Where is the Russian flag on social media!?! A foreigner's perspective...

[peacetraveler22]

After the tragic attacks in Paris last week, there was an outpouring of grief on social media. Immediately profile pictures on Facebook were changed to display the French flag in a symbol of solidarity and support for Parisians. Of course, this outraged many people on RuNet. I watched closely the outpouring of yellow headlines and anger that flowed over the weekend. So many nasty and angry posts questioning why foreigners didn't display the Russian flag on social media after the Sinai plane bombing. What about Beirut? How about Turkey! Both countries also were victims of terrorist attacks in the last few weeks, though on a much smaller scale. Even more outrage when LiveJournal displayed the French flag on the homepage for several days. As a foreigner and tourist to both France and Russia many times, the reasons for the disparate public reactions are quite obvious to me.

France has consistently ranked as the most visited country by foreign tourists, with the USA in second place. I looked at the tourism figures for 2014, and again France is in first place - 83.7 million tourist arrivals last year. In the USA, there were 74.8 million. Now, let's compare these figures to tourism in Russia. In 2014, only 29.8 million tourist arrivals, a miniscule amount in comparison to the French statistics. So, you must understand that foreigners don't equate the loss of Russian life in the Sinai plane crash to be lesser than the victims of Paris. The difference is that large numbers of tourists from all over the world have visited Paris, have walked its cozy streets, and thus have vibrant memories and connections to the country. And this makes the grief much more tangible and personal. We don't grieve for the loss of a stranger in the same way as we ache when a family member or loved one dies. And to many foreigners, Russia is a stranger, a distant land upon which they have never walked nor explored. Moreover, it was not readily apparent that the plane crash over the Sinai was an act of terrorism. Your officials admitted this only a few days ago, and the Egyptians still refuse to accept it. With the Paris attacks, there was no doubt.

When Russia opens its arms and builds proper tourism infrastructure such that people from all over the world will come to visit and explore, it too will enjoy the widespread outpouring of grief and support that recently fell upon the French. I am certain of it. For me, the reaction and grief for the Metrojet and Paris victims doesn't differ. I have close friends, memories and experiences in both nations, and had actually just returned from France a week before the attacks. So it all seems very real and personal...however, to live in fear is not an option. This will never be me, and it's not in my spirit to doubt the goodness of humanity, which still strongly outweighs the horror. I am drawn to both France and Russia, though for different reasons. Each nation holds a special place in my soul and mind, and neither terrorist attack does anything to change these facts or feelings...

How about you? Were you offended by the display of the French flag all over social media and LiveJournal?

Comments

[Макс (from livejournal.com)]

Let's be honest. I can't mourn the people who were killed in Nigeria, because I'm Russian and they're just wild niggers. The same thing with you. You can't mourn russian victims because you consider us barbarians, some kind of white niggers. This is common ideology of western people. For instance you can kill millions of Indians and you won't be sorry of them. or you can drop bombs on Japanese civilians and say - it's OK. Because they all are not white people like you are. But don't worry it's not so bad. Russian are the same. Actually all people in all around the world the same. Many of them even more worse - you know, in some countries people are celebrating those terrorist acts.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

No, I don't consider Russians to be barbarians. And I hate this word "nigger". Please do not use it here. It's a very offensive word in English.

[Макс (from livejournal.com)]

ok..but not in Russian.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Yes, I understand the term has a different meaning in Russian but you used it in a derogatory manner. Do you really believe people in Africa, or the majority of black Americans, are "wild?"

[Макс (from livejournal.com)]

No, no, no.. I think it is you who thinks so. Of course not you personally, but western people. I was a little rude in order to emphasize some things. But as I can see you didn't get it. One more try. Take a look at your history and see how you treated other people around you. Native Americans, Africans, Japanese. Nothing has changed in your attitude to other people nowadays. Isn't it obvious? Again, not you personally and not only Americans.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Yes, this is part of U.S. history. No one denies it. However, you fail to recognize how many people the U.S. helps, how many immigrants the country welcomes with open arms, and in most cases there is assimilation into society. And how about all the charitable contributions the U.S. makes around the world? Not only the government, but also ordinary Americans. :)

[janelight.livejournal.com]

Nigger IS offensive in Russian. Come on.

[Макс (from livejournal.com)]

not too much, though
and maybe it's my fault, my bad english. i just tried to say - негр

[janelight.livejournal.com]

негр (given that it is said in a netral context, can be neutral in Russian) and ниггер (which is always very negative) is a HUGE difference.

[Макс (from livejournal.com)]

it's even better in this context. I tried to explain how they treat us - to russians and to other not quite "white" people. they think we're all something like niggers. we denounce them but actually we think the same about other people.

[janelight.livejournal.com]

You express weird thoughts. Typical though for part of Russians who do not know well what people in other countries think and projecting the mess in your own head on the others. "They" means whom? Why Russians are "not quite white"? Why do you think that race and skin color is primary for Western people ? You might be surprised, but in fact it is primary for you, not for them. And you demanstrate a classic looser thinking - which is the real cause of attitude you do not like.