Earlier this year, Belarus, "spontaneously" , popped into centerstage on Western Media outlets. They recycled the usual comical narrative of "Pro-democracy opposition" against the "brutal dictator." I am always awed by the number of grown adults who accept very serious newspapers referring to anyone as "pro-democracy” candidates. Of course the opposition, like the incumbent, are "pro-democracy," that is why they are both participating in an election!
I don't agree with Bob B, and especially with his attitude. But IMHO this podcast was poor. First, how can you write about the events of the past few months and not discuss or even barely mention the election. Does Elaina think Lushenko actually won the election? (Nobody does, btw.) If not, does she think it matters? 2. The references to "paid" instigators, starting fights with police, e.g., is old and tired. Who paid them? It's as bad as a Southerner talking about outside agitators. 3. You can't attack someone like Svetlana Alexievich off-hand, without backing it up. Her books are great, esp Voices from Chernobyl and Unwomanly Face of War. (When you have time, pick up Voices.) 4. A lot of leftists support the Hong Kong protests and oppose Beijing's effort to suppress that movement. For us, it's natural that HK protesters recognize and support the opposition to a dictator who presides over phony elections, locks up the opposition, etc. 5. At the end, Elaina refers to Belarus Marxists who support the laboring people. I'd like to hear more about the Marxist left in the former Soviet bloc, instead of cliches about how popular color revolutions are always bad because the west supports them.
This point of view is very narrow in my opinion. It skips the entire history of 26 years of dictatorship. It does not take into consideration years of blocking ANY opposition to current dictator and YEARs of people leaving without any sign of democracy. Every country has connections to its neighbors, so I do not see this conflict as fight for euro-Belarus against Russia-Belarus. I see this as Belarus people having enough of current dictatorship and wanting change. This change was being brutally dwarfed through jailing, beating, raping of regular people, young and old.
I don't agree with Bob B, and especially with his attitude. But IMHO this podcast was poor. First, how can you write about the events of the past few months and not discuss or even barely mention the election. Does Elaina think Lushenko actually won the election? (Nobody does, btw.) If not, does she think it matters? 2. The references to "paid" instigators, starting fights with police, e.g., is old and tired. Who paid them? It's as bad as a Southerner talking about outside agitators. 3. You can't attack someone like Svetlana Alexievich off-hand, without backing it up. Her books are great, esp Voices from Chernobyl and Unwomanly Face of War. (When you have time, pick up Voices.) 4. A lot of leftists support the Hong Kong protests and oppose Beijing's effort to suppress that movement. For us, it's natural that HK protesters recognize and support the opposition to a dictator who presides over phony elections, locks up the opposition, etc. 5. At the end, Elaina refers to Belarus Marxists who support the laboring people. I'd like to hear more about the Marxist left in the former Soviet bloc, instead of cliches about how popular color revolutions are always bad because the west supports them.
This point of view is very narrow in my opinion. It skips the entire history of 26 years of dictatorship. It does not take into consideration years of blocking ANY opposition to current dictator and YEARs of people leaving without any sign of democracy. Every country has connections to its neighbors, so I do not see this conflict as fight for euro-Belarus against Russia-Belarus. I see this as Belarus people having enough of current dictatorship and wanting change. This change was being brutally dwarfed through jailing, beating, raping of regular people, young and old.