Should the USSA boycot the Russian antigay games?

[Recidiva]

I'm arguing that as a non Russian citizen you and any other foreign to Russia crusader will look like a total douche canoe using the Olympics as a soap box for their political agendas whatever the fuck they may be.

1. I agree with your above statement.
2. I wasn't ever going to go, therefore taking a stand on not going would be pointless and saying what >I< would do has been clarified. I'm going to sit on my ass and watch it.
3. In general if a citizen of anywhere went somewhere else and made a stink, it depends on the subject. For instance, if I decided I wanted to go to Somalia and stand up for women who were being circumcised, I would think that would be a worthy cause. There would be women there who would need the support. BUT. I'd know the price and pay the price, if that meant jail/death sentence/having to talk to circumcising assholes.
4. This isn't quite circumcision grade abuse, BUT...athletes have had a reasonable expectation of fair treatment in the countries they go to historically. (Which has been violated by being murdered, blown up, etc.) and of course there's risks in travel. I think if you are gay and have been spending the majority of your life as an athlete hoping to go to the Olympics and Putin stomps on your sandcastle, a modicum of douche canoeing can be forgiven.

 

[Recidiva]

Double extra messed up post.

 

[KRCummings]

For fucks sake. This whole argument is stupid. It's the Olympics, everybody shut the fuck up and let them play. I'm sure any athlete who doesn't want to be there won't go. Nobody else matters.

 

[Beco]

https://sphotos-b-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/935941_10151559695524071_1164746173_n.jpg

 

[Sasha_Lyazzat]

Just so you know the Russian people as a whole are not anti-gay. That sentiment is more prevalent in the country. Within the cities not so much and those who may feel this way are still mostly tolerant. This was a push by the orthodox church which many of the old guard Russian leadership are members which of course backs Putin.

Mostly Russia is tolerant of gay people as long as you do not flaunt yourself in public. Putin is hardline and detests America but he is not stupid and needs at least a moderate friendship with America and the west for financial reasons. Putin will suspend that law during the Olympics regarding visiting athletes and spectators and said as much. But I would not tempt the fates by staging a protest while there.

My position is not to ruin the fortunes of athletes who have dedicated their lives for this one chance of a lifetime just because you do not like a law they passed as boycotting will not alter the law one bit. Putin will not back down.

 

[Recidiva]

Just so you know the Russian people as a whole are not anti-gay. That sentiment is more prevalent in the country. Within the cities not so much and those who may feel this way are still mostly tolerant. This was a push by the orthodox church which many of the old guard Russian leadership are members which of course backs Putin.

Mostly Russia is tolerant of gay people as long as you do not flaunt yourself in public. Putin is hardline and detests America but he is not stupid and needs at least a moderate friendship with America and the west for financial reasons. Putin will suspend that law during the Olympics regarding visiting athletes and spectators and said as much. But I would not tempt the fates by staging a protest while there.

My position is not to ruin the fortunes of athletes who have dedicated their lives for this one chance of a lifetime just because you do not like a law they passed as boycotting will not alter the law one bit. Putin will not back down.

Putin has to consolidate power because that's all he knows, and to do that he has to give Edward Snowden asylum (I feel sorry for both of them in that deal really) and push an offensive on something this silly.

I don't blame the Russian people, there are a lot of them, I'm sure some of them are sane.

 

[ms_ann_thrope]

Russia is just now starting to show a slight positive population growth. Putin, like the Catholic Church, must think they can fuck themselves into economic prosperity. Gays aren't doing their part.

 

[Sasha_Lyazzat]

Putin has to consolidate power because that's all he knows, and to do that he has to give Edward Snowden asylum (I feel sorry for both of them in that deal really) and push an offensive on something this silly.

I don't blame the Russian people, there are a lot of them, I'm sure some of them are sane.

Russian people are not much different than here. Government do not necessarily represent the people which I think could be said about the American government and its people. Russia is a very big country and diverse just like America. The country people are not very educated and it seems to me that prejudice and lack of education hold hands but this is just my observation.

