Addendum: I'm finding it bizarre and disturbing that this article about volatile and emotional media reporting is somehow seen as pro-Russia or anti-Ukraine. It is neither. I have great compassion for the victims of war—any war, and those on any side of any war. I'm struggling to find compassion though for those arms dealers and their shareholders making profit from this war, and the media reporters getting cheap accolades while fuelling the fire of hatred. Hate (and fear) started this war. The more people hating on one side (or the other) the worse the war will become. When something isn't working, please don't do more of it.
I am frustrated that people don't hear his message the way I hear it:
In no way has Tobias supported Putin's actions and the war. He was just trying to draw people's attention to the polarization that takes place due to the way modern media chooses to frame things. By naming, labeling, generalizing, comparing, choosing sides, and dividing into good and bad we contribute to the problem and increase the level of hostility and violence in the world.
I think what we see today is the world crisis. When the old mentality of superpowers with their wish to control, divide and conquer, fight for resources and expansion, does not serve humanity any longer.
Unfortunately, when one chooses a neutral observer point of view (in order to try to see things as they are), one often gets both sides of the conflicting parties against oneself.
Thanks Sergey. I came across this today, that captures well what I'm trying to say here:
"Condemning Putin is the easiest, safest, most redundant, least courageous thing that anyone in the western world can do right now. What's a lot harder at the current moment is taking a bold stand against the west's depraved role in getting this war started and in keeping it going." — Caitlin Johnstone, Big Brave Keyboard Warriors: Notes From The Edge Of The Narrative Matrix, substack, 14/03/2022
Ah, RB :) I've been following his work for a while now. He's both sharp and curious, one of the few who asks us to ask questions. I'll check out the other link too. Thanks.
One can observe all of what is happening by zooming in and by zooming out. It is prudent to do both, especially if you are a policy maker and a news and journalism outfit looking to do good. That's all I'm going to say.
Thanks for this. I'd simply point people to the nuance and an actual international expert on the matter, like I have in other groups. The experts in the field that have been repeatedly speaking about these points and their nuances and actually have done analysis LONG BEFORE THE CURRENT WAR. I'd read the book, the Great Delusion by John J. Mearsheimer or simply look at some of his talks on YouTube.
Thanks for being willing to think more deeply and widely. I'd only add that Putin is a psychopath but he damn sure isn't Hitler by any stretch of the imagination.
Tim, thank you for your supportive comment, and for understanding this post holistically (i.e. beyond the five-word phrase that has caused offence). I'm not familiar with the author you mention, but will check out his book and talks. Thanks for the suggestion.
Sometimes people need a courage to stop being an observers in real life. Take your own position and name what is happening without attempts to sit on several chairs.
I can understand your perspective - you are not in Ukraine. But I cannot understand, why does an opinion leader distribute (calling) an inactive position during a war that could spread beyond the borders of Ukraine.
As an opinion leader, you are sharing your observer's (passive) position, thus take attention and call for the same passive position.
Your thoughts is just your thoughts, until you spread it out and influence on others.
The war could spread further, out of the Ukrainian border.
Did I manage to convey what I meant?
----
As for your reference to The Field of Peace, Substack, 28/02/2022
I don't think that Charles Eisenstein understands putin as human being beleiving that strength/defense reduction, will stop the psychopath.
Moreover, telling "We are rightly appalled at the invasion of Ukraine. But where were these sensibilities when our own countries and alliances invaded Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen, and countless other countries?", he just addresses incomprehensibly to whom, stopping opposition to the current war, because someone once did not say or don't do something about another war. Thus, forcing doubts about the need to stop the war that is now going on in Ukraine.
Ivan, yes, it is clearer now. Thank you. My thoughts are indeed my thoughts. And I wonder if you read all my thoughts, or just the five words that seem to cause controversy. If you read the article you would know that I am writing about the press coverage of the war, not about the war itself, and certainly taking no side. The offending words are in the footnote. This is the full footnote:
---
I'm not saying that Putin is /not/ a dangerous, insane megalomaniac (as he is portrayed). That may well be true. I'm only asking you to consider that he believes himself to be right, and a substantial amount of Russians believe he's a hero. That belief must come from somewhere. It's too easy, and too lazy to just to brand him "psychopath" and leave it at that, as if that somehow solves or explains anything. We can't fairly or usefully say every single patriotic Russian is a psychopathic nutcase. Our job as observers is to understand what we are looking at, to open our minds and maybe even our hearts. Putin is one of us. As challenging as it may be, let's not forget his essential humanity, just as our hearts go out to all those suffering the dire consequences of this latest world catastrophe. However it was caused, let's try not to perpetuate it with more hatred and vilification.
