Thread: Controversial Problems in Russian and Some Other Societies

Originally Posted by Hanna

I think your English skills are letting you down a bit Eric. I was referring to COUNTRIES not homosexual people, which seems to be how you understood the sentence.

My point is that it is a ridiculous notion for the Swedish embassy (representation of Sweden in Russia) to do a pro-homosexuality manifestation, by raising the rainbow flag. Russia's laws on homosexuality is an internal matter for Russia and it seems the majority support them.

If they did indeed do a manifestation like that in Kosovo it is quite shocking.

Likewise the death penalty in the USA is revolting to most people in Sweden. But nobody is proposing that the Swedish embassy in Washington D.C. should start doing manifestations against that. It would be both rude and meddling, not to mention the fact that neither the USA nor Russia could care less by any manifestations by a country the size of Sweden.
As incomprehensible as it is, Americans apparently support that, and it's their own country, so their business.

I just read what's been typed down; if someone wants to doubt my reading skills, they're strongly advised to first take a look at their writing skills

What I meant is, the "don't mess with other countries/don't tell other countries what to do, etc." attitude is utterly failing, as countries are nothing without people; and just because some people in some country prefer one particular lifestyle doesn't mean everyone who lives there will stick to it; now, if a country abuses its powers and tells PEOPLE what to do, or suppresses them in any possible way, that country should be told what to do, and it will (hopefully) eventually be told what to do, and forced to do so if needed; by all this, I don't mean the sexual orientation issue, or the feminism issue, or anything like that in particular, but the general concept of civil liberties and human rights; people don't serve countries, it's the other way around.

Originally Posted by Eric C.

I just read what's been typed down; if someone wants to doubt my reading skills, they're strongly advised to first take a look at their writing skills

What I meant is, the "don't mess with other countries/don't tell other countries what to do, etc." attitude is utterly failing, as countries are nothing without people; and just because some people in some country prefer one particular lifestyle doesn't mean everyone who lives there will stick to it; now, if a country abuses its powers and tells PEOPLE what to do, or suppresses them in any possible way, that country should be told what to do, and it will (hopefully) eventually be told what to do, and forced to do so if needed; by all this, I don't mean the sexual orientation issue, or the feminism issue, or anything like that in particular, but the general concept of civil liberties and human rights; people don't serve countries, it's the other way around.

So answer this, which is the logical follow-on from your reasoning:

• Who is to say what values are right or wrong in any particular country or culture, if not the citizens of that country, or their government?
• On what authority should another country have the ultimate say? Biggest army? Most widespread culture? Most moral or religious country? Most ideologically pure country?
• Which country in your view is the ultimate authority on what's right or wrong for other countries?
• Which country should shut up and change their laws and culture to comply?
• Or are you saying that every country start issuing judgement on all other countries with different cultures or values to themselves?

(stupid question really, you never answer any direct questions so 100-1 you'll ignore this one, answer something entirely unrelated or make a personal insult towards me. Will give you ONE chance though, until I go back to ignoring you.)

Originally Posted by Hanna

So answer this, which is the logical follow-on from your reasoning:

• Who is to say what values are right or wrong in any particular country or culture, if not the citizens of that country, or their government?
• On what authority should another country have the ultimate say? Biggest army? Most widespread culture? Most moral or religious country? Most ideologically pure country?
• Which country in your view is the ultimate authority on what's right or wrong for other countries?
• Which country should shut up and change their laws and culture to comply?
• Or are you saying that every country start issuing judgement on all other countries with different cultures or values to themselves?

1. This one's incorrect, because in civilized countries every person is entitled to having their own system of values that can be different as much as they like from what might be offered by the government, etc., as long as it's ok with the law;

2. A country can do that provided:

a) There's a real problem indeed in the country that's being decided on;
b) The country that decides is flawless in the matter it's taking a decision about;
c) The country that decides can reasonably ensure carrying out its decision on the offender country;

3. See items b) & c) of item #2

4. See item a) of item #2

5. See items ##2-4