AMERICAblog: Russian government brutally breaks up gay pride parade, again
cowboyneok
· 6 months ago
" Just because you throw out communism doesn't mean you get democracy in its stead. "
True, and just because some countries are mostly socialist doesn't mean they aren't really a mix of capitalism / socialism. The one thing I find ridiculous is the labeling politicians use to describe whether a country is socialist / capitalist. True adherence to one system is very rare.
"socialism (in Marxist theory) the stage following capitalism in the transition of a society to communism, characterized by the imperfect implementation of collectivist principles."
About the only society I can think ever came close to reaching communism are native cultures.
Third world capitalist countries, who ignore their poor, are the closest to a perfect form capitalism where the wealthy wall themselves off, and allow the poor to fend for themselves. Most tourists don't get to see this, by the way, because they think the Third World nation is the walled off Potemkin village where they stay on vacation.
Any nation who attempts to help the poor by squeezing those through taxation, like the Bush-Cheney crime families who try to enrich themselves beyond any measure of sanity or decency, are really a mish-mash of the two systems.
Human greed always ends up screwing up either system. If human greed could be controlled then true communism could flourish and everyone could live like they do on "Star Trek" episodes.
Queer_Canuck
· 6 months ago
It seems to me that one of the most socialistic institutions in the US is the military. Basically, once you're in, and as long as you don't mess up (which unfortunately includes being queer), all your needs -- housing, medical, educational -- are covered.
Suggestion: Pose this to a right-winger and watch his head explode.
cowboyneok
· 6 months ago
It is true and the military doesn't try to hide this fact. When I was in the military they told us, you are no longer in a Democracy. You are in the military which is a totally different system used to protect the Democracy of the United States of America. You lost all your rights in that Democracy when you signed on the dotted line and you now have only the rights spelled out to you in the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
Queer_Canuck
· 6 months ago
I agree that the military is not a democracy, but that doesn't make is socialistic. Socialism doesn't necessarily equate with lack of democracy -- many Western European countries are rather socialistic, but are still robust democracies. I'm thinking of socialism more as "we will provide all essential needs for you and your family".
cowboyneok
· 6 months ago
The military is more of a dictatorship protecting a democracy.
cowboyneok
· 6 months ago
As far as the gay issue is concerned, the homophobic culture of Russia is deeply embedded. In fact, I'd say its more embedded there than in the United States. The only way to end it is for the international community to stand up and say its wrong. The problem for gays in places like Iraq and Russia is the "beacon of human rights" the United States is just as homophobic as they are. The U.S. is WAYYYYY behind the curve on human rights for gays/lesbians and our politicians know it. Obama campaigned on being a fierce advocate and changing that perception but, so far, he hasn't done a damned thing for us. One reason why I hesitated to support Obama 100% when he was going for the nomination is I didn't have enough evidence to conclude whether or not he was a true "Martin Luther King" follower when it came to LGBT rights. There are plenty of African Americans who pressure Obama to "hate on the gays" and I couldn't determine whether or not he followed King's widow's admonishments to the African American groups who don't believe we are still an institutionalized minority in the United States. So far, I've been very non-plussed with the Obama administrations moves towards civil rights for the LGBT community. I'm still waiting for the "fierce advocate." Its like the debate on torture. There should be NO DEBATE on the recognition of civil rights. It should just be done, so the United States can begin to be that shining beacon again.
Jophus
· 6 months ago
I'm totally with you on waiting for Obama to do the things he promised. I was wondering though, do you really think homophobia in Russia is comparable to Iraq? If you have links please share them. I don't really know where there is an international gay news source.
"What happened in Moscow must not be ignored by the international community and by foreign governments.... Everyone saw how human rights and the rights of sexual minorities are violated in Russia," said Russian gay rights activist Nikolai Alexeyev, who was released from jail on Sunday."
Weltallica
· 6 months ago
And Americans continue to watch.
cowboyneok
· 6 months ago
Well, its kind of hard for America to do anything when it doesn't allow LGBT to serve in the military or get married like a lot of other countries... We used to be an example for positive changes and promotion of civil rights. Now we lag behind other nations, and torture people. We have a long way to go before we can be that positive example to other nations again.
good article on Bush Admin keeping much needed helicopters away from New Orleans after Katrina.
FatRat
· 6 months ago
What are they talking about? PR problem? Rummy wants to keep low mileage on the choppers? I know it must be obvious, but I'm not following it very well. A short explanation, would be appreciated. Thanks in advance. ---Rumsfeld replied by trotting out the ongoing National Guard deployments and suggesting that sending active-duty troops would create "unity of command" issues.---
cowboyneok
· 6 months ago
Yea, well, your guess is as good as mine? I think it mostly has to do with Rummy's judgment. Bad during Katrina, and bad regarding everything else.
FatRat
· 6 months ago
I got my fingers crossed that Olbermann, Stewart and Colbert (the Holy Trilogy of News) will be sorting it out tonight.
cowboyneok
· 6 months ago
Yes! Me too. But don't forget Rachel Maddow, our queen.
