New Olympic sport - Bashing Beijing!

[bookworm_020]

The acitivists are off and racing. Just don't ask where the starters gun is pointed!

http://www.smh.com.au/news/web/bashi...e#contentSwap2

[Dmitry Markov]

Some silly graphics IMHO. Why all those "freedom fighters" won't find themselves a better job? If they are so eager to create something why don't they produce some pieces of art instead this crap....

Sorry for being emotional

[Steel_Tomb]

Dmitry Markov, I'm not sure why you would be so against these images. I think you underestimate the power of media! I personally think they do a good job of the complete utter discontent the Chinese regime shows for its people. They have every right to speak out against their government, christ its a daily occurrence here! The poster on the left is quite relevant since the "disappearance" of dozens of monks who protested about China's occupation of Tibet. Some of these monks are still in their teens, 15, 17, 20! Perhaps if you didn't enjoy the freedom you do you may feel differently...

Edit, I see you live in Russia. Perhaps you may not understand true freedom then with Putin's cronies in power... perhaps your attitude towards these "freedom fighters" (I'd just call them normal people wanting their own freedom!) stems from your regimes BS talk about Chechnya?

An example of the so called Chinese "justice" system!

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/rtrs/200804...t-553508c.html

He's in jail for merely speaking out against communist oppression, his wife is also under house arrest.

[Happy Times]

Originally Posted by Steel_Tomb

Dmitry Markov, I'm not sure why you would be so against these images. I think you underestimate the power of media! I personally think they do a good job of the complete utter discontent the Chinese regime shows for its people. They have every right to speak out against their government, christ its a daily occurrence here! The poster on the left is quite relevant since the "disappearance" of dozens of monks who protested about China's occupation of Tibet. Some of these monks are still in their teens, 15, 17, 20! Perhaps if you didn't enjoy the freedom you do you may feel differently...

Edit, I see you live in Russia. Perhaps you may not understand true freedom then with Putin's cronies in power... perhaps your attitude towards these "freedom fighters" (I'd just call them normal people wanting their own freedom!) stems from your regimes BS talk about Chechnya?

An example of the so called Chinese "justice" system!

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/rtrs/200804...t-553508c.html

He's in jail for merely speaking out against communist oppression, his wife is also under house arrest.

Russians have different wiews about these things, but most of them really are content with what they have. Im lately feeling that as long as trade would work between us, im not going to stress about them.

[Dmitry Markov]

Steel_Tomb what do you mean by "true freedom"? I've never met any restrictions from our authorities to do whatever I want (and so never met any restrictions all of my friends and people I know). Of course I'm not a political extremist or a football hooligan. I do not have any intent to go out in the street to burn somebody's property. Look maybe you don't have an adequate info about life in Russia as your press (except Guardian) is tend to make a monster out of my country. Of course life level of most part of our people is lower than in UK. But everybody is free to go whatever he/she wants, do any business he/she likes and to speak anything he/she likes. I repeat - as for myself I always speak what I mean and I've never been in any way pursued by authorities. Of course I try not to offend anyone (not because of fear of authorities but because my upbringing and educational level does not allow me to). I suppose if I would go into street and burn somebody's property, or if I would call my friends and we would walk along the street crying something like "We want Yushenko to be president of Russia" (blocking traffic and causing other troubles to normal people) - then I believe I would have some troubles with law. If that is the "true freedom" we lack in your oppinion.... :hmm: I don't think i loose too much

Best Regards

[Steel_Tomb]

Originally Posted by Dmitry Markov

Steel_Tomb what do you mean by "true freedom"? I've never met any restrictions from our authorities to do whatever I want (and so never met any restrictions all of my friends and people I know). Of course I'm not a political extremist or a football hooligan. I do not have any intent to go out in the street to burn somebody's property. Look maybe you don't have an adequate info about life in Russia as your press (except Guardian) is tend to make a monster out of my country. Of course life level of most part of our people is lower than in UK. But everybody is free to go whatever he/she wants, do any business he/she likes and to speak anything he/she likes. I repeat - as for myself I always speak what I mean and I've never been in any way pursued by authorities. Of course I try not to offend anyone (not because of fear of authorities but because my upbringing and educational level does not allow me to). I suppose if I would go into street and burn somebody's property, or if I would call my friends and we would walk along the street crying something like "We want Yushenko to be president of Russia" (blocking traffic and causing other troubles to normal people) - then I believe I would have some troubles with law. If that is the "true freedom" we lack in your oppinion.... :hmm: I don't think i loose too much

Best Regards

I mean no offense to you, its the government that controls Russia I have a problem with.

Its funny how you mention about the British press (granted some papers here print absolute dross, but for the most part its good stuff), when the Kremlin has removed all free media and replaced it with a propaganda machine. Journalists who find out something the Kremlin doesn't like simply disappear by the KGB...oh, sorry I meant "FSB" (same thing!). The truth doesn't come out in Russia, if the Government doesn't want people to know about it, there will simply be a blackout. It all started with the Kursk incident, Putin saw how damaging the press and free media could be to his so called "democratic" regime. Therefore he simply waved his hand and abolished the free press. Again, living conditions for you and fellow Russian citizens would be much better if the regime would concentrate on serving its population instead of its military. Russia is still a country of super power military status, but third world living conditions. To think about all the money that Russia has received from its energy exports, very little of that seems to go into public services it all goes to the military, or the corrupt billionaires that solidified their monopolies after the collapse of the USSR.

