Ghost Speech

The following was posted by someone on Facebook and is being claimed as the speech given by Vladmir Putin, the Russian president, to the Duma (Russian Parliament), about tensions with minorities in Russia:

"In Russia live Russians. Any minority, from anywhere, if it wants to live in Russia, to work and eat in Russia, should speak Russian, and should respect the Russian laws. If they prefer Sharia Law, then we advise them to go to those places where that's the state law. Russia does not need minorities. Minorities need Russia, and we will not grant them special privileges, or try to change our laws to fit their desires, no matter how loud they yell 'discrimination'. We better learn from the suicides of America, England, Holland and France, if we are to survive as a nation. The Russian customs and traditions are not compatible with the lack of culture or the primitive ways of most minorities. When this honorable legislative body thinks of creating new laws, it should have in mind the national interest first, observing that the minorities are not Russians.

Truth be told, then there exist no records to validate if this speech was ever made by Mr. Putin. However, this blog post is not being written to investigate the existence of this speech, it is in-fact just a reproduction of the comments that followed the above post. It is upon the reader to draw their own conclusions.

Comments:-

A: You are right [Name]. Time demands a change in our approach, if we have to survive.

Me: Sir, Vladmir Putin never made such a speech, its a hoax. There are no news reports available to claim the veracity of existence of this speech. And, regarding the message being conveyed through this speech, it is one of intolerance and certainly should not be welcome. The problem with our country is not that we are being over-tolerant or appeasing but inefficient, lazy and narrow-minded.

B: Before claiming this as a hoax, you check net and search for putin's speech in Feb. You will find many links of newspapaers. Regarding the speech, i think time has come to talk beyond religion, caste, creed in our country and show Mulayam, Maya, Mamata and others road to their extinction. These politicians are thriving on such issues at the cost of country.

Me: I forgot to mention "credible" news reports...does BBC report, does The Guardian say something, does the New York Times or even our very own The Times of India report anything??....and, Yes sir, I agree with you on that, 'time has come", and those politicians certainly needs to change their ways or get extinct. That was my whole point politicians are using appeasement, vote-politics to further their cause only. What I want is a reasonable and fair approach in government policies. What this message conveys is disrespect and intolerant attitude towards the culture, religion of the so-called minorities. I only demand reason and fairness, that's it.

C: Great Putin! He is a true leader; He has foresight and moral courage; He is a true patriot; India needs to have such masculine leaders!!

C: [Name], you are great;

C: I don't think there is any intolerance in Putin's statement, as somebody here predicates; A Muslim leader in Hyderabad openly threatens to quash the Hindu culture; That Muslim leader claims that he has even stamped out the normal temple activities such as chiming the bell, during Deity-worship in the Bhagya-Laxmi Temple of the city; To deal with such so called minorities, a Putin-like leader is urgently required in India;

Me: Putin might feel odd knowing that he is being hailed for a speech that he never gave. Regarding the previous comment, a Muslim leader agitates a disaffected crowd and goes on rampage and the whole of community is branded as such; similarly when RSS or VHP go on a rampage the whole of Hindu community is branded as such. This point that one or two people or an organized unit do not make up the general make up of the whole community is not being understood by anyone. Its not about a Muslim or a Hindu doing something, its about a bad person doing bad deed, that's what this is about. Put them in prison and let them rot. I don't know where the religion figures here. And that message, what that conveys is highly dangerous; it says to ostracize the whole of community based on religion or whatever social factor is there. That is what I am against, the disrespect of culture of people who are different from us. It’s just like that Muslim leader who has no respect for our culture and similarly there are "truth-seekers" who have no respect for their culture. An eye for an eye.

C: What {name} says is an ideal approach to the situation; This rarely happens in a real world;

Me: I really don't get it, what's ideal approach. It seems to be suggested from the previous comment that if an anti-social element from one community commits a crime then other should persecute the whole of the masses from former community. What is to be done then? Carry out your actions the way the message says, 1). they should speak the language the majority speaks, 2) make laws with suitability for majorities only, 3) force customs and culture on them - resulted in unrest in Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Refugees in Myanmar, CHECHENS IN RUSSIA, and it is endless - is it really what we want? - and it will continue till somebody decides with a calm mind that we should discuss and solve problems. I am proud of my country where lived such Men and Women of foresight who made this country what it is, there lived many cultures, many religions, like different colors of a rainbow and so long will they as there continue to take birth such Men and Women, irrespective of religion, caste, creed, and color. I think lets agree to disagree, because there seems no end to this discussion.