the support the war has gotten from Russian social media (previous disclaimer about fear of the FSB notwithstanding) . I think in the social media age, when those in Russia who DO support the war have their voices amplified (not just by Russia but by the West too, to show "see? It really IS the whole country") it is going to be a long time before Russia lives down the stigma of this, and frankly, I'm too busy attending the funerals of neighbors killed by Russian troops to feel extra sorry for everyday Russians when I say that.
But again, you and I are both trying (not too successfully in either case it seems) to be objective even though we're predisposed to opposite views here, for ironically similar reasons.