Hello Gentle Reader
Since the passing of the law, that prohibits the discussion of homosexual lifestyle – what the legislators and government of Russia has called: “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations,” alongside other ‘blasphemy,’ laws; such as: religious insult, and its re-criminalisation of defamation towards religion or religious beliefs, this year’s Winter Olympics have, been a firestorm of political controversy. Now some two hundred authors are taking a stance against Putin’s moral conservative and draconian law, as a choke hold on freedom of speech and freedom of expression. These authors include, Salman Rushdie, Margaret Atwood and Ariel Dorfman; alongside Nobel Laureates: Wole Soyinka, Gunter Grass, Elfriede Jelinek, and Orhan Pamuk. Even google has made a small protest of the celebration of Olympics, with a doodle in the renowned homosexual symbol – the Rainbow flag; depicting winter sports from skiing, to hockey, to curling and figure skating.
International renowned authors and authors from a diverse set of countries are not the only, ones to criticise Russia’s moral law. Russian authors themselves have had an ambivalent (at best) understanding towards these laws that have been passed. Lyudmila Ulitskaya, one of Russia’s foremost writers, has also signed the petition; and has called contemporary Russia as a ‘lost chapter from Orwell.’ Ulitskaya has also points out that the authorities are imposing: “a cultural ideology that, in many respects, mimics the style of Soviet-era propaganda.”
All of this comes around the time of the Winter Olympics. A time when the host country (this case Russia) is on central stage, to unveil their cultural significance to the world, as well as welcoming with open arms the world to enter their homeland, and share in the spirit of sportsmanship and good natured competitive drive, to showcase that mankind goes beyond borders, and can come together as one celebrate. However with these laws, many feel that a minority is being excluded and that once again the Olympics have been given to a country with a poor human rights track record. Perhaps it was poor timing for Russia to enact their new laws; when they are under the scrutiny of the international community.
These authors point out that the laws that under the guise as a: ‘moral law,’ or a how to morally conduct oneself; not only discriminate against homosexual individuals and transgender individuals; but also are taking away the freedoms of speech, the freedom of expression, to disagree, and to debate and converse in a intelligent and mature manner – this may mean disagree with religious beliefs held by the majority or by the government. To which I agree with the following statement from the open letter organized by PEN International and signed by the above authors and others:
“A healthy democracy must hear the independent voices of all its citizens; the global community needs to hear, and be enriched by, the diversity of Russian opinion.”
May the Olympics go without an issue; but may these real issues be highlighted, not only for the Russian people, but for the people that will surely suffer under them. A country should not come so far, only to fall so far back.
Thank-you For Reading Gentle Reader
Take Care
And As Always
Stay Well Read
*And Remember: Downloading Books Illegally is Thievery and Wrong.*
M. Mary
