The Title is the title of the article itself. I couldn't think of anything better.
Summary- As the title suggests, Canadian Olympian takes a selfie with Putin and tweets it saying "I should've asked him to be my Valentine". People hates on her because she now absolutely definitely supports Putin and his policies.
Personally find it confusing that people would pounce on her like that and assume that her tweet somehow implies that she supports Putin's agendas. Like it or not, Putin is a leader of Russia, and I would think anyone who meets him would be star-struck, if but momentarily.
I also find Roy Bruno Mitchell's tweet, as shown in the article, to epitomize everything that I dislike about people nowadays. Support a policy whose basic underlining is that everyone should be allowed their rights and be treated with respect and understanding, but then pounce on others as soon as they do something you don't like. Also assume many nasty things about them without any cause whatsoever, merely on the basis of 1 information that really means nothing if you actually took the time to think about it.
I also find Roy Bruno Mitchell's tweet, as shown in the article, to epitomize everything that I dislike about people nowadays. Support a policy whose basic underlining is that everyone should be allowed their rights and be treated with respect and understanding, but then pounce on others as soon as they do something you don't like. Also assume many nasty things about them without any cause whatsoever, merely on the basis of 1 information that really means nothing if you actually took the time to think about it.
Yup. Sounds right.
Most people behave in a vapid, shallow, and selfish manner. Being "star-struck" doesn't excuse someone fawning over a tin-pot tyrant, but exploding with a public display of an infantile fit of rage is just a step lower.
Think of intelligence and the ability to reason like this:
Vegetables<Insects<Humans
While we all have the ability to reason as the human beings we are, the vast majority either do so at the level of insects (like the Olympian) or vegetables (Mitchell). A fortunate and blessed few like us operate somewhere in the general vicinity of our potential.
Take a look at the thread about risky sex behavior. Most of the population goes through life as a function of degrees of dumb****ery.
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[quote from="magickware99" url="http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/outside-magic/water-cooler-talk/545130-canadian-athlete-deletes-selfie-with-vladimir?comment=1"]
Most people behave in a vapid, shallow, and selfish manner. Being "star-struck" doesn't excuse someone fawning over a tin-pot tyrant, but exploding with a public display of an infantile fit of rage is just a step lower.
I despise Putin and all he stands for I would have to be on crack cocaine to even think of doing what this Canadian did.
You can go on a picture with someone while not agreeing with someone, you do understand that, right? My parents have a picture of themselves with Dési Bouterse, who was sitting in the same restaurant as them. They truly despise everything he has done, but it comes down to two things. Firstly: you can despise someone's actions without being a complete douche to them. It's hard, and I know I haven't mastered that skill yet myself, but it does exist. Secondly: they were there with a group of friends, they had a few drinks and decided that it'd be fun thing to do.
This behaviour these people show is completely unacceptable. You can talk to someone, hell, even associate or *GASP* take a selfie with them without agreeing with their points of view and/or actions.
EDIT:
Furthermore: one of the ideas behind the Olympics is that we leave politics and everything behind for a while and just connect with each other through sports. That's exactly what she's doing.
Your parents were out for drinks, not publicly representing their nation. That's completely different.
As for the Olympics, it doesn't matter that it is supposed to be apolitical - it's not. For good or ill, it's barely less political than an assembly at the United Nations. Wishing or believing otherwise isn't going to change the reality of that situation.
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Your parents were out for drinks, not publicly representing their nation. That's completely different.
In a goddamn sports event, not in any political way apart from what people make of it.
As for the Olympics, it doesn't matter that it is supposed to be apolitical - it's not. For good or ill, it's barely less political than an assembly at the United Nations. Wishing or believing otherwise isn't going to change the reality of that situation.
Except that the sportsmen there, apart from a minority, clearly do not care for the politics, making the main attraction apolitical.
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And that minority are the ones who fund the Olympics and control the media attention around it. Hence political.
And maybe it's different in Suriname. If you guys are more relaxed about it, then that's great. As you point out it's just a series of games.
