O, what a beautiful world this is! You’ve got summer and winter; spring and fall; you can be either resting at a resort, or working. This world is just full of contrasts, shades, and connotations.
For simple folks, there are only two options. It’s either winter or fall. It’s either you’re with us, or you’re with the terrorists. It’s either you support the troops, or you oppose the war.
The Soviet leader Nikita Khruschev is attributed the following quote: “There are two opinions: one is mine; another one is a stupid one.”
So true with some Russian people in Russia proper and in the Baltics as the debate over the Tallinn’s Bronze Soldier raves on. In a recent conversation over the debacle, the trump argument has been: would you like to wear a swastika?
How childish. How absurd. How ridiculous.
Of course, it’s tempting to draw in the history and consider the facts that, well, moving a monument is not a big deal, that re-burying the dead in a cemetery under the military honors is a good thing. Anyway, it’s better than moving the remains to make way for a highway.
But wouldn’t we then too exercise in the futility?
According to my dictionary, fascism is “a governmental system led by a dictator having complete power, forcibly suppressing opposition and criticism, regimenting all industry, commerce, etc., and emphasizing an aggressive nationalism and often racism.”
Let’s take a look at Estonia, which is often accused of fascism by the Eastern, rather large neighbor.
“..a governmental system led by a dictator…”
Estonia has held many elections. The existing government — like it or not — was elected by the people of Estonia. And, furthermore, the party of the Estonia’s Prime Minister didn’t hide the fact that they were going to move the monument. Now Estonian people voted for their government. Therefore, it’s the will of Estonian people as a whole.
“…having complete power…”
The Estonian Parliament still meets. The government is still accountable. No one supreme leader can overrule the Legislature.
“…forcibly suppressing opposition and criticism…”
One could say, well, the ban on meetings is the suppression of opposition. I’d say, if the national security is at stake — and we believe it is — it’s the government’s job to protect its people by all means necessary. The Web sites of groups that allegedly staged last weekend’s drunken fest are still operational. Only now, they remind their visitors to follow the laws of the Republic of Estonia and no incite hatred toward any people. The notice appeared after the leaders of the movement have been arrested. No posts have been edited by any government.
“…regimenting all industry, commerce, etc., and emphasizing an aggressive nationalism and often racism…”
The regiment part is not true in case of Estonia. The emphasis on an aggressive nationalism hasn’t come out from any official in Tallinn. In fact, something of an opposite is true. Estonian officials called for calm and understanding in this situation. “People, stay home,” said Estonia’s Prime Minister.
Let’s take the same definition and apply it to Russia:
“…a governmental system led by a dictator, having complete power…”
Now we could make Russian President Vladimir Putin a dictator. But considering that pro-Kremlin parties contain the majority of the Duma, one is tempted to suggest that Putin really has an absolute power. In other words, the Legislature cannot question the President. Or it doesn’t want to.
“….forcibly suppressing opposition and criticism…”
Now we’ve seen what took place in Russia in recent weeks. A group of protesters against the Kremlin policies were beaten by law enforcement agencies. The mass media, in its majority, touts the line of Kremlin. Be it Estonia, Latvia, Armenia, Georgia, or events in Moscow, or St. Petersburg.
“…regimenting all industry, commerce, etc….”
In Russia, the state controls the stake in most resources. It’s hard to be a business opposing the official line in Russia, really.
“…and emphasizing an aggressive nationalism and often racism…”
The recent events in front of the Estonian Embassy in Moscow is a prime example of the state-supported, or allowed, nationalism. The shouts of those who participated in the pogrom in Tallinn was not “Estonia, Estonia.” It was “Russia, Russia.” The aggression shown toward two ambassadors of two independent countries is appalling.
From this: One can safely conclude that by comparison Russia today is a likely candidate for a title Fascists R Us than the small Baltic country.
However, here, one named Michael from Tomsk posted a comment filled with slime and left. The same Michael appears here, here, and many other places.
So, cut-and-paste Michael engages in what we call “a propaganda.”