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The author hates the post-totalitarian system of the Czech Republic ('89-) and has very pro-Russian views. Just be aware before wasting your time with his artic

The author hates the post-totalitarian system of the Czech Republic ('89-) and has very pro-Russian views. Just be aware before wasting your time with his article.

skrebbel 3y ago
I read the whole thing and found nothing remotely pro-Russian. Care to elaborate?
- lajosbacs 3y ago
  Did not say this article in particular, but its author. Other commenters posted links. But basically he is pushing the Russian whataboutist narrative.
  - skrebbel 3y ago
    Ah yeah I misunderstood, thanks. That said, I really couldn't find much of the Russian whataboutist narrative in the article. It’s clear the author doesn’t love everything about western capitalism, but that, I think, is a widely held opinion across Europe. It does not imply, to me, a suggestion that Russian style kleptocratic capitalism is a better form by any means so if the author makes that argument elsewhere, I didn’t see it here. I guess I’m trying to say that I enjoyed the article, and learning that I don’t share the author’s politics hasn’t changed that.
    - lajosbacs 3y ago
      Fair enough. Of course, that is a completely legit view that I also partly hold. However, this author is known for his looking up to a regime that is way worse (or 'not better form' as you say).
      - skrebbel 3y ago
        Yeah fair, and I appreciate the context.
    - deleted 3y ago
      [deleted]
  - deleted 3y ago
    [deleted]
- calaverainfo 3y ago
  Describing the intelectual elites that overthrew soviet puppet totalitarian government as a bunch of CIA agents that acted out of pure envy of Kundera's genius who just misstepped a bit when he was ok with soviet invasion haven't gave you a hint? Really?
  - skrebbel 3y ago
    No it didn’t. In fact I did not get the idea that Kundera was ok with the soviet invasion at all. And, well, if the idea of CIA agents propping up pro-capitalism opposition figures is “pro-Russian”, then every Hollywood spy movie is pro-Russian. I have no idea how common “CIA meddles, all the way to the top” really is, or was, but it’s a common narrative across western culture so it didn’t strike me as super weird. I’ll admit that the idea that Havel did little by himself to become the President, that it was all due to support by the CIA people, which wasn’t said so literally but certainly suggested, felt rather unrealistic.
    - piva00 3y ago
      > And, well, if the idea of CIA agents propping up pro-capitalism opposition figures is “pro-Russian”, then every Hollywood spy movie is pro-Russian. And on top it also ignores stuff like Operation Gladio going on for decades in Europe during the Cold War.
    - coldtea 3y ago
      >I have no idea how common “CIA meddles, all the way to the top” really is, or was Very. E.g.: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CIA_activities_in_Italy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CIA_activities_in_Italy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Gladio https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Gladio https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_involvement_in_regime_change_in_Latin_America https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_involvement_in_r...
    - calaverainfo 3y ago
      Is your argument based on Hollywood action movies and popular stereotypes based on them? Come on, pal. The only other guys who have always been obsessed with CIA agents in context of central and eastern Europe are Russian propagandists. And Petr Drulák is not a scriptwriter.
- boffinAudio 3y ago
  In the modern dialectic-materialist-addled mindset of agitprop-spoonfed media consumers, "anti-American == pro-Russian", but a lot of the world isn't stuck in that dialectic and is capable of seeing another path: multi-polarity.
ekianjo 3y ago
Ad hominem much?

The author hates the post-totalitarian system of the Czech Republic ('89-) and has very pro-Russian views. Just be aware before wasting your time with his article.

skrebbel 3y ago

I read the whole thing and found nothing remotely pro-Russian. Care to elaborate?

lajosbacs 3y ago
Did not say this article in particular, but its author. Other commenters posted links. But basically he is pushing the Russian whataboutist narrative.
- skrebbel 3y ago
  Ah yeah I misunderstood, thanks. That said, I really couldn't find much of the Russian whataboutist narrative in the article. It’s clear the author doesn’t love everything about western capitalism, but that, I think, is a widely held opinion across Europe. It does not imply, to me, a suggestion that Russian style kleptocratic capitalism is a better form by any means so if the author makes that argument elsewhere, I didn’t see it here. I guess I’m trying to say that I enjoyed the article, and learning that I don’t share the author’s politics hasn’t changed that.
  - lajosbacs 3y ago
    Fair enough. Of course, that is a completely legit view that I also partly hold. However, this author is known for his looking up to a regime that is way worse (or 'not better form' as you say).
    - skrebbel 3y ago
      Yeah fair, and I appreciate the context.
  - deleted 3y ago
    [deleted]
- deleted 3y ago
  [deleted]
calaverainfo 3y ago
Describing the intelectual elites that overthrew soviet puppet totalitarian government as a bunch of CIA agents that acted out of pure envy of Kundera's genius who just misstepped a bit when he was ok with soviet invasion haven't gave you a hint? Really?
- skrebbel 3y ago
  No it didn’t. In fact I did not get the idea that Kundera was ok with the soviet invasion at all. And, well, if the idea of CIA agents propping up pro-capitalism opposition figures is “pro-Russian”, then every Hollywood spy movie is pro-Russian. I have no idea how common “CIA meddles, all the way to the top” really is, or was, but it’s a common narrative across western culture so it didn’t strike me as super weird. I’ll admit that the idea that Havel did little by himself to become the President, that it was all due to support by the CIA people, which wasn’t said so literally but certainly suggested, felt rather unrealistic.
  - piva00 3y ago
    > And, well, if the idea of CIA agents propping up pro-capitalism opposition figures is “pro-Russian”, then every Hollywood spy movie is pro-Russian. And on top it also ignores stuff like Operation Gladio going on for decades in Europe during the Cold War.
  - coldtea 3y ago
    >I have no idea how common “CIA meddles, all the way to the top” really is, or was Very. E.g.: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CIA_activities_in_Italy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CIA_activities_in_Italy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Gladio https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Gladio https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_involvement_in_regime_change_in_Latin_America https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_involvement_in_r...
  - calaverainfo 3y ago
    Is your argument based on Hollywood action movies and popular stereotypes based on them? Come on, pal. The only other guys who have always been obsessed with CIA agents in context of central and eastern Europe are Russian propagandists. And Petr Drulák is not a scriptwriter.
boffinAudio 3y ago
In the modern dialectic-materialist-addled mindset of agitprop-spoonfed media consumers, "anti-American == pro-Russian", but a lot of the world isn't stuck in that dialectic and is capable of seeing another path: multi-polarity.

ekianjo 3y ago

Ad hominem much?