Appeal to Ruby Community from Kharkiv Rubyist

You do realize you’re both smearing an American citizen who supports Ukraine as a “Russian troll” with no evidence, for simply bringing up the fact that nations don’t like having hostile actors in their backyard and that Russia warned against this over a decade. I’m not on the side of Russia here, I’m just fascinated how one-sided things become.

Reminds me of so many political conflicts of recent past - if you dare try and have a debate to capture nuance, even if you’re on the “same side” - but dare to point out it’s not black and white - people form rank, dismiss you with not even an attempt at discussion, and attempt to make you into a joke with the other “insiders”.

It’s fascinating, and happening right here, and it’s because you don’t want to believe that maybe you’ve been captured a just bit by western propaganda, because that would make all the (extremely virtuous) social signaling you’ve been doing just a bit less so, and you just a bit less reliable/intelligent on foreign policy.

https://www.newsweek.com/joe-biden-resurfaced-clip-russia-ba...

https://www.npr.org/2022/01/29/1076193616/ukraine-russia-nat...

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JrMiSQAGOS4

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=us3-Wq89fOE

Still no thoughts on the US coup in 2014? Wish there were smarter folks in politics around here. It’s sad there’s not even a chance for any decent conversation.

You agreed with the person doing so.

Calling whataboutism is lame (and why you got downvoted), it’s just shutting down a debate you are afraid to have.

Only log in to say I'm with you. I see a noble and brave man who put actions.

The donation page on kse.ua, gave me an error 'Donations to this recipient aren't supported in this country'. Yes, I'm a native Chinese raised and living in China mainland.

I want to do something for Ukrainian. Sigh...

I know, I know some of you are aware of what's happening on Chinese Internet (what a weird and sad word) and there're people there who are advocating for Putin and cheering the invasion while ridiculing Ukrainian.

Please don't think they're all of us Chinese. I believe you (HNers) are reasonable enough to know what's happening on Twitter/FB couldn't represent all of you, same for what's happening on Chinese apps/web.

Days ago there's a HN submission [0] The new silent majority: People who don't tweet. I guess similar thing is here in China, those who are decent, gentle and nice enough, do not speak out... Heck, actually no not that hopeless, at least in my social circle and the media I keep track of, still plenty of people are sane enough to know, an invasion by no means has any ground and should be condemned undoubtedly.

[0] https://www.axios.com/political-polarization-twitter-cable-n...

I'd simply like to point out that Western media has been deliberately obfuscating many aspects of this conflict.

a few salient examples: the 8+ year war in eastern Ukraine (14k dead, 30k wounded, 500k displaced) the damming of Crimea's fresh water supply from the Dnieper (recently destroyed) the violent seizure of state power by neo-nazis following maidan the reincorporation of WW2 mass murderers into the national identity (postage stamps, statues, school books, parades)

I can only lament that in an increasingly interconnected modern world, wealthy globalists and oil barons can wield tech to collectively brainwash entire populations in their own living rooms: That sending weapons and mercenaries to foreign countries is noble and righteous. Strange how interfering in a nation's sovereignty and self-determination has become a hallmark of 'democratic' nations.

Apparently, we have forgotten the last 50+ years of conflicts.

I expect to be flagged.