Where did I say I don't recognize the brutality and the dysfunction of the US police?
So what do I not understand about ACAB?
I am not talking about US internal polemics. I am saying that a concept such as "ACAB" is not fundamentally not viable. You need a police force. One that takes the side of the people when things get tough.
Nah, it's because the article is bullshit.
The "kind of see where both sides are coming from" is de facto support for russian genocidal imperialism.
We don't need Pushkin statues, we have our own artists and our own heroes.
Getting rid of russian language and russian "culture" is a legitimate aim when your country has suffered multiple genocides and centuries of colonialism. Russian culture is trash and has no value. It's like saying Islamic state culture is legitimate. Would you be opposed to getting rid of Nazis imagery too?
This is just the economist's version of teenage edgelord posts. I would like to invite the author and their family to Donbas (this is where me and my family or from), we'll see what he thinks about Pushkin after that.
Why do you assume I or my buddies have any opinion on “all lives matter”. I am not from the US.
I am talking about practical, real world matters. A good police institution, one that is loyal to society and not to oligarchs/crooks is something to strive for. Meaningless, self-indulgent polemics such as "ACAB" (if you can even call this a polemic) is not the way to go.
Because "ACAB" is not a viable approach. Even in a society where all the oligarchs and their lackeys are serving multi-decade prison terms, you still need a police institution.
And framing this as a "competition" inherently whitewashes the crimes of the russian police.
Have you ever dealt with russian police? And if yes, in what context? What is your russian like, what level is it?
Keep in mind I explicitly said that US police are brutal.
I have had interactions with police in both russia and US (I am not white). It is not even close.
Police in the US clearly do a lot of very bad, brutal things, but they still have a measure of self-control.
Russian police are literally more like open criminals without any sort of accountability (outside of targetting say the son of a well connected government thug or oligarch by mistake). Russian police are completely unhinged.
Oligarchs is IMO a better term for our times. Robbers Barons has an archaic sound to it.
I've also noticed defenders of corruption/oligarchs really dislike this term.
The sad thing is you're probably right.
It would take massive social changes, setting Elmo as an explicit target (corruption, fraud) and unprecedented global political realignment.
Horrible death to die in the hands of some vile thugs.
"Ultra nationalist" ideas have always been mainstream among a strong majority of russians. The framing might have been a bit more subtle, but end the result (and desires) has always been the same.
Until russians are forced to confront their deep rooted genocidal imperialism, they will not change.
The "russians are all innocent and afraid" rhetoric is not doing them any favours.
I was really hoping that Georgians would be able to put down Ivanishvili/GD. But then again it's only been a few months.
Europe needs to get rid of all russians.
No visiting EU for any russian citizens until russia leaves all occupied territories, hands over all war criminals and provides financial compensation for all the damage they've done.
Russians can playing the victim. You're not doing them any favours by coddling them and treating them like infants.