I was brought up within the arts which the men are about 50-50 gay or straight or somewhere in the middle. Everybody knows this but it is not an issue. I do notice here in America there are laws to defend gay peoples but sexuality is actually a bigger issue here. But gay man in Russia is different. While some are effeminate they do not parade down the street in (I do not know the word to use) odd clothing let us say trying to provoke a reaction.

Please excuse that at times I may sound odd to you. I am taking English class to better myself but I think I make my point clear regardless of mistakes. At least I hope. Than you.

 

[Recidiva]

Russian people are not much different than here. Government do not necessarily represent the people which I think could be said about the American government and its people. Russia is a very big country and diverse just like America. The country people are not very educated and it seems to me that prejudice and lack of education hold hands but this is just my observation.

I was brought up within the arts which the men are about 50-50 gay or straight or somewhere in the middle. Everybody knows this but it is not an issue. I do notice here in America there are laws to defend gay peoples but sexuality is actually a bigger issue here. But gay man in Russia is different. While some are effeminate they do not parade down the street in (I do not know the word to use) odd clothing let us say trying to provoke a reaction.

Please excuse that at times I may sound odd to you. I am taking English class to better myself but I think I make my point clear regardless of mistakes. At least I hope. Than you.

I'm a big believer that people are people in whatever geographic location and some are going to be awesome and some are going to suck. I also don't hold people all that responsible for the dumbass things their government might say, as I sure can't do much about it here from my standpoint.

I took a semester of Russian, but other than thinking "f'ockno" for "out the window" was funny and writing in Cyrillic on blackboards to irritate teachers, I don't remember much of the language.

Your English is much better than my Russian, so good for you.

 

[Sasha_Lyazzat]

I'm a big believer that people are people in whatever geographic location and some are going to be awesome and some are going to suck. I also don't hold people all that responsible for the dumbass things their government might say, as I sure can't do much about it here from my standpoint.

I took a semester of Russian, but other than thinking "f'ockno" for "out the window" was funny and writing in Cyrillic on blackboards to irritate teachers, I don't remember much of the language.

Your English is much better than my Russian, so good for you.

Most Russians have love for everything American. I love America. I live with a host family and I am their son's dance instructor. They are also sponsoring my citizenship. I read a bit of the political posts here. They seems to hate America but at least they have the right to speak it. In Russia such talk would get them locked up. Hooliganism is not much tolerated in Russia.

Thank you for the compliment regarding my English. I learned English in school but my accent is very thick. My writing skills are much improving as we are required to write stories for class. The main critique I receive is run on sentences and words like they, they're, their, there, our, are, then, than. I learned friday that irregardless is not a word though many use it. This is what makes English hard and the slang of course. I found this website looking for literary sites. I do not think this is what my teacher had in mind but it allows freedom of expression so it seems like a good thing. I also like the pictures.

 

[Recidiva]

Most Russians have love for everything American. I love America. I live with a host family and I am their son's dance instructor. They are also sponsoring my citizenship. I read a bit of the political posts here. They seems to hate America but at least they have the right to speak it. In Russia such talk would get them locked up. Hooliganism is not much tolerated in Russia.

Thank you for the compliment regarding my English. I learned English in school but my accent is very thick. My writing skills are much improving as we are required to write stories for class. The main critique I receive is run on sentences and words like they, they're, their, there, our, are, then, than. I learned friday that irregardless is not a word though many use it. This is what makes English hard and the slang of course. I found this website looking for literary sites. I do not think this is what my teacher had in mind but it allows freedom of expression so it seems like a good thing. I also like the pictures.

America is a loud and boisterous place, and people take their freedoms seriously, and certainly complain a lot. BUT! They're also (in my experience) people from all over the world, so I can't love America without loving all nations, because they all find their way here. I think it's part of what makes America great, that the dirt and grit and conflict is right up front, but so is the joy and love and other good stuff.

Many people who speak English don't know the irregardless rule, you caring gives you a leg up

Enjoy your practice here!