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.