But we're talking about Canada, and the United States and for the most part Western Europe are the same regarding these matters. There have been times when a game stops and crowds boo prominent people out of a stadium they don't like.
Perhaps athletes in Suriname are more fortunate than those here?
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And that minority are the ones who fund the Olympics and control the media attention around it. Hence political.
And maybe it's different in Suriname. If you guys are more relaxed about it, then that's great. As you point out it's just a series of games.
But we're talking about Canada, and the United States and for the most part Western Europe are the same regarding these matters. There have been times when a game stops and crowds boo prominent people out of a stadium they don't like.
Perhaps athletes in Suriname are more fortunate than those here?
I'm an American and I agree completely with him. And think the uproar is stupid for other additional reasons.
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"Virtue, Jacques, is an excellent thing. Both good people and wicked people speak highly of it..."
Being an American, surely you recognize everything is politicized here. If you drive a Chevy Suburban you get accused of hating the environment. If you wear a leather jacket you hate animals. If you don't eat "organic" food you're a corporatist pig. If you don't support every military action and department of defense expenditure you're an anti-American pinko. And on and on and on.
I didn't say it wasn't stupid, just predictable and the reality of the way the media and an extremely vocal, influential minority of blowhards operate.
In my original post I should have rephrased "being "star-struck" doesn't excuse someone fawning over a tin-pot tyrant" with "she shouldn't be surprised when she gets her head bitten off for being star-struck and fawning over a tin-pot tyrant."
Ignoring that what happened was going to be the inevitable response is naive. She should have expected it. If she did expect it, then she was just baiting the media trolls to what end?
An additional note on the Olympics and politics: if people don't want it to be politicized, then they should fund it themselves with private donations rather than having governments pay for it with tax revenue.
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Except there is nothing to conclude that is what she was.
Fair enough, that's an assumption on my part that is unvalidated.
Didn't notice you're in the Netherlands. Originally from Suriname or were your parents there on vacation?
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Except there is nothing to conclude that is what she was.
Fair enough, that's an assumption on my part that is unvalidated.
Didn't notice you're in the Netherlands. Originally from Suriname or were your parents there on vacation?
My parents went on holiday there. First holiday they had without their kids coming along. ^ ^
So yeah. I would be more likely to agree with that she was being slightly off if there was an indication that she was fawning over Putin. However, it more just seems like: look, here's a photo of me and Putin with a mandatory unfunny 'joke' next to it.
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Gotcha. That's quite a happenstance meeting they had. Somehow I never encounter famous people, but rather someone who is mentally unhinged (for real, it's uncanny). Maybe someday I'll have the opposite happen after I hear enough stories of other people randomly meeting high ranking politicians.
I hadn't considered that possibility. My assumption the other way was based more upon Putin's penchant for young women. I wouldn't want a photo of him (creepy), but perhaps she isn't/wasn't aware of that particular trait of his.
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One cannot assume that she is in any way supportive of Putin just on the basis that she had a selfie taken with him.
Which is why I wouldn't react in an infantile way that Mitchell or others did, but it's not an unreasonable suspicion. Because it's either that or she's clueless. Hearing others' input on the issue, I strongly lean towards the latter. Neither raising the suspicion of supporting Putin nor being utterly clueless are very self-flattering, though.
At any rate, unless I'm mistaken, I get the impression we all agree the turds in a bucket here are the folks in the media surrounding the story.
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One cannot assume that she is in any way supportive of Putin just on the basis that she had a selfie taken with him.
Which is why I wouldn't react in an infantile way that Mitchell or others did, but it's not an unreasonable suspicion. Because it's either that or she's clueless. Hearing others' input on the issue, I strongly lean towards the latter. Neither raising the suspicion of supporting Putin nor being utterly clueless are very self-flattering, though.
At any rate, unless I'm mistaken, I get the impression we all agree the turds in a bucket here are the folks in the media surrounding the story.
Just because one doesn't care about world events doesn't mean that one is clueless.