If Russia could become a truly democratic nation, I would be very happy. Russians are very proud of their country, like I imagine you are. Its just a shame that a few people can destroy all that potential.

[Happy Times]

Originally Posted by Steel_Tomb

I mean no offense to you, its the government that controls Russia I have a problem with.

Its funny how you mention about the British press (granted some papers here print absolute dross, but for the most part its good stuff), when the Kremlin has removed all free media and replaced it with a propaganda machine. Journalists who find out something the Kremlin doesn't like simply disappear by the KGB...oh, sorry I meant "FSB" (same thing!). The truth doesn't come out in Russia, if the Government doesn't want people to know about it, there will simply be a blackout. It all started with the Kursk incident, Putin saw how damaging the press and free media could be to his so called "democratic" regime. Therefore he simply waved his hand and abolished the free press. Again, living conditions for you and fellow Russian citizens would be much better if the regime would concentrate on serving its population instead of its military. Russia is still a country of super power military status, but third world living conditions. To think about all the money that Russia has received from its energy exports, very little of that seems to go into public services it all goes to the military.

The Russian people want a strong military, they support this policy.
Putins time has seen enough improvements for the common people that they are happy and believe in the future.

[GlobalExplorer]

I guess it's time for a new sig.

[CCIP]

Originally Posted by Steel_Tomb

Edit, I see you live in Russia. Perhaps you may not understand true freedom then with Putin's cronies in power... perhaps your attitude towards these "freedom fighters" (I'd just call them normal people wanting their own freedom!) stems from your regimes BS talk about Chechnya?

bah, I couldn't steer away.

Not to defend Russia's regime or position here, but 1) I've lived in both the "East" and West, and I'm not sure you uderstand true freedom either; 2) I've done a rather large amount of research on Chechnya, and while the Russian government had indeed bent backwards to justify the unjustifyable costs of the war, I'm afraid most of the BS regarding the "freedom fighters" has been decidedly flowing from the Western media.

[Steel_Tomb]

Originally Posted by CCIP

bah, I couldn't steer away.

Not to defend Russia's regime or position here, but 1) I've lived in both the "East" and West, and I'm not sure you uderstand true freedom either; 2) I've done a rather large amount of research on Chechnya, and while the Russian government had indeed bent backwards to justify the unjustifyable costs of the war, I'm afraid most of the BS regarding the "freedom fighters" has been decidedly flowing from the Western media.

None of us have "true freedom", because we're still bound by law set up by the government. However, "freedom" is something in much shorter supply in Russia with the restrictions placed upon its media, and the way in which the Kremlin has its dirty hands on every single area of the economy and everyday life. So no, I don't know what "true freedom" is, but I've got a damned better idea when I'm able to criticize my government without being locked up and having the key thrown away.

[PeriscopeDepth]

Originally Posted by Dmitry Markov

Steel_Tomb what do you mean by "true freedom"? I've never met any restrictions from our authorities to do whatever I want (and so never met any restrictions all of my friends and people I know). Of course I'm not a political extremist or a football hooligan. I do not have any intent to go out in the street to burn somebody's property. Look maybe you don't have an adequate info about life in Russia as your press (except Guardian) is tend to make a monster out of my country. Of course life level of most part of our people is lower than in UK. But everybody is free to go whatever he/she wants, do any business he/she likes and to speak anything he/she likes. I repeat - as for myself I always speak what I mean and I've never been in any way pursued by authorities. Of course I try not to offend anyone (not because of fear of authorities but because my upbringing and educational level does not allow me to). I suppose if I would go into street and burn somebody's property, or if I would call my friends and we would walk along the street crying something like "We want Yushenko to be president of Russia" (blocking traffic and causing other troubles to normal people) - then I believe I would have some troubles with law. If that is the "true freedom" we lack in your oppinion.... :hmm: I don't think i loose too much

Best Regards

Hey Dmitry,

I can't say anything about life in Russia, but it does seem to me any journalist or ex government official (basically anybody who the media will pay attention to if they talk) will get themselves myseriously whacked if they say anything bad enough about Putin & Co.

PD

[Dmitry Markov]

There is America-payed FM radio station "Echo of Moscow" still intact and it seems it always will be no matter what they say. Also there are a lot of newspapers such as "Vedomosti", "Novaya Gazeta" and so on. All of them share views from rather critical to near radical anti-Putin ("Echo of Moscow"). Nobody is going to close them. Some critical material you may usually find on pages of RBC (russian business consulting). You can't say that every one criticising Putin immediately goes to jail. It's completely not what's going on. And still our life is much better than what was in 90-s. In every single aspect.

Best Regards.

[GlobalExplorer]

Originally Posted by Dmitry Markov

You can't say that every one criticising Putin immediately goes to jail.

Of course, there have been cases of people who did not go to jail immediately.

Originally Posted by Dmitry Markov

It's completely not what's going on. And still our life is much better than what was in 90-s. In every single aspect.

The so called russian soul.

A customer asks at a shop, 'What's this, you don't have any bread again?'
'That's not true! There's no bread in the shop opposite. We don't have meat.'

[August]

Originally Posted by Mikhayl

Some don't go to jail at all, they're hit by a disease called "bullet in the neck" or something like that.

Like a radioactive cocktail?

[Tchocky]

Ha, the Olympics. A level playing field for all people. In China.


Ha.