Quote:
Originally Posted by Dondilion
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I have very limited empathy (as in none) for the Russian people. Any argument empathizing with the Russian people is reminiscent of the Good German argument after WW2. Russia is waging an aggressive war replete with documented war crimes and it's individual Russians carrying out this campaign as directed by Putin. The Russian economy supports the ongoing conflict and the Russian people are involved, whether they're actively engaged in the fighting or not. Their inaction on the home front is tacit acceptance of the war and its wanton brutality.
Some Germans had the integrity to attempt the assassination of Hitler on multiple occasions. Unfortunately they failed. Those that made the attempt are correctly lauded for the effort. If past is prologue, Russians won't act. The costs are high, the rewards uncertain, the penalties for failure certain death. But it is a choice, and history will judge both Russia and its people for their actions and inaction. Even if Russians end up struggling mightily and find themselves pushing shopping carts of worthless Rubles through the muddy snows of Moscow to buy a loaf of black bread, they won't do shit.
Russian society at large is brutish, dishonest, profoundly corrupt and completely caught up in their history of lies, victimization and imperial glory. Having traveled and/or worked in over 60 countries, I've said (long before the war in Ukraine) that the only countries I've been to where the people are generally nasty and unfriendly with a persistent chip on their shoulders are Russia and Israel. Israel wasn't that way the first time I went there (mid 1980's) but was very much that way the second time (~2015). A significant and interesting difference between those times was the current number of Russians in Israel (~10% of total population) whereas there were essentially none the first time.