Think of the harm it causes the Ukrainian athletes to compete against Russian ones, particularly ones who support and benefit under Putin? That situation cannot be allowed to occur.
Pressure also needs to be put on those who benefit within the Putin regime, who hold significant popular sway, to remove Putin from power. Within Russia, athletes unfortunately hold a special elevated status, receive special freedoms and benefit financially.
Sadly a majority of Russians support Putin's position, the message must be clear, No to this war! No to business as usual! Let them stay home until they wish to act in a human manner....
There will be innocents involved in such bans, but I'm much more empathetic to the innocent Ukrainians being tortured, raped, and slaughtered. There were good Germans too during WWII, including those who hid Jews. This never absolved the need for national recognition that ordinary Germans had a role in Hitler's rise, the war, and the Holocaust. Today it's Russian aggression that needs to prompt Russians to seek absolution of their role in permitting Putin's insane war. Ban every Russian who plays on the world stage unless, as you write, they renounce Putin and the war (and then of course offer them asylum). And at the same time, support every one of them who flees to the West in opposition to the war. I live in Estonia, some of my colleagues are Ukrainian and Russian, and they support such a stance.
I think you are mistaken: it will embarrass Putin. And I cannot imagine the optics of horrific deaths in Ukraine at the hands of Putin's military ... while Russian athletes prance around on an elite tennis court as if nothing is happening. Sickening. They should all... all.. renounce their nation and leave.
As soon as I hear Russian tennis elites (and let’s not forget or dilute the fact that these are elites) unequivocally denounce the actions of their state—not just remove the Russian flag from their social media accounts—I’ll agree with you. While I appreciate the shift toward devil’s advocacy and its challenge to my thinking, this argument and the one in which you make excuses for discrepancies in public concerns for Ukrainian vs. othered others (like Syrians, Afghans, Ethiopians, the list goes on), I am deeply skeptical of the selective forms of nuance being applied in your recent opinion pieces. The arguments function in the way of the logical contortions of a politician, not the humanitarian I’ve so long looked to for guidance as to what on the world stage should most concern me. In this case, any tennis player who represents, literally or symbolically, the Russian state, should not be welcome to compete. You say banning Russians players from such events will only stengthen support for Putin in Russia. But if this is in fact the case (which we might guess at in the short run but cannot yet know, certainly not in the long run), for how long, exactly, do you think Russians will rally around Putin as gestures like these and sanction upon sanction make clear that the entire world (except, well, Trump) denounces him?
First, Russian and Belarusian athletes participating in circuit sports like tennis have already been exposed to the outside world by the time they play at big tournaments so there is no gain to letting them play. Their safety would also be an issue. Second, why torture Ukranian athletes by allowing representatives of the evildoing countries to participate? Third, look at the Olympic mess; who needs that in other sports. Fourth, I am not in favor of half-assed, salami-slicing responses to evil. Haven't we learned anything from history?
NO! All parts of 'Russian' must be condemned. No business as usual with anyone that is Russian or representing Russia. Putin must be eliminated from power. It will take everyone connect to put him down. The more it hurts, the more silent people will face their fear of him and gather to do something. No diversions like watching a tennis match for the silent! They must organize and eliminate Putin.
First, I agree with your premise with the all-important caveat that in order to be allowed to play, the individual Russian player must publicly renounce the invasion. I understand this is problematic as well; if the player is beholden to the Russian government in some way the requirement would force them into a no-win situation. But it does give players an option, and if only a few sports figures took advantage of this option it could blunt the propaganda that the West is bullying Russia.
The other thought came at the beginning when you referenced the courage and integrity of Alexei Navalny. I couldn't help comparing him to "I didn't get to be leader by voting with 5 people in the conference" McConnell here in the US. What a wretched comparison it is! Navalny could have easily stayed out of Russia and lived a life of comfort & safety by writing books about his experience. He even could have claimed to be doing his part to bring down Putin by staying out of prison where he would be free to speak out at length. Instead he returned to the "belly of the beast" as it were, in order to illustrate to the world and to his own countrymen just what a bully Putin is.