There really is no reason for me to care about what Putin is doing over in Russia. I have plenty of things to care about in the U.S.
If I was to tell you that you're clueless for not knowing things in Korea, would you agree with it?
Or perhaps if I was to tell you that you're clueless if you don't know exactly what caused the Iran-Contra Affair, or a hundred thousand other important historical events that shape our world today?
The fact is, everyone has different sets of priorities. Just because someone doesn't have the same priorities you do, shouldn't be used as cause to claim that person is clueless/w.e.
If I was to tell you that you're clueless for not knowing things in Korea, would you agree with it?
If it was because of something that was done while on vacation or private business - absolutely not. But we're talking about an Olympic athlete, not someone on vacation or private business. They represent their nations in a very public way and their activities are funded with public tax money.
Student athletes aren't allowed to play sports without maintaining passing grades, and they're only representing a single college. Someone who is representing an entire nation can take the time to familiarize themselves with current events. If they don't want the responsibility of meeting the standards of the people they're representing, however stringent and/or ridiculous, then they should stay home.
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If I was to tell you that you're clueless for not knowing things in Korea, would you agree with it?
If it was because of something that was done while on vacation or private business - absolutely not. But we're talking about an Olympic athlete, not someone on vacation or private business. They represent their nations in a very public way and their activities are funded with public tax money.
Student athletes aren't allowed to play sports without maintaining passing grades, and they're only representing a single college. Someone who is representing an entire nation can take the time to familiarize themselves with current events. If they don't want the responsibility of meeting the standards of the people they're representing, however stringent and/or ridiculous, then they should stay home.
I think that's a bit of a silly standard. By your own definition, they're representing their home countries. How exactly would snubbing the leader of a major world power do a good job of representing their country?
In any case, I don't think expecting athletes to also be world politics experts is realistic. Expecting an athlete to snub their host country's leader is... not a good idea.
How would not posting a picture of oneself on the internet be snubbing anyone? Or even not taking the photo in the first place? Shaking hands and greeting someone isn't the same thing, which refusing to do would be undiplomatic.
And I agree the standards set forth by some are silly and unrealistic, but they're there. Until someone convinces those holding such views otherwise, they'll remain.
Alternatively, the Olympics and/or the athletes performing in it could seek to cut ties with government funding and the strings that always come attached with it.
That's just the reality of the situation. It is what it is at the present time.
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One cannot assume that she is in any way supportive of Putin just on the basis that she had a selfie taken with him.
Which is why I wouldn't react in an infantile way that Mitchell or others did, but it's not an unreasonable suspicion. Because it's either that or she's clueless. Hearing others' input on the issue, I strongly lean towards the latter. Neither raising the suspicion of supporting Putin nor being utterly clueless are very self-flattering, though.
At any rate, unless I'm mistaken, I get the impression we all agree the turds in a bucket here are the folks in the media surrounding the story.
There really is no reason for me to care about what Putin is doing over in Russia. I have plenty of things to care about in the U.S.
This type of isolationist thought process lead to World War II, if the US would have stepped in quicker that war might have ended before it fully escalated.
I also want to further my point here, If I happened to run into Putin and was introduced by someone else I would likely be fairly colloidal and introduce myself. I sure as heck wouldn't ask for a picture and then put up the tag line below it "I should've asked him to be my Valentine".
I can't believe people don't consider that at least a minor level of affection if not overall approval of Putin. So either she is somewhat attracted to the man, or she actually likes him for some reason or another. I mean you don't see Obama's biggest critics asking him if he will be in a picture with him, so they can put up silly tag lines next to it on social media.
I also want to further my point here, If I happened to run into Putin and was introduced by someone else I would likely be fairly colloidal and introduce myself. I sure as heck wouldn't ask for a picture and then put up the tag line below it "I should've asked him to be my Valentine".
