What is Love?

ALCOHOL IS CHEAPER THAN TEXTBOOKS

OPPOSITION TRIAL

By Stephen Wilson 

 

             

"Milton Fedorov, who has not only once come to my institute, correctly stated how he noted that in our country alcohol is cheaper than school textbooks. The government creates all the conditions, so that between responsibility and irresponsibility, Russians choose the second," declared Yegor Zhukov, a prominent blogger and student in the opposition during his trial speech. The 21-year-old student of the Institute of Economics had been first charged with calling for mass disorder, to have the then charges dropped to be replaced with charges of 'extremism'. Zhukov was found guilty, but granted a suspended 3 year sentence and banned for 2 years from using the internet.

              

After hearing of the sentence, and that of other opposition who avoided a jail sentence, his supporters were immensely relieved and deemed it a small victory. But when I asked one solitary middle-aged  protester who takes turns in holding a placard protesting against the imprisonment of demonstrators: " What do you think of the recent verdict in the Zhukov case? I mean it is not the worst result is it? He could have been imprisoned."

              

It is not the worst scenario, but a sentence is still a sentence. It was unfairly imposed for political reasons. " I had noticed her conspicuous presence on Telman square which was replaced by another protester. Thankfully, nobody was disturbing them or arresting them.

 

              

It is perhaps no accident that Yegor Zhukov was targeted by the authorities. The blogger had 170,000 followers as well as 7,000 more following his arrest. But  life for bloggers and journalists will become increasing problematic as a new law passed by the Duma makes it a crime for them to distribute or quote from any foreign media organisation on-line. People who violate this law not only face a hefty fine but 15 days imprisonment for breaking it twice. The law comes into force on February 1st 2020. 

              

The case against Zhukov and many other opposition  figures has a surreal air bordering on the ludicrous. Just reading the long speech of Zhukov is enough to persuade you his views are a far cry from extremism. As he himself states: "I'm not an extremist, both linguistically, and in terms of common sense". A lawyer who is also a student at Moscow State University told me, "There are some things which surprise me about this case and are odd. When the authorities were searching for evidence against Zhukov in his apartment they confiscated his collection of ceramic frogs as 'evidence' against him. Instead of returning them to him they destroyed them. Why they did this I am at a loss to figure out. Did they regard those frogs as some kind of implicit political satire?" 

              

However, it is Zhukov's long speech which is worth noting. His splendid speech succinctly summed up the deep despair of many Russians without a voice. For instance, he pointed to the fact that as many as one out of three children are being brought up by single mothers and out of work or low paid men drowning their sorrows in alcohol, losing their dignity, and the ugly domestic violence where men beat their wives, drink themselves to death or commit suicide. He claimed that the number of male suicides a year were 100,000. Russia has the highest suicide rate in the world.

              

The whole of his speech could have been a sermon preached by an Orthodox Priest rather than Navalny. He took the government to task for failing to uphold the Virtues of Orthodox Christianity because their policies were leading to the destruction of the family and hatred. "The authorities torture people in penal colonies, ignore aid victims, close schools and hospitals. We have become a country which unlearns love. Are we ever taught this? Are such ethics taught in our schools? No."  Perhaps Zhukov overstated the case that love is never taught in schools. It largely depends on the school and the teacher. But Zhukov has a point. Why do many school students feel their teachers don't love them or are angry and bitter all the time? This also applies to non-Russian schools. At my school in Scotland I was warned by people that, "This is not like primary school where the teachers care about the pupils. You have to get used to the fact that teachers don't love their pupils, but are only doing a job."  But how can anyone teach love if they do not what it is? Many people presume to know it but regard it as simply 'an emotional state', 'physical attraction' or 'romantic passion.' They forget about the role of respect, constant care and attention required. But Zhukov's speech should at least alert people to ask, "What is the real voice of the Orthodox church?' Is the role of Orthodoxy to play safe by bolstering the state or should it take up its cross and implacably oppose all forms of evil and injustice? " As one priest told me in an understatement, "It is difficult to identify the true voice of the Orthodox Church!"

              

Zhukov's views have been influenced by the Canadian therapist and philosopher Jordan Peterson whose work, 12 Rules for Life, 2018, is readily available in Russia. Peterson's views stressing personal or individual responsibility, conservative values in regard to the family and opposition to an education which asserts a relative view of good and evil and state indoctrination are alluring to many Russians. But although Peterson's views are conservative it would be a mistake to label them as 'mystical fascism' as some American journalists