This invasion has put the spotlight on heroes and villains in Russia and surrounding nations, and has begged comparisons like this. What a tragedy that even when Americans see first hand the effects of placing dishonest, spineless, craven politicians in positions of power, we continue to do that very thing here at home.
Not this time. The olympic committee banned Russsia but allowed their athletes to compete under a bogus scheme that in effect resulted in no punnishment for cheating. While I feel for the athletes that can no longer compete on the world stage their needs to be consequences that the Russian people can see in realtime. Not letting athletes compete forces Putin to explain why they're not welcome. I can't say if it will make a difference but it's certainly worth making the point.
Unfortunately, The success of Russian athletes will be used as propaganda in Putin's campaign to make Russia great again.He started this war AFTER the Olympics, ended so obviously national sporting events are a reflection of his successes..I feel for the athletes, but they should feel worse for the Ukrainian people.
Anything to wake up the Russian public and isolate Putin is fair game. The inconvenience to several athletes pales in comparison to the death of tens of thousands Ukrainians.
The Russian propaganda is very strong. Banning Russian athletes from competitions is a way to let Russian know that there is a war happening in Ukraine, not just a "special military operation".
The russian bandits have already proven this is not putin vs Ukraine. This is a crime being committed and until it stops and reparations are paid and those guilty of crimes are tried all russians must be treated the same. Outcast from civil society. Why let the elite, whether pro athlete or oligarch continue their comfortable life?
Absolutely NOT. Russia uses sports as a weapon. If any Russian athlete is able to compete internationally after Putin's horrific invasion of Ukraine, Russian state-run media (now there is no other kind) will spin this as a sign that other countries want normal relations with Russia, and it is only lovers of all those Nazis in Ukraine -- a bald-faced lie, of course -- who are standing in the way of everything returning to how it was pre-invasion.
Given your foreign policy experience, I expected that you would have a more nuanced understanding of how Putin's Russia operates. The Russian people would never be told that a Russian tennis player was able to compete at Wimbledon because they oppose Putin's war. All they would see is a clip of the player at Wimbledon, probably with a scene of fans applauding the Russian.
Think of the harm it causes the Ukrainian athletes to compete against Russian ones, particularly ones who support and benefit under Putin? That situation cannot be allowed to occur.
Pressure also needs to be put on those who benefit within the Putin regime, who hold significant popular sway, to remove Putin from power. Within Russia, athletes unfortunately hold a special elevated status, receive special freedoms and benefit financially.
I don't see a better way, as imperfect as it is.
Sadly a majority of Russians support Putin's position, the message must be clear, No to this war! No to business as usual! Let them stay home until they wish to act in a human manner....
There will be innocents involved in such bans, but I'm much more empathetic to the innocent Ukrainians being tortured, raped, and slaughtered. There were good Germans too during WWII, including those who hid Jews. This never absolved the need for national recognition that ordinary Germans had a role in Hitler's rise, the war, and the Holocaust. Today it's Russian aggression that needs to prompt Russians to seek absolution of their role in permitting Putin's insane war. Ban every Russian who plays on the world stage unless, as you write, they renounce Putin and the war (and then of course offer them asylum). And at the same time, support every one of them who flees to the West in opposition to the war. I live in Estonia, some of my colleagues are Ukrainian and Russian, and they support such a stance.
I think you are mistaken: it will embarrass Putin. And I cannot imagine the optics of horrific deaths in Ukraine at the hands of Putin's military ... while Russian athletes prance around on an elite tennis court as if nothing is happening. Sickening. They should all... all.. renounce their nation and leave.
As soon as I hear Russian tennis elites (and let’s not forget or dilute the fact that these are elites) unequivocally denounce the actions of their state—not just remove the Russian flag from their social media accounts—I’ll agree with you. While I appreciate the shift toward devil’s advocacy and its challenge to my thinking, this argument and the one in which you make excuses for discrepancies in public concerns for Ukrainian vs. othered others (like Syrians, Afghans, Ethiopians, the list goes on), I am deeply skeptical of the selective forms of nuance being applied in your recent opinion pieces. The arguments function in the way of the logical contortions of a politician, not the humanitarian I’ve so long looked to for guidance as to what on the world stage should most concern me. In this case, any tennis player who represents, literally or symbolically, the Russian state, should not be welcome to compete. You say banning Russians players from such events will only stengthen support for Putin in Russia. But if this is in fact the case (which we might guess at in the short run but cannot yet know, certainly not in the long run), for how long, exactly, do you think Russians will rally around Putin as gestures like these and sanction upon sanction make clear that the entire world (except, well, Trump) denounces him?