I can't believe people don't consider that at least a minor level of affection if not overall approval of Putin. So either she is somewhat attracted to the man, or she actually likes him for some reason or another. I mean you don't see Obama's biggest critics asking him if he will be in a picture with him, so they can put up silly tag lines next to it on social media.
I completely disagree. Again: why do you assume she's even thinking about the politics when making that photo?
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This type of isolationist thought process lead to World War II, if the US would have stepped in quicker that war might have ended before it fully escalated.
Uhh, a huge web of alliances lead to WWII. Pretty much the exact opposite of isolationism actually. Who knows what could have been if we'd stepped in earlier? Certainly we helped a lot with the pacific theater but I question whether the entire war would've ended before Hitler decided to invade Russia in any case.
A war enveloping all of Europe is quite a unique situation anyway...
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"Virtue, Jacques, is an excellent thing. Both good people and wicked people speak highly of it..."
This type of isolationist thought process lead to World War II, if the US would have stepped in quicker that war might have ended before it fully escalated.
=D
Oh man, thank you for another post that more or less encapsulates what I wanted to discuss here.
Do tell me how in any way my post insinuates isolationist thought.
But a couple things-
0- I don't care about what Putin does because it has no real influence on me, nor on the LGBT movement in the U.S. in general.
Besides, you speak of this only because you know what Putin is doing over there and disagree with it. Why don't you care about what goes on in Korea? France? Britain? Spain? Argentina? Brazil?
The list goes on. I hope you get the point.
1- Putin and his denial of LGBT rights and his general manner of being severely power-hungry is hardly comparable to the manner in which Hitler operated.
2- Isolationism existed on the premise that, even if a single country in Europe became all-powerful, it would still have a very difficult time crossing the Atlantic and striking us. The attack on Pearl Harbor, and the advent of rockets and carrier-based airplanes in general, greatly changed this notion. My point here is that there were reasons for isolationist thought, most of them dead and gone.
3- The war would never have started if France and England had the balls (though honestly this is disingenuous, they had perfectly good reasons for following appeasement at the time) to give a firm "NO" to Hitler.
And, Germany was doomed to defeat after the battle of Stalingrad/Kursk (take your pick, I'd say Kursk cause that battle or less destroyed the German army as a serious fighting force, but Stalingrad is where Russians basically said "We will crush you" and meant it). Neither battle involved the U.S. At the fighting of Stalingrad, the U.S. and Britain were doing diddly squat in Africa. By the battle of Kursk, the U.S. and Britain were still doing diddly squat (I think; did they uselessly invade Sicily at that point?) in Africa.
Make no mistake. The Russians won the war. U.S. involvement made no real difference in this. It probably made it end a little quicker because Germany had to fight on two fronts, but by the time the U.S./British faced any serious German opposition (The battle for France/the battle of the bulge), the Russians had already crushed everything in their path and were running full-steam towards Berlin.
I also want to further my point here, If I happened to run into Putin and was introduced by someone else I would likely be fairly colloidal and introduce myself. I sure as heck wouldn't ask for a picture and then put up the tag line below it "I should've asked him to be my Valentine".
I can't believe people don't consider that at least a minor level of affection if not overall approval of Putin. So either she is somewhat attracted to the man, or she actually likes him for some reason or another. I mean you don't see Obama's biggest critics asking him if he will be in a picture with him, so they can put up silly tag lines next to it on social media.
Rather, I would argue that the way you think, and the way politicians in the U.S. act these days, is just completely wrong.
If you hate an individual to the point that you cannot be nice to them, then how on Earth do you plan on negotiating with them? Heck, I doubt you can even hold a civil conversation with them.
I also want to further my point here, If I happened to run into Putin and was introduced by someone else I would likely be fairly colloidal and introduce myself. I sure as heck wouldn't ask for a picture and then put up the tag line below it "I should've asked him to be my Valentine".
Sure, because you know some of his policies and have an opinion about them.
I can't believe people don't consider that at least a minor level of affection if not overall approval of Putin. So either she is somewhat attracted to the man, or she actually likes him for some reason or another. I mean you don't see Obama's biggest critics asking him if he will be in a picture with him, so they can put up silly tag lines next to it on social media.
