I love this description of a Nashi summer camp, found in the Washington Post:
In the middle of the camp stand large portraits of Other Russia’s leaders under the headline: “The Red Light Street.”
Other Russia’s three male leaders, including world Chess champion Garry Kasparov, are portrayed as prostitutes. In lurid colors they pout and pose in stockings, their faces frozen into feline grins.
“I didn’t know who those people were until I came here,” 20-year-old Lena from St Petersburg said as she walked past.
“Now I know they are fascists.”
Still, you know what they say - there’s no such thing as bad publicity. Kasparov’s name recognition has just gotten another little boost.
July 23rd, 2007 at 6:52 am
Such labelling (”fascists”) exists in other ways which don’t get adressed for reasons that appear fascist. Namely, being unofficially if not officially banned for noting such instances:
http://www.cdi.org/russia/johnson/2007-144.cfm#4
Why should Kasparov be considered more legitimate a non-United Russia political figure than the folks referenced at the above link?
At the above link, the “anti-Semitic” label is mentioned without giving specfics. As someone wrongly accused of such (by someone posting at SL), I find that disingenuously mischievous.
July 23rd, 2007 at 7:04 am
While on the subject of “fascist”, one can reference the anonymous blogger with the Soros funded TOL, who makes unfounded remarks about others in disagreement with his/her views.
Plenty of “fascism” to go around.
The selectivity in addressing “fascism” reeks some big time hypocrisy.
July 23rd, 2007 at 7:57 am
“I didn’t know who those people were until I came here,” 20-year-old Lena from St Petersburg said as she walked past.
“Now I know they are fascists.”
Fascist hookers. That quote is priceless. I wonder if Lena has been sent home to Piter yet for revealing her lack of political awareness to a foreign journalist (the most dangerous kind)?
July 23rd, 2007 at 12:54 pm
Fascist hookers who are selling out the Motherland.
Sounds like an Ilya Glazunov painting.
July 23rd, 2007 at 1:24 pm
With among other things, the two headed eagle and hammer and sickle on it.
“Fascist” can be a very subjectively used word. Among other things, it connotates censorship.
Is Moldpress actually freer than The Tiraspol Times?
http://tiraspoltimes.com/opinion/moldpres_commentary.html
The same can be legitimtaely asked of Eurasia Daily Monitor relative to TTT.
Venues offering as diverse of views as possible reflect less of an anti-fascist spirit.
Venues having open minded editors who don’t intimidate writers/journalists with banishments reflect less of an anti-fascist spirit.
Is honoring Antonescu (like some in Moldova and Romania do) more “fascist” than noting the positive of pre-1917 Russia, while acknowledging its faults?
July 23rd, 2007 at 3:34 pm
Venues offering as diverse of views as possible reflect less of an anti-fascist spirit.
Leading one to conclude that those venues which do not offer diverse views reflect a more anti-facist spirit.
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:50 pm
If anything, QUITE the contrary.
The ideal venue shows as non-partisan a stance as possible, while truly welcoming the differing views to a given topic.
SL seems to fit that category.
The next best option is to have an opinionated perspective that readily permits other responses.
As of this date, this link shows an opinionated post, followed by posted comments differing with it:
http://aapocalypsenow.blogspot.com/2007/06/all-finnish-journalists-are-either.html
July 23rd, 2007 at 10:27 pm
If anything, QUITE the contrary.
Hmm. Well, if this is true:
Venues offering as diverse of views as possible reflect less of an anti-fascist spirit.
then it follows that:
Venues which do not offer diverse views reflect a more anti-facist spirit.
Or, as I suspect, the entire notion is a load of bollocks and there is no connection whatsoever between diversity of views presented on a blog and spirit of facism reflected therein.
July 23rd, 2007 at 10:47 pm
The comments about fascism at this thread relate to how that it was used in the post above these comments.
Relative to what was said in that post: a prime aspect of fascism is a definite propping of some views over others in a way that some would reasonably view as restrictive.
A specifically stated example being a dispute between two sides, where one side gets the decided nod to express its view.
The “load of bollocks” is about those purporting to welcome all views, while not actually doing so.
July 30th, 2007 at 9:03 pm
there is a deeper background with the word “fascist” in the russian language. The word is not only used for marking nazi-relation but also to express one’s contempt towards anyone. It is like “you, faggot” compared to english.