Russian Anti-gay laws and violence, and the Olympic (Winter) Games.

[rvg]

And so the thread comes to its successful Godwinian ending. As they all do.

[Montmorency]

Huh, I'm not equating the present-day Russians to "evil Nazi scum" or whatever, I'm just using the example of Nazi Germany to put up an argument for the power of society in determining individual action

- or something like that.

I suppose it's no coincidence that this book I linked is the book I'm currently reading.

[HoreTore]

And so the thread comes to its successful Godwinian ending. As they all do.

What a truly pathetic response to a very good post. Grow up.

As for Monty, I was kinda surprised to see such a long post on that topic without a reference to Hannah Aarendt... If you haven't read her, you should

[Montmorency]

Looking at the post the following morning, I see it's customarily vague, digressive, and incomplete. It's like a handful of pieces to the corners of a jig-saw puzzle. There's even an actual thought-break in the middle!

I just want to emphasize though, with reference to the transcripts, that these are spontaneous conversations between peers in various branches of the German Armed Forces (mainly Wehrmacht). They reflect in a broad way not just what was acceptable for discussion between such men - soldiers - but the - I don't know, say inflection - brought to the subject. Also, I could have commentated on some of the individual conversations more, though perhaps some would say that it's better to let the men speak for themselves...

If you haven't read her, you should

You'd be surprised at how many people I haven't read - or would you?

[Sarmatian]

Not to disagree that there are huge problems for LGBT population in Russia, but the bottom line is, there's not a single country in the world where alternative sexualities are 100% accepted.

Those competitions need a venue and it's not the first time the venue isn't 100% perfect in all ways. But, since it's Russia in this case (as it was with Beijing 2010) it's so cool to point it out.

In other news, the sky is blue, water is wet and the Earth keeps spinning.

[rvg]

Careful there, you might interrupt an lgbt/holocaust circlejerk.

[Papewaio]

Not to disagree that there are huge problems for LGBT population in Russia, but the bottom line is, there's not a single country in the world where alternative sexualities are 100% accepted.

Those competitions need a venue and it's not the first time the venue isn't 100% perfect in all ways. But, since it's Russia in this case (as it was with Beijing 2010) it's so cool to point it out.

In other news, the sky is blue, water is wet and the Earth keeps spinning.

Because legalized gay marriage in some countries is equivalent to being tortured by countrymen, persecuted by the state or jailed for being gay in other countries.

Of course some might argue in the same fashion that water boarding is college pranks and that marriage is torture.

A sports event is an entertainment venue. I do not think we should celebrate such a backwards country just because a corrupt Olympic committe got a few extra back handers to select it.

[Sarmatian]

Marriage is torture, that's an axiom. :)

On a serious note, I don't disagree that situation is bad in that regard in Russia. What I despise, though, is selective outrage over it.

South Africa is many, many times worse than Russia when it comes LGBT rights. Where was the outrage back then?

[Kralizec]

South Africa is a hostile environment for LGBT people due to bad law enforcement. Russia has the same problem but has opted to enshrine this bigotry into law by making "homosexual propaganda" a criminal offense. Pretty big difference.

[HoreTore]

Marriage is torture, that's an axiom. :)

On a serious note, I don't disagree that situation is bad in that regard in Russia. What I despise, though, is selective outrage over it.

South Africa is many, many times worse than Russia when it comes LGBT rights. Where was the outrage back then?

Where the outrage was? All over the place?