Who said she was a critic of Putin either? Most likely she knows nothing about him or his policies, except that he's the President of Russia. I don't know all the policies of every leader of every country I've ever visited. But If I were introduced to them I might just take a picture and post it to facebook with a short joke as a way of saying "Hey everybody look, I met this country's leader, that's kind of cool".
Rather, I would argue that the way you think, and the way politicians in the U.S. act these days, is just completely wrong.
If you hate an individual to the point that you cannot be nice to them, then how on Earth do you plan on negotiating with them? Heck, I doubt you can even hold a civil conversation with them.
Which means that everything just goes wrong.
In this hypothetical where you claim I am unable for a civil conversation, am I a US diplomat or something? I mean you act like if I dislike someone I automatically refuse to have a civil conversation with them. I don't employ Bill O'Reilly's method of conversation when he interviews people with views that strongly contradict his own. I doubt I will ever be put in the position to realistically discuss things at a table with Putin anytime before Putin dies of whatever he dies from.
I have carried on conversations with quite a few people that I fully disapprove of for one reason or another with great civility.
Anyways looking at the way most Russians are, they elected a leader that represents their view points. Russians basically treat the LGBT community in Russia as societal outcasts. I strongly feel that if most Russians saw two men kiss in public it would probably cause a riot.
The Title is the title of the article itself. I couldn't think of anything better.
Summary- As the title suggests, Canadian Olympian takes a selfie with Putin and tweets it saying "I should've asked him to be my Valentine". People hates on her because she now absolutely definitely supports Putin and his policies.
Personally find it confusing that people would pounce on her like that and assume that her tweet somehow implies that she supports Putin's agendas. Like it or not, Putin is a leader of Russia, and I would think anyone who meets him would be star-struck, if but momentarily.
I also find Roy Bruno Mitchell's tweet, as shown in the article, to epitomize everything that I dislike about people nowadays. Support a policy whose basic underlining is that everyone should be allowed their rights and be treated with respect and understanding, but then pounce on others as soon as they do something you don't like. Also assume many nasty things about them without any cause whatsoever, merely on the basis of 1 information that really means nothing if you actually took the time to think about it.
Yup. Sounds right.
No, we wouldn't. But you go on to explain why many would...
Most people behave in a vapid, shallow, and selfish manner. Being "star-struck" doesn't excuse someone fawning over a tin-pot tyrant, but exploding with a public display of an infantile fit of rage is just a step lower.
Think of intelligence and the ability to reason like this:
Vegetables<Insects<Humans
While we all have the ability to reason as the human beings we are, the vast majority either do so at the level of insects (like the Olympian) or vegetables (Mitchell). A fortunate and blessed few like us operate somewhere in the general vicinity of our potential.
Take a look at the thread about risky sex behavior. Most of the population goes through life as a function of degrees of dumb****ery.
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You can go on a picture with someone while not agreeing with someone, you do understand that, right? My parents have a picture of themselves with Dési Bouterse, who was sitting in the same restaurant as them. They truly despise everything he has done, but it comes down to two things. Firstly: you can despise someone's actions without being a complete douche to them. It's hard, and I know I haven't mastered that skill yet myself, but it does exist. Secondly: they were there with a group of friends, they had a few drinks and decided that it'd be fun thing to do.
This behaviour these people show is completely unacceptable. You can talk to someone, hell, even associate or *GASP* take a selfie with them without agreeing with their points of view and/or actions.
EDIT:
Furthermore: one of the ideas behind the Olympics is that we leave politics and everything behind for a while and just connect with each other through sports. That's exactly what she's doing.
As for the Olympics, it doesn't matter that it is supposed to be apolitical - it's not. For good or ill, it's barely less political than an assembly at the United Nations. Wishing or believing otherwise isn't going to change the reality of that situation.
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In a goddamn sports event, not in any political way apart from what people make of it.
