Translated material
Peace is war
On March 11, a letter from Russian cultural figures in support of President Putin's policy in Crimea and Ukraine appeared on the website of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation.
It is difficult to call this document a letter and an appeal, but rather a hasty telegram, a loyal tweet on behalf of more than a hundred citizens, whose number is steadily growing. The tweet reads: “In the days when the fate of Crimea and our compatriots is being decided, Russian cultural figures cannot be indifferent observers with a cold heart. Our common history and common roots /…/, our fundamental values and language have united us forever. We want the commonality of our peoples and our cultures to have a sustainable future. That is why we firmly declare our support for the position of the President of the Russian Federation on Ukraine and Crimea.” That is, exactly according to Orwell - "peace is war."
It is painful and scary to read the list of surnames under this kholuy senseless telegram. Dear people - heads of theaters, film studios, museums, orchestras, musical groups and libraries, soloists, musicians, artists, writers and animal trainers - signed a mandate for their president to go to war with the very people with whom, following the text of the authors, “are connected by a common culture and common origins.
The ensuing explanations from the signatories only exacerbated the scale of the deed. Cultural figures stubbornly insist that they signed an “anti-war appeal”, that Ukraine is their home, they will not allow politicians to quarrel brotherly peoples, Putin’s policy is a guarantee of friendship and peace. And to the simple questions of journalists “What exactly do you agree with?” and “What exactly is Putin’s position that you strongly support?” responses follow irritable and confused.
„
Hopes to stop what is happening with the arguments of the mind are becoming less and less. But the more ashamed to be silent
”
The answers are actually obvious, since the position of the state and Putin has been daily conveyed to our people by state television for several months.
Dear cultural figures, in fact you support:
- the invasion of the Russian army into the territory of a sovereign state, or, more simply, the occupation of foreign territory;
— illegal seizure of power in Crimea by self-defense groups under the guise of “polite people” in Russian camouflage and without identification marks;
- insults and false accusations against the Maidan, agreeing that a coup d'état has been carried out in Ukraine and fascists, nationalists and Bandera have seized power;
- the right to aggression and the establishment of the power that pleases the aggressor;
- the use of a "human shield" in the event of an armed conflict with the Ukrainian army, as Vladimir Putin openly stated at a meeting with journalists ("... and let someone from among the military personnel try to shoot at their people, behind whom we will stand behind, not in front , but from behind. Let them try to shoot at women and children. I'll see who will give such an order in Ukraine");
— dissemination by Russian TV channels of false information about the oppression of the Russian-speaking population in Ukraine, about ethnically motivated crimes, about massacres and rapes of Russians;
- the presence in the country of a "fifth column", "enemies of the people" who do not share the state's point of view on ongoing events, which means that they conduct subversive activities with foreign money;
- an arrogant attitude towards an independent people who have the right to independently decide their own destiny;
- the readiness to oppose Russia to the whole world and again find itself in cultural and political isolation, to regain the image of the “evil empire” that was once shed.
It is, of course, possible to recognize all this as a struggle for peace against war. As the tortured hero of Orwell, he agreed to recognize five fingers, clearly realizing that he was shown only four. But as we remember, it is not enough to name the "correct" figure - you have to believe in it. Judging by the comments of cultural figures, they are on the path indicated by Orwell.
| *The letter in full can be read on the website www.newtimes.ru |
True, there are still Russian intellectuals who have chosen a different path. On March 13, another letter* appeared on the Facebook page of the Russian PEN Center, the authors of which remind: “It is not the first time in Russian history that people who disagree with the aggressive imperial policy of the state are declared defeatists and enemies of the people /…/ Events in Crimea are rapidly developing and fraught with if not bloodshed, then a shame for Russia and troubles for the peoples of the two countries. Hopes to stop what is happening with the arguments of the mind are becoming less and less. But it is all the more shameful to be silent and passively stand aside. We, who do not call ourselves "workers" of culture or science, but simply Russian intellectuals, each working in his own field, declare:
“We are against the invasion of the territory of another state.
We are against war with Ukraine and enmity with the world community.
We are in solidarity with everyone who does not bend and does not succumb to lies.”