FatRat
· 6 months ago
I haven't watched Rachel yet. Not entirely true, I watched her when she filled in for Olbermann. I'll have to try and catch her show, since she is the queen. If I add her to my Trilogy of News, I'll have to rename it. Maybe the Quadrilateral of Quality or Square News. lol
cowboyneok
· 6 months ago
I consider her our "queen of LGBT issues." She fights hard for our side.
FatRat
· 6 months ago
Looking at a Maddow video on Youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWoQWZtVs9k&feat... I like her spunk. She claims that Coulter was an ex-girlfriend. Good humor and an intellect is a fantastic combo.
Older_Wiser
· 6 months ago
The Russian gay rights movement is similar to that of the US in the 60s. Even now, the Rethugs are putting abortion on the back burner as a campaign issue, considering it a losing battle at this point and shining up their jackboots for the coming assault on the LGBT community, gay marriage and other rights guaranteed by the Constitution.
It's much easier to beat up on the smaller demographic of the LGBT community than to defend their stance on the rights of 51% of the population being able to control their own bodies and reproduction.
ShirleyGoodnessanMercy
· 6 months ago
Funny. 500 years ago western Europeans who visited Russia were shocked to see gay men kissing and holding hands there. Then they started spreading their homophobia in Russia and it stuck.
Today gay people are very visible in Russia but it's kind of like the Paul Lynde/Charles Nelson Reilly era where entertainers were obviously gay yet no one EVER uttered a word about them being gay. Check out the delightful gay judge in this clip from a Russian "Skating with the Stars" show: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydj7q5NfY74 Skip ahead to the 6 minute mark to see the gay judge yelling out a song request to the hottie singer Sergey Lazarev, and then watch him openly swoon on Russian TV. Sergey Lazarev, incidentally, spoke out against the violence against gays at the Moscow Pride last year.
Jophus
· 6 months ago
If anyone reading this find this hard to believe it's true and you should look into gay history across the world before there were christian missions everywhere. Nearly every culture had gays and even transexuals that were accepted as equals.
Also look into the gay scene in America in the 20's. You'll be surprised.
Jason
· 6 months ago
Good. Serves Them Right.....Fags
If you have nothing to contribute other than your homophobic stupidity, then get lost.
ramal
· 6 months ago
PLEASE, JASON, GET A LIFE AND GET IT ON ANOTHER PLANET.
Please, ramal, lose the ALL CAPS.
ramal
· 6 months ago
Our Gay Brothers and Sisters in Russia need our support. Please do something as simple as calling the Russian Embassy in Washington (202-298-5700) and the Russian Consulate in New York (212-348-0926) to voice your outrage and indignation at this suppression of basic human rights. "THEY SAY GET BACK, WE SAY FIGHT BACK!!!"
All Comments
True, and just because some countries are mostly socialist doesn't mean they aren't really a mix of capitalism / socialism. The one thing I find ridiculous is the labeling politicians use to describe whether a country is socialist / capitalist. True adherence to one system is very rare.
"socialism (in Marxist theory) the stage following capitalism in the transition of a society to communism, characterized by the imperfect implementation of collectivist principles."
About the only society I can think ever came close to reaching communism are native cultures.
Third world capitalist countries, who ignore their poor, are the closest to a perfect form capitalism where the wealthy wall themselves off, and allow the poor to fend for themselves. Most tourists don't get to see this, by the way, because they think the Third World nation is the walled off Potemkin village where they stay on vacation.
Any nation who attempts to help the poor by squeezing those through taxation, like the Bush-Cheney crime families who try to enrich themselves beyond any measure of sanity or decency, are really a mish-mash of the two systems.
Human greed always ends up screwing up either system. If human greed could be controlled then true communism could flourish and everyone could live like they do on "Star Trek" episodes.
Suggestion: Pose this to a right-winger and watch his head explode.
http://www.pinkpanthersblog.com/
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090517/wl_canada_...
"What happened in Moscow must not be ignored by the international community and by foreign governments.... Everyone saw how human rights and the rights of sexual minorities are violated in Russia," said Russian gay rights activist Nikolai Alexeyev, who was released from jail on Sunday."
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/5/17/732410/...
good article on Bush Admin keeping much needed helicopters away from New Orleans after Katrina.
---Rumsfeld replied by trotting out the ongoing National Guard deployments and suggesting that sending active-duty troops would create "unity of command" issues.---
I like her spunk. She claims that Coulter was an ex-girlfriend. Good humor and an intellect is a fantastic combo.
It's much easier to beat up on the smaller demographic of the LGBT community than to defend their stance on the rights of 51% of the population being able to control their own bodies and reproduction.
Today gay people are very visible in Russia but it's kind of like the Paul Lynde/Charles Nelson Reilly era where entertainers were obviously gay yet no one EVER uttered a word about them being gay. Check out the delightful gay judge in this clip from a Russian "Skating with the Stars" show:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydj7q5NfY74
Skip ahead to the 6 minute mark to see the gay judge yelling out a song request to the hottie singer Sergey Lazarev, and then watch him openly swoon on Russian TV. Sergey Lazarev, incidentally, spoke out against the violence against gays at the Moscow Pride last year.
Also look into the gay scene in America in the 20's. You'll be surprised.
If you have nothing to contribute other than your homophobic stupidity, then get lost.
Please, ramal, lose the ALL CAPS.