Boris Nemtsov: the Sochi Olympics are the worst idea in human history
Someone at Foreign Policy apparently thought it was a good idea to interview Boris Nemtsov in order to ascertain his views about the upcoming Sochi Olympics. Shockingly, they’re insane!
It’s almost as if Russian liberals have read my critiques about them and, perhaps coming to a widely-shared consensus for the first time in their fractious history, have decided en-masse to to prove me right. You see, for Nemtsov, particularly in this interview, everything in Russia is a catastrophic defeat and a disaster. He’s the anti-Kremlin - the white to Putin’s black. Spending on infrastructure? It is not necessary or, if it is necessary, it will be entirely wasted. Jobs created by construction projects? They don’t exist, and even if they did exist the salaries would be miserly and the workers treated poorly. The world’s attention being focused, laser-like, on the physical and natural environment around Sochi? Nonsense, nature will be destroyed, and bunnies, likely, will be crushed under tank treads. The Olympics are a chance for Russia and Russians to engage in harmless patriotic posturing and do a bit of strutting on the world stage (as the Chinese did in Beijing)? Such an idea is shameful and disgusting, only sub-humans or totalitarian slaves take pleasure in vulgar displays of athletic and physical prowess.
I mean come on, could Russian liberals be bigger buzz-kills if they tried? They’re going to take a stand against the Olympics? Do they really think that’s going to be popular? Do they really think that the argument of “We don’t deserve any respect, we are a vile and disgusting nation! Embarrass us! Denigrate us! Mock us without interruption!” is going to have wide resonance in society? Do they really think the secret to breaking Putin and Medvedev’s hold on popularity is disparaging Russia’s proud athletic history and pre-emptively declaring failure in its ability to hold a major international contest? Who the hell gives these people political advice, Bob Shrum?
More than anything else, though, this article reminds me of a simple desire on my part: that we could all stop engaging in the pleasant but absurd fiction that Nemtsov is some sort of detached and unbiased (or even vaguely reliable) observer of Russian politics. The guy has a very clear, even overwhelming, incentive to make things in Russia appear as hopeless, depressing, and awful as possible because his entire political identity is rooted in the (absurd) idea that everything has gotten worse under Putin.
So, to all Western press outlets, here’s a bit of free advice: the next time you want to quote Boris Nemtsov just find Vladimir Putin’s most recent statement and negate everything in it. Did Putin say he wants to lower taxes? Boris Nemtsov: “Putin darkly hinted he would increase taxes.” Did Putin say that he wanted to attract foreign investment? Boris Nemtsov: “Putin is going to drive away foreign investment in order to recreate the Soviet Union.” And on and on and on…
Post Your Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment
T/S Members
Log in with your True/Slant account.
[...] Boris Nemtsov: the Sochi Olympics are the worst idea in human … [...]
So you describe Nemtsov as “the guy [who] has a very clear, even overwhelming, incentive to make things in Russia appear as hopeless, depressing, and awful as possible.” Just out of sheer curiosity, what is your incentive for publishing your blogs? You don’t seem to have an unbiased, objective point of you yourself. In fact, you seem to be blatantly supporting Putin and Russia’s current government and covering any “liberal” opposition in dirt. Maybe you’re the one with the agenda.
Also,unlike you, Nemtsov uses concrete data, statistics, and information that is verifiable, whereas you simply point fingers at everyone who doesn’t hold your opinion.
The Winter Olympics in Sochi, one of the only subtropical provinces of Russia, is indeed a mistake. The fact that it will cost the Russian budget $15 billion (in a country where the average salary is $300/month (pravda.ru), is a grave mistake indeed.
blah blah blah blah blah
seriously dude, find something more interesting to do with your life than hurl baseless accusations of kremlin sympathizing.
In response to another comment. See in context »Although I don’t support the decision to have Winter Olympics 2014 in Sochi, that’s more because I think it will be a Corrupto-fest of gigantic proportions.
As for “it will cripple our budget” – nope, it probably won’t, but it will enrich some people. And maybe turn out as a worldwide shame, since the quality will be doubtful at the least – “It will be stolen”.
In response to another comment. See in context »