Except that the sportsmen there, apart from a minority, clearly do not care for the politics, making the main attraction apolitical.
And maybe it's different in Suriname. If you guys are more relaxed about it, then that's great. As you point out it's just a series of games.
But we're talking about Canada, and the United States and for the most part Western Europe are the same regarding these matters. There have been times when a game stops and crowds boo prominent people out of a stadium they don't like.
Perhaps athletes in Suriname are more fortunate than those here?
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I didn't say it wasn't stupid, just predictable and the reality of the way the media and an extremely vocal, influential minority of blowhards operate.
In my original post I should have rephrased "being "star-struck" doesn't excuse someone fawning over a tin-pot tyrant" with "she shouldn't be surprised when she gets her head bitten off for being star-struck and fawning over a tin-pot tyrant."
Ignoring that what happened was going to be the inevitable response is naive. She should have expected it. If she did expect it, then she was just baiting the media trolls to what end?
An additional note on the Olympics and politics: if people don't want it to be politicized, then they should fund it themselves with private donations rather than having governments pay for it with tax revenue.
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Except there is nothing to conclude that is what she was.
Also: hrm. Damn this new forum, where's my bloody flag?
Fair enough, that's an assumption on my part that is unvalidated.
Didn't notice you're in the Netherlands. Originally from Suriname or were your parents there on vacation?
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My parents went on holiday there. First holiday they had without their kids coming along. ^ ^
So yeah. I would be more likely to agree with that she was being slightly off if there was an indication that she was fawning over Putin. However, it more just seems like: look, here's a photo of me and Putin with a mandatory unfunny 'joke' next to it.
I hadn't considered that possibility. My assumption the other way was based more upon Putin's penchant for young women. I wouldn't want a photo of him (creepy), but perhaps she isn't/wasn't aware of that particular trait of his.
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See, this is what I wanted to talk about.
One cannot assume that she is in any way supportive of Putin just on the basis that she had a selfie taken with him.
Which is why I wouldn't react in an infantile way that Mitchell or others did, but it's not an unreasonable suspicion. Because it's either that or she's clueless. Hearing others' input on the issue, I strongly lean towards the latter. Neither raising the suspicion of supporting Putin nor being utterly clueless are very self-flattering, though.
At any rate, unless I'm mistaken, I get the impression we all agree the turds in a bucket here are the folks in the media surrounding the story.
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Just because one doesn't care about world events doesn't mean that one is clueless.
There really is no reason for me to care about what Putin is doing over in Russia. I have plenty of things to care about in the U.S.
If I was to tell you that you're clueless for not knowing things in Korea, would you agree with it?
Or perhaps if I was to tell you that you're clueless if you don't know exactly what caused the Iran-Contra Affair, or a hundred thousand other important historical events that shape our world today?
The fact is, everyone has different sets of priorities. Just because someone doesn't have the same priorities you do, shouldn't be used as cause to claim that person is clueless/w.e.
If it was because of something that was done while on vacation or private business - absolutely not. But we're talking about an Olympic athlete, not someone on vacation or private business. They represent their nations in a very public way and their activities are funded with public tax money.
Student athletes aren't allowed to play sports without maintaining passing grades, and they're only representing a single college. Someone who is representing an entire nation can take the time to familiarize themselves with current events. If they don't want the responsibility of meeting the standards of the people they're representing, however stringent and/or ridiculous, then they should stay home.
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I think that's a bit of a silly standard. By your own definition, they're representing their home countries. How exactly would snubbing the leader of a major world power do a good job of representing their country?
In any case, I don't think expecting athletes to also be world politics experts is realistic. Expecting an athlete to snub their host country's leader is... not a good idea.
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And I agree the standards set forth by some are silly and unrealistic, but they're there. Until someone convinces those holding such views otherwise, they'll remain.
Alternatively, the Olympics and/or the athletes performing in it could seek to cut ties with government funding and the strings that always come attached with it.
That's just the reality of the situation. It is what it is at the present time.