Is it realistic to expect Russian athletes to renounce the war in Ukraine and remain safe in Russia?
First, Russian and Belarusian athletes participating in circuit sports like tennis have already been exposed to the outside world by the time they play at big tournaments so there is no gain to letting them play. Their safety would also be an issue. Second, why torture Ukranian athletes by allowing representatives of the evildoing countries to participate? Third, look at the Olympic mess; who needs that in other sports. Fourth, I am not in favor of half-assed, salami-slicing responses to evil. Haven't we learned anything from history?
NO! All parts of 'Russian' must be condemned. No business as usual with anyone that is Russian or representing Russia. Putin must be eliminated from power. It will take everyone connect to put him down. The more it hurts, the more silent people will face their fear of him and gather to do something. No diversions like watching a tennis match for the silent! They must organize and eliminate Putin.
Two thoughts come to mind here:
First, I agree with your premise with the all-important caveat that in order to be allowed to play, the individual Russian player must publicly renounce the invasion. I understand this is problematic as well; if the player is beholden to the Russian government in some way the requirement would force them into a no-win situation. But it does give players an option, and if only a few sports figures took advantage of this option it could blunt the propaganda that the West is bullying Russia.
The other thought came at the beginning when you referenced the courage and integrity of Alexei Navalny. I couldn't help comparing him to "I didn't get to be leader by voting with 5 people in the conference" McConnell here in the US. What a wretched comparison it is! Navalny could have easily stayed out of Russia and lived a life of comfort & safety by writing books about his experience. He even could have claimed to be doing his part to bring down Putin by staying out of prison where he would be free to speak out at length. Instead he returned to the "belly of the beast" as it were, in order to illustrate to the world and to his own countrymen just what a bully Putin is.
This invasion has put the spotlight on heroes and villains in Russia and surrounding nations, and has begged comparisons like this. What a tragedy that even when Americans see first hand the effects of placing dishonest, spineless, craven politicians in positions of power, we continue to do that very thing here at home.
Not this time. The olympic committee banned Russsia but allowed their athletes to compete under a bogus scheme that in effect resulted in no punnishment for cheating. While I feel for the athletes that can no longer compete on the world stage their needs to be consequences that the Russian people can see in realtime. Not letting athletes compete forces Putin to explain why they're not welcome. I can't say if it will make a difference but it's certainly worth making the point.
Unfortunately, The success of Russian athletes will be used as propaganda in Putin's campaign to make Russia great again.He started this war AFTER the Olympics, ended so obviously national sporting events are a reflection of his successes..I feel for the athletes, but they should feel worse for the Ukrainian people.
Anything to wake up the Russian public and isolate Putin is fair game. The inconvenience to several athletes pales in comparison to the death of tens of thousands Ukrainians.
If they are seeking asylum, sure.
The Russian propaganda is very strong. Banning Russian athletes from competitions is a way to let Russian know that there is a war happening in Ukraine, not just a "special military operation".
The russian bandits have already proven this is not putin vs Ukraine. This is a crime being committed and until it stops and reparations are paid and those guilty of crimes are tried all russians must be treated the same. Outcast from civil society. Why let the elite, whether pro athlete or oligarch continue their comfortable life?
Absolutely NOT. Russia uses sports as a weapon. If any Russian athlete is able to compete internationally after Putin's horrific invasion of Ukraine, Russian state-run media (now there is no other kind) will spin this as a sign that other countries want normal relations with Russia, and it is only lovers of all those Nazis in Ukraine -- a bald-faced lie, of course -- who are standing in the way of everything returning to how it was pre-invasion.
Given your foreign policy experience, I expected that you would have a more nuanced understanding of how Putin's Russia operates. The Russian people would never be told that a Russian tennis player was able to compete at Wimbledon because they oppose Putin's war. All they would see is a clip of the player at Wimbledon, probably with a scene of fans applauding the Russian.