The Russia bashing has backfired.

[Xithras]

3. Some of the bashing has gone way over the line.

It's one thing to bash Putin and the Russian government, but a lot of commentators have crossed some important lines and have started slamming the Russian people themselves and Russia as a whole, an act that embraces the very bigotry that they are supposed to be standing against. We had a poster right here on DU who was justifying insults against the Russian people by claiming that they are responsible for the actions of their government.

Assad was technically elected too, but I'd never blame the Syrian people for the crimes he has committed. Sane people draw lines between governments and nations. Bush did not represent you or I.

It's one thing to attack Putin or the government he represents. It's another thing entirely to attack an entire nation of people, or to insult and demean people who have little control over their governments actions. Too many people have forgotten that.

Russia is a beautiful nation with a fascinating history and culture, and its people are as varied in personality as any other nation on Earth. I want to see the anti LGBT laws rolled back more than most, but attacking and alienating an entire nation of people, or attempting to turn them into some kind of international laughingstock, is NOT the right way to win influence.