---
"Putin is one of us" simply means that, literally, he is a human being. He is the same life form as you and me. He was a baby once, he has family,, and so on. Simply acknowledging this fact is perhaps a reminder that we are all capable of going astray, we are all flawed. Circumstances makes the man, not genetics. He was not born "evil". And it is /exactly because/ he is a human being and not some monstrous, alien life form that makes this situation, and his appalling actions all the more difficult to comprehend.
Ivan, your quote from Eisenstein is also missing context. He goes on in the same paragraph to add, "The point here is not to distract from Russia’s action with what-about-ism, nor is it to decry hypocrisy. I am more interested in results, not in blame. I want our peace work to be effective. It will not be so, if it selects only the wars of our enemies." So certainly no doubt there that he'd like the war to stop. only highlighting why that is so difficult.
I think it's not proper behavior to say something with authority if you were not here in Ukrainian cities which are continuously bombing by Putin's army.
Simply take your wife and your kids, come to Kharkiv on just 1-2 weaks - and only then talk about "good Putin" and "Putin is also human" here is no humanity in his actions but simple madness
Yuri, I completely agree. There is no humanity in his actions. None. All I am saying "with authority" is that Putin is a human being. He may behave like a monster but he isn't /actually/ one, any more than you or I are monsters. Every human being has the potential to do great good and great evil, but these are deeds, they are what we do, not who we are. This post is /so/ not a pro-Russia post. It is a pro-think post. I don't know the reality of living in Ukraine, but I do know the reality of living amidst the madness of media hatred—both social and mainstream. War is wrong. Always. Russia's invasion of Ukraine is as terrible, and criminal as (among many other wars) the USA and UK invading Afghanistan. Except because "we" were the aggressor in that war we didn't hear so much about it, about the families who lost life and homes, about cities wiped out and children murdered. We do hear of it in Ukraine though, and we are rightly outraged—we includes me. This is a terrible, devastating situation.And there is history. I'd like it if a few more people in my country, the Americas and Europe paused to explore that, and seek to understand. Maybe then diplomatic solutions become more likely.
Dmitry, I don't really understand your question. I think what is happing in Ukraine is appalling, horrifying and deeply unjust. I would like it if the media reporting was less volatile and more nuanced in its reporting. That is all this post is about.
Artem, thanks for commenting. Please know I am not making any comment about Russia's motives, Ukraine's response nor justifying anything. This war is utterly wrong, and by all accounts criminal. I have stopped reading the news on this as it is generating mass hysteria, which can only make things worse for ordinary people in both Ukraine and Russia. And yes, SHAME is a highly appropriate word. The war, and its subsequent reporting is a crying shame.
"The singular lesson of COVID was to avoid streaming news and social media at all costs." - Have done this and turned out to be a refugee with 3 little kids with my country in a war state. Have to read news to monitor what may happen to my parents in Eastern Ukraine.
"These days, as I've written before we seem to have lost all ability to view the world in a nuanced way" - it's hard to think of nuances when you can't sleep, mix washing machine with sirens or bombing, have to wake up your kids at 4-5 am every day to go to bomb shelter and spend the rest of the day there in unhuman conditions.
"Goodies and baddies are for 5-year-olds, not for thoughtful, discerning adults. This is not an episode of Star Wars. Don't let the press and social media stupefy your brilliant mind. Resist." - wish you and your family luck with this approach and a peaceful sky above your heads.
Anna, I'm so deeply sorry for your situation. My heart goes out to you, and all those in similar situations as a result of 'someone else's war'. I wish a peaceful sky above all our heads, every man, woman, child, in every country of this green earth which we share.
Tobias - I was not watching closely the situation in Ukraine in the weeks leading up to the invasion. Can you elaborate on your comment on how "...the world prodded and prompted Russia to make this threat a reality."?
Tom, it goes back to president Bush inviting Ukraine to join NATO, so far more than weeks or months actually. NATO has essentially been threatening Russia for decades, and they finally snapped. You can search for articles on this, there are many. Here's one, randomly found https://cnsnews.com/commentary/patrick-j-buchanan/did-we-provoke-putins-war-ukraine. In the background of all this is always the murky figure of the arms dealer. You don't produce arms to have them sit in a cupboard. The must, and will ultimately be used, and their ONLY use is in war. We need war to justify the weapons industry.
Addendum: I'm finding it bizarre and disturbing that this article about volatile and emotional media reporting is somehow seen as pro-Russia or anti-Ukraine. It is neither. I have great compassion for the victims of war—any war, and those on any side of any war. I'm struggling to find compassion though for those arms dealers and their shareholders making profit from this war, and the media reporters getting cheap accolades while fuelling the fire of hatred. Hate (and fear) started this war. The more people hating on one side (or the other) the worse the war will become. When something isn't working, please don't do more of it.
Tobias,
I get what you are saying. You are trying to help people see. "Open my eyes that I may see..."
Truth is truth. We are all fallible and have fallible senses. We are easily persuaded by our emotions.
