Quote:
Originally Posted by OptimalTates
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-60600487
Reasons like this are why I think it's reasonable to ban Russia from World Juniors and International Cat Federation. It's not about penalizing individuals who have no say in the matters.
Many Russians believe that the Russian forces are liberating Ukraine from Nazis. Putin wanted his people to think that the Ukrainians welcomed the soldiers with open arms and that it's just a radical group of terrorists fighting against them. That the rest of the world had no issue, or in this case if it's true, that the USA is supporting them by way of sending "fighters."
The more "normal" everything is with the everyday Russian, the more they will believe the propaganda. But have the West show support for Ukraine and sanctions against Russia, the harder it is to hide. The more the individual Russian will have to question why. Why aren't we invited to World Juniors? Why did a bunch of western players leave the KHL during playoffs? Why won't they show the premiere league? Why the #### did the ICT not accept my application for Ms. Sparkles Esquire?
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Conversely, showing athletes and their families that the West doesn't live under a fascist dictatorship and that it's actually much more liberated here, than in Russia, has major advantages.
Also, punishing citizens for the actions of the governments is never good. You don't know their specific experiences. For all you know, they could be suffering under Putin's regime too.
Banning people with dissenting opinions from entering their country is what a fascist government would do. So the ban makes it easy for Russia to turn around and say we told you so.