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This type of isolationist thought process lead to World War II, if the US would have stepped in quicker that war might have ended before it fully escalated.
I also want to further my point here, If I happened to run into Putin and was introduced by someone else I would likely be fairly colloidal and introduce myself. I sure as heck wouldn't ask for a picture and then put up the tag line below it "I should've asked him to be my Valentine".
I can't believe people don't consider that at least a minor level of affection if not overall approval of Putin. So either she is somewhat attracted to the man, or she actually likes him for some reason or another. I mean you don't see Obama's biggest critics asking him if he will be in a picture with him, so they can put up silly tag lines next to it on social media.
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I completely disagree. Again: why do you assume she's even thinking about the politics when making that photo?
A war enveloping all of Europe is quite a unique situation anyway...
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Oh man, thank you for another post that more or less encapsulates what I wanted to discuss here.
Do tell me how in any way my post insinuates isolationist thought.
But a couple things-
0- I don't care about what Putin does because it has no real influence on me, nor on the LGBT movement in the U.S. in general.
Besides, you speak of this only because you know what Putin is doing over there and disagree with it. Why don't you care about what goes on in Korea? France? Britain? Spain? Argentina? Brazil?
The list goes on. I hope you get the point.
1- Putin and his denial of LGBT rights and his general manner of being severely power-hungry is hardly comparable to the manner in which Hitler operated.
2- Isolationism existed on the premise that, even if a single country in Europe became all-powerful, it would still have a very difficult time crossing the Atlantic and striking us. The attack on Pearl Harbor, and the advent of rockets and carrier-based airplanes in general, greatly changed this notion. My point here is that there were reasons for isolationist thought, most of them dead and gone.
3- The war would never have started if France and England had the balls (though honestly this is disingenuous, they had perfectly good reasons for following appeasement at the time) to give a firm "NO" to Hitler.
And, Germany was doomed to defeat after the battle of Stalingrad/Kursk (take your pick, I'd say Kursk cause that battle or less destroyed the German army as a serious fighting force, but Stalingrad is where Russians basically said "We will crush you" and meant it). Neither battle involved the U.S. At the fighting of Stalingrad, the U.S. and Britain were doing diddly squat in Africa. By the battle of Kursk, the U.S. and Britain were still doing diddly squat (I think; did they uselessly invade Sicily at that point?) in Africa.
Make no mistake. The Russians won the war. U.S. involvement made no real difference in this. It probably made it end a little quicker because Germany had to fight on two fronts, but by the time the U.S./British faced any serious German opposition (The battle for France/the battle of the bulge), the Russians had already crushed everything in their path and were running full-steam towards Berlin.
Rather, I would argue that the way you think, and the way politicians in the U.S. act these days, is just completely wrong.
If you hate an individual to the point that you cannot be nice to them, then how on Earth do you plan on negotiating with them? Heck, I doubt you can even hold a civil conversation with them.
Which means that everything just goes wrong.
Sure, because you know some of his policies and have an opinion about them.
Who said she was a critic of Putin either? Most likely she knows nothing about him or his policies, except that he's the President of Russia. I don't know all the policies of every leader of every country I've ever visited. But If I were introduced to them I might just take a picture and post it to facebook with a short joke as a way of saying "Hey everybody look, I met this country's leader, that's kind of cool".
In this hypothetical where you claim I am unable for a civil conversation, am I a US diplomat or something? I mean you act like if I dislike someone I automatically refuse to have a civil conversation with them. I don't employ Bill O'Reilly's method of conversation when he interviews people with views that strongly contradict his own. I doubt I will ever be put in the position to realistically discuss things at a table with Putin anytime before Putin dies of whatever he dies from.
I have carried on conversations with quite a few people that I fully disapprove of for one reason or another with great civility.
Anyways looking at the way most Russians are, they elected a leader that represents their view points. Russians basically treat the LGBT community in Russia as societal outcasts. I strongly feel that if most Russians saw two men kiss in public it would probably cause a riot.
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