The media is not objective truth.
"Consensus" is not required for something to be true.
When the media an politicians are heavily pushing a narrative, look behind the curtain.
"Follow the money." - Deep Throat.
That's about it, friend.
I want to support Tobias,
I am frustrated that people don't hear his message the way I hear it:
In no way has Tobias supported Putin's actions and the war. He was just trying to draw people's attention to the polarization that takes place due to the way modern media chooses to frame things. By naming, labeling, generalizing, comparing, choosing sides, and dividing into good and bad we contribute to the problem and increase the level of hostility and violence in the world.
I think what we see today is the world crisis. When the old mentality of superpowers with their wish to control, divide and conquer, fight for resources and expansion, does not serve humanity any longer.
Unfortunately, when one chooses a neutral observer point of view (in order to try to see things as they are), one often gets both sides of the conflicting parties against oneself.
Thanks Sergey. I came across this today, that captures well what I'm trying to say here:
"Condemning Putin is the easiest, safest, most redundant, least courageous thing that anyone in the western world can do right now. What's a lot harder at the current moment is taking a bold stand against the west's depraved role in getting this war started and in keeping it going." — Caitlin Johnstone, Big Brave Keyboard Warriors: Notes From The Edge Of The Narrative Matrix, substack, 14/03/2022
Well said. Here are a couple of other interesting videos to make us think:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrMiSQAGOS4
https://youtu.be/cCroxbTnh08
Ah, RB :) I've been following his work for a while now. He's both sharp and curious, one of the few who asks us to ask questions. I'll check out the other link too. Thanks.
Ah, I've watched that one too. Perhaps people should have listened to this guy seven years ago!
One can observe all of what is happening by zooming in and by zooming out. It is prudent to do both, especially if you are a policy maker and a news and journalism outfit looking to do good. That's all I'm going to say.
Tobias,
Thanks for this. I'd simply point people to the nuance and an actual international expert on the matter, like I have in other groups. The experts in the field that have been repeatedly speaking about these points and their nuances and actually have done analysis LONG BEFORE THE CURRENT WAR. I'd read the book, the Great Delusion by John J. Mearsheimer or simply look at some of his talks on YouTube.
Thanks for being willing to think more deeply and widely. I'd only add that Putin is a psychopath but he damn sure isn't Hitler by any stretch of the imagination.
Tim, thank you for your supportive comment, and for understanding this post holistically (i.e. beyond the five-word phrase that has caused offence). I'm not familiar with the author you mention, but will check out his book and talks. Thanks for the suggestion.
Sometimes people need a courage to stop being an observers in real life. Take your own position and name what is happening without attempts to sit on several chairs.
I can understand your perspective - you are not in Ukraine. But I cannot understand, why does an opinion leader distribute (calling) an inactive position during a war that could spread beyond the borders of Ukraine.
Hi Ivan. I didn't understand your last sentence, could you clarify? I'd like to respond if a response is required.
As an opinion leader, you are sharing your observer's (passive) position, thus take attention and call for the same passive position.
Your thoughts is just your thoughts, until you spread it out and influence on others.
The war could spread further, out of the Ukrainian border.
Did I manage to convey what I meant?
----
As for your reference to The Field of Peace, Substack, 28/02/2022
I don't think that Charles Eisenstein understands putin as human being beleiving that strength/defense reduction, will stop the psychopath.
Moreover, telling "We are rightly appalled at the invasion of Ukraine. But where were these sensibilities when our own countries and alliances invaded Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen, and countless other countries?", he just addresses incomprehensibly to whom, stopping opposition to the current war, because someone once did not say or don't do something about another war. Thus, forcing doubts about the need to stop the war that is now going on in Ukraine.
Ivan, yes, it is clearer now. Thank you. My thoughts are indeed my thoughts. And I wonder if you read all my thoughts, or just the five words that seem to cause controversy. If you read the article you would know that I am writing about the press coverage of the war, not about the war itself, and certainly taking no side. The offending words are in the footnote. This is the full footnote:
---
I'm not saying that Putin is /not/ a dangerous, insane megalomaniac (as he is portrayed). That may well be true. I'm only asking you to consider that he believes himself to be right, and a substantial amount of Russians believe he's a hero. That belief must come from somewhere. It's too easy, and too lazy to just to brand him "psychopath" and leave it at that, as if that somehow solves or explains anything. We can't fairly or usefully say every single patriotic Russian is a psychopathic nutcase. Our job as observers is to understand what we are looking at, to open our minds and maybe even our hearts. Putin is one of us. As challenging as it may be, let's not forget his essential humanity, just as our hearts go out to all those suffering the dire consequences of this latest world catastrophe. However it was caused, let's try not to perpetuate it with more hatred and vilification.
---
"Putin is one of us" simply means that, literally, he is a human being. He is the same life form as you and me. He was a baby once, he has family,, and so on. Simply acknowledging this fact is perhaps a reminder that we are all capable of going astray, we are all flawed. Circumstances makes the man, not genetics. He was not born "evil". And it is /exactly because/ he is a human being and not some monstrous, alien life form that makes this situation, and his appalling actions all the more difficult to comprehend.
Ivan, your quote from Eisenstein is also missing context. He goes on in the same paragraph to add, "The point here is not to distract from Russia’s action with what-about-ism, nor is it to decry hypocrisy. I am more interested in results, not in blame. I want our peace work to be effective. It will not be so, if it selects only the wars of our enemies." So certainly no doubt there that he'd like the war to stop. only highlighting why that is so difficult.
Thank you, Ivan
Fucking piece of ignorant shit. I hope you will be thinking about the "nuances" as missiles hit your home.
Alex, I in NO WAY endorse or support this war. I only ask that the media stop fuelling it.
I think it's not proper behavior to say something with authority if you were not here in Ukrainian cities which are continuously bombing by Putin's army.
Simply take your wife and your kids, come to Kharkiv on just 1-2 weaks - and only then talk about "good Putin" and "Putin is also human" here is no humanity in his actions but simple madness
Yuri, I completely agree. There is no humanity in his actions. None. All I am saying "with authority" is that Putin is a human being. He may behave like a monster but he isn't /actually/ one, any more than you or I are monsters. Every human being has the potential to do great good and great evil, but these are deeds, they are what we do, not who we are. This post is /so/ not a pro-Russia post. It is a pro-think post. I don't know the reality of living in Ukraine, but I do know the reality of living amidst the madness of media hatred—both social and mainstream. War is wrong. Always. Russia's invasion of Ukraine is as terrible, and criminal as (among many other wars) the USA and UK invading Afghanistan. Except because "we" were the aggressor in that war we didn't hear so much about it, about the families who lost life and homes, about cities wiped out and children murdered. We do hear of it in Ukraine though, and we are rightly outraged—we includes me. This is a terrible, devastating situation.And there is history. I'd like it if a few more people in my country, the Americas and Europe paused to explore that, and seek to understand. Maybe then diplomatic solutions become more likely.
Are you ready to visit Ukrainian cities - Mariupol, Kharkiv? Are you ready to take your children there? Justo to be sure!
Dmitry, I don't really understand your question. I think what is happing in Ukraine is appalling, horrifying and deeply unjust. I would like it if the media reporting was less volatile and more nuanced in its reporting. That is all this post is about.
The only polite word in my mouth is - SHAME!
Artem, thanks for commenting. Please know I am not making any comment about Russia's motives, Ukraine's response nor justifying anything. This war is utterly wrong, and by all accounts criminal. I have stopped reading the news on this as it is generating mass hysteria, which can only make things worse for ordinary people in both Ukraine and Russia. And yes, SHAME is a highly appropriate word. The war, and its subsequent reporting is a crying shame.
"The singular lesson of COVID was to avoid streaming news and social media at all costs." - Have done this and turned out to be a refugee with 3 little kids with my country in a war state. Have to read news to monitor what may happen to my parents in Eastern Ukraine.
"These days, as I've written before we seem to have lost all ability to view the world in a nuanced way" - it's hard to think of nuances when you can't sleep, mix washing machine with sirens or bombing, have to wake up your kids at 4-5 am every day to go to bomb shelter and spend the rest of the day there in unhuman conditions.
"Goodies and baddies are for 5-year-olds, not for thoughtful, discerning adults. This is not an episode of Star Wars. Don't let the press and social media stupefy your brilliant mind. Resist." - wish you and your family luck with this approach and a peaceful sky above your heads.
Anna, I'm so deeply sorry for your situation. My heart goes out to you, and all those in similar situations as a result of 'someone else's war'. I wish a peaceful sky above all our heads, every man, woman, child, in every country of this green earth which we share.
Tobias - I was not watching closely the situation in Ukraine in the weeks leading up to the invasion. Can you elaborate on your comment on how "...the world prodded and prompted Russia to make this threat a reality."?
Tom, it goes back to president Bush inviting Ukraine to join NATO, so far more than weeks or months actually. NATO has essentially been threatening Russia for decades, and they finally snapped. You can search for articles on this, there are many. Here's one, randomly found https://cnsnews.com/commentary/patrick-j-buchanan/did-we-provoke-putins-war-ukraine. In the background of all this is always the murky figure of the arms dealer. You don't produce arms to have them sit in a cupboard. The must, and will ultimately be used, and their ONLY use is in war. We need war to justify the weapons industry.
Tom, here's a more recent article (29 Jan) that speaks to the benefits of war from an arms-dealing perspective. https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/who-benefits-russia-war-ukraine/