#boycott sochi

[christellar]

the worst part is over.

feeling so torn.

part of my identity as a Canadian is hockey. another part of my identity as a Canadian is my duty to defend fundamental Human Rights. Sochi 2014 has been one of the most difficult boycotts I've done so far.

Priorities.

[deepfatfreud]

I am fucking sick and tired of hearing people talk shit about Russia.  I'm sick of accusations flying around about how unprepared they are, how disrespectful toward the Olympics they are, about some of their shitty policies.

First of all, yes Putin's anti-homosexuality is appalling and offensive to human beings everywhere.  Yes the hotels are pretty icky compared to a lot of upper middle-class places.  But it is fucking ignorant and downright rude to blame Russia for carelessness and intolerance.

A country's political views have NOTHING to do with the goal of the Olympics, which is to bring countries and people together in a sense of camaraderie, and to fulfill the lifelong dreams of athletes and their families.  Blaming Putin (despite some of his horrendous political moves) for the state of Russia and their politics is like blaming Obama for the shitty things about the United States.  He was handed a gigantic country that was already run down and fucked over by people like Lenin, Stalin, countless Tsars and so many other people.

And if you think for one second that they were not prepared to host people, that's inane in the worst sense.  So many Russian natives' DAY TO DAY living conditions are way worse than what we've seen people are staying in.

To top all of that, they are already an incredibly poor country.  How would you fund a multi-billion dollar event?  The opening ceremonies was full of patriotism and gratitude to be allowed to host the event.  Saying that it's like going to the "weird kid's house" for a neighborhood party is wrong.  It's like a bunch of rich kids going to the poor kid's house and bitching because they don't have expensive food or toys.

Fuck "Boycott Sochi".  That's degrading a country for something that, in these times, almost no one seems to have a hold of, and it's ignoring and even blatantly insulting the dreams of hundreds of people.

Stop making the Olympics about crappy politics, and start making it about what it is intended for: a chance for people to come together in friendship and triumph over otherwise harsh disagreements.

[notjusttheinternet]

http://www.upworthy.com/russias-already-won-a-gold-medal-in-the-darkest-part-of-sochis-olympic-games?g=2 I support my country, I support the thousands of athletes across the world who have worked their butts off all their lives to get to the top, and I support everyone's right to have a different opinion than mine. I recognize the actions of few do not reflect the feelings of many, and that having Sochi as the location for the 2014 Winter Olympic games may never have really been up for debate. However, as valiant, unifying, and inspiring the Olympics are, they are not something I support this year. I cannot idly endorse a worldwide event which directly supports a backwards and disorganized nation, lead by a bigot with the blood of hundreds of LGBTQ* individuals on his hands. The right for someone to have their dreams come true comes secondary to the rights of Russian citizens, and other visitors to the country, to live without fear of imprisonment or death. ‪#‎BoycottSochi‬

[memeographs]

IOC A-OK with Russian lesbians being "kicked, chocked, and threatened with sexual violence" while in police custody. #CheersToSochi READ: http://bzfd.it/1aHrTFD

[walkawayinsin]

HBTQ

Being gay/trans/bi/lesbian isn't anything dangerous or something that will kill you. It's when someone choose to live his/her life the way that person wants to or have just fallen i love with someone. I can't even understand how people accept harassment and violence against people that make their own choices. Just because they doesn't love that "certain gender" others prefer doesn't make them dangerous, they're people for Odin's sake. Ordinary, healthy, happy people. GROW UP HOMOPHOBIC PEOPLE (YES I'M TALKING TO YOU "MR SASSY PRESIDENT OF RUSSIA", I won't stop interfere or talk about how stupid your anti-gay laws are until you shove them down in the dirt where they once came from!!)   

[brambi-p]

[mylifeasaninternetaddict]

Gay Rights are Human Rights