Well, well and FUCKING WELL!

I remember in my teenage years we used to say “same shit different pile”, well is it me or does that saying really makes sense? Looking around; looking at the news and the media. What do we see? The same thing over and over again, I have been following the stories surrounding what is happening with Russian laws and the upcoming Olympics and to be honest I see a pattern there.

But first things first:
When I was in high school I had written many “papers” on the behaviour of man and the camps during the Second World War. I was at the library every day (we didn’t have internet) and did research I even went to the various Jewish museums in Montréal to see and understand better. I saw archive pictures and movies to turn your stomach, stuff that would prevent you from ever sleeping again! And twenty-some-years later I still remember what I saw in those archives...

Now that I clarified a little of my studies here is what I noticed.

I look at how things used to be in Germany during the depression, mostly the 1930s, and looking at what is available on the internet picture wise, it was really named properly: The great depression.
Her are some pictures I figured would help put some perspective.

#! Unemployed queuing at an employment office in Hanover in 1930.  #2 Soup kitchen in berlin-1930s . #3 Berlin bank-run

I see people starving and trying to find work where there is none, everyday people depending on whatever scraps the government could give. People trying to overcome the residuals left from the world war (which was supposed to be the war to end all wars!). Man had no more pride when they looked into their children’s eyes; they went out begging and hoping. Woman trying their best to feed and clothes their children. People were desperate for change and who could blame them? Then a young man raised up from his own shithole and spoke of change in Germany, promised work for all etc. Basically he told a desperate mob what they wanted to hear. This young man had a way with words, he mesmerized the crowds wherever he went and spoke. People followed. He understood that we as humans have to always have a reason for what happens around us therefore he targeted a specific group who happened to show less suffering then the others. He blamed this group for all the illness of Germany... of the world. People followed. Laws were passed against this group. And we all know what happens next so there is no need for me to go there!
 

And now we have Russia. Russia which is still trying to rise from the fall of the social-communist regime they had for over seventy-four years (1917-1991). Russia where every day is a struggle to keep the little you have, to find work so you can provide for your family. Where highly educated people hand up driving cabs, where crime is a way of life. Violence is in all places. Desperation and poverty is everywhere. Than a man is elected, a man who promises to bring Russia back to its former glory, this man creates employments and the people cheer. But here is where it really confirms that history does repeat itself. This man after having the attention of a nation targeted a specific group, telling on how depraved and demining this group live and how poorly it reflects on the said nation. This group was the deteriorating cause of it all. This group is immoral and lead a degenerate lifestyle. Laws are passed. And people desperately wanting change, approve the actions of that man.

Here are some pictures of everyday life in the big cities in Russia.

#1 Sooup kitchen in Moscow. #2 Elderly woman looking for scraps of food in Moscow. #3 Woman begging on the Red Square.                                   

Interesting how history repeats itself isn’t it?

Among the various action of this man a new law passed condemning a specific group of people and this law is: banning the propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations. Considering that in a short time we will have the twenty-second winter Olympics and Russia will be host. What will happen then? What about the athletes, coaches and all others who are part of the Olympic “circle”? Of course the human rights groups around the world have shown concerns for the wellbeing of others who happen to be part of that group, but the IOC (International Olympic Committee) have declared to the press and I quote:

“On a final inspection tour before the opening ceremony in February, IOC Chairman Jean-Claude Killy declared himself satisfied with the situation in Russia “as long as the Olympic Charter is respected.” The charter describes sport as a human right and rejects discrimination. He pronounced the venues ready and predicted a fabulous Olympics.”

To this I was wondering about the what ifs, what if back in the day had the Olympics been in South Africa during the apartheid enforcements and the government there had passed a law regarding humans of darker complexion, what would the IOC have said then.. What if the Olympics were to be in a country where women had but little rights and being a female athlete was not an option, what would the IOC have said then!

Obviously The IOC would take the Olympics elsewhere. But who gives them the right to pick and choose right from wrong?
 

In conclusion, I see the likeness between the past as well as the present. Maybe I am being delusional and it’s all in my head. But history has a risk of repeating itself here and yet people who represent us (government) turn a blind eye to the patterns and indications and that is that:

“an impoverished people will consent to almost anything in the hope for a better life, even if it means acts of pure violence against another human being.”

In the end it’s all about human rights... The human’s right TO EXISTE!