Thank you, Winston and O'Brien, for bringing this to our attention. The Holodomor should be incanted like poor Hodor in our very own real-world Game of Thrones: "Holodomor, Holodomor..." The depth of suffering is avoided by most as it is too much to bear. Far easier, lazier, safer, to sit back and watch Netflix. No wait, Mr Jones is on. Those poor Ukrainians. Whatever next? More wine, dear?
That's why it is so important that you continue to speak out. You need to call out the new batch of 'useful idiots' who parrot this, or any, propaganda. Some seem to think that their hatred for socialism, provides protection from the nationalistic propaganda of today. No one is as superable to propaganda, as those who consider themselves immune.
I see so many hide behind this ambiguity, to question the acts committed by the Russian forces. The peoples of Eastern Europe know this first hand, the cost of not standing up to the aggression. Makes you wonder how anyone in the west can justify not supporting the independence of ex-USSR countries? We should all know by that an invader is rarely, if ever, a force for good.
Good points David and needed encouragement to continue to speak out, and for O'Brien as well who is quite a bit younger than I but more aware of the history and politics of past events like Holodomor.
That is what makes it so important. I see many who seem to be in denial. Considering the Russian history of inhuman occupation, how can we continue to accept the obvious propaganda?
It's true that, as you said, "propaganda is everywhere", but we can't hide behind this as rational to ignore what has happened, and is probably happening again. If this propaganda keeps us from calling out the actual acts, it has succeeded. Propaganda doesn't need your belief, just your distrust and suspicion of the news.
We don't have to wait to "discern if there are any 'good guys'", to call out bad acts. This can lead to paralysis, and this paralysis emboldens the aggressor.
I agree we can't hide behind the fact that propaganda is everywhere, but when you have situations where Western media report on some horror the Russians have executed upon the Ukrainians and then a counter report that it was Nazi Ukrainians against other Ukrainians, only to be countered by further reports that the Nazi story was just Russian propaganda... without being on the ground, in that actual conflict, it is difficult sometimes to call out the bad actors. Now that's not to ignore the aggression of the Russians, nor their history, nor the internal war that's been going on there for decades. So for some I'm not sure if it's denial or just confusion.
I don't think that Russia cares if you actually believe them, or are confused, as long as you don't blame them. And, knowing their recent history, why do you think that they deserve the benefit of the doubt?
Robert Conquest wrote Harvest of Sorrow back in 1986, for which he was roundly mocked. When the Soviet Union collapsed, and the truth about the Holodomor was revealed, Kingsley Amis told Robert that he should issue a new edition of Harvest of Sorrow, with the subtitle "I Told You So, You Fucking Fools!".
Apr 23, 2022·edited Apr 23, 2022Liked by Winston Smith
Thank you; just horrifying. Sadly, reminds me of China's famine Subscribing...
Interesting about Muggeridge; did not know the Ukraine connection among the factors in his "conversion." He tells a story in one of his autobiographies about a cross on a wall in an abandoned chapel in Russia; stripped of everything Christian. And how the absent cross had nevertheless left a "shadow" on the wall because it had been there for so many years; and would outlast the regime.
Sometimes words fail me. What does one say after reading a of yet another horror story of inflicted misery and crimes against a population?
https://youtu.be/cPkChi1ckq0
How about 'not again'?
Thank you, Winston and O'Brien, for bringing this to our attention. The Holodomor should be incanted like poor Hodor in our very own real-world Game of Thrones: "Holodomor, Holodomor..." The depth of suffering is avoided by most as it is too much to bear. Far easier, lazier, safer, to sit back and watch Netflix. No wait, Mr Jones is on. Those poor Ukrainians. Whatever next? More wine, dear?
Yes, again, poor Ukrainians. And now that you know, what are you going to do about it? So much easier to complain about being lied to, isn't it?
It is true that most people are uninformed about lots of historical events, especially those that took place in other parts of the world.
How do you teach the people who continue to fall for the propaganda coming out of Russia?
propaganda is everywhere and it's difficult to discern if there are any 'good guys' at all (I mean in places of power).
That's why it is so important that you continue to speak out. You need to call out the new batch of 'useful idiots' who parrot this, or any, propaganda. Some seem to think that their hatred for socialism, provides protection from the nationalistic propaganda of today. No one is as superable to propaganda, as those who consider themselves immune.
I see so many hide behind this ambiguity, to question the acts committed by the Russian forces. The peoples of Eastern Europe know this first hand, the cost of not standing up to the aggression. Makes you wonder how anyone in the west can justify not supporting the independence of ex-USSR countries? We should all know by that an invader is rarely, if ever, a force for good.
Good points David and needed encouragement to continue to speak out, and for O'Brien as well who is quite a bit younger than I but more aware of the history and politics of past events like Holodomor.
That is what makes it so important. I see many who seem to be in denial. Considering the Russian history of inhuman occupation, how can we continue to accept the obvious propaganda?
It's true that, as you said, "propaganda is everywhere", but we can't hide behind this as rational to ignore what has happened, and is probably happening again. If this propaganda keeps us from calling out the actual acts, it has succeeded. Propaganda doesn't need your belief, just your distrust and suspicion of the news.
We don't have to wait to "discern if there are any 'good guys'", to call out bad acts. This can lead to paralysis, and this paralysis emboldens the aggressor.
I agree we can't hide behind the fact that propaganda is everywhere, but when you have situations where Western media report on some horror the Russians have executed upon the Ukrainians and then a counter report that it was Nazi Ukrainians against other Ukrainians, only to be countered by further reports that the Nazi story was just Russian propaganda... without being on the ground, in that actual conflict, it is difficult sometimes to call out the bad actors. Now that's not to ignore the aggression of the Russians, nor their history, nor the internal war that's been going on there for decades. So for some I'm not sure if it's denial or just confusion.
I don't think that Russia cares if you actually believe them, or are confused, as long as you don't blame them. And, knowing their recent history, why do you think that they deserve the benefit of the doubt?
Robert Conquest wrote Harvest of Sorrow back in 1986, for which he was roundly mocked. When the Soviet Union collapsed, and the truth about the Holodomor was revealed, Kingsley Amis told Robert that he should issue a new edition of Harvest of Sorrow, with the subtitle "I Told You So, You Fucking Fools!".
What will we say now, with what you know about Russian (and Soviet) treatment of Ukrainians (not to mention Chechens, Kazakhs etc)?
Russians aren't communists, now, so they're bad again.
I try and judge people by their actions, not what side they're on.
Thank you; just horrifying. Sadly, reminds me of China's famine Subscribing...
Interesting about Muggeridge; did not know the Ukraine connection among the factors in his "conversion." He tells a story in one of his autobiographies about a cross on a wall in an abandoned chapel in Russia; stripped of everything Christian. And how the absent cross had nevertheless left a "shadow" on the wall because it had been there for so many years; and would outlast the regime.
Here's my take on the Ukraine issue: https://mistermicawber.substack.com/p/engineering-selective-outrage-about?r=110wl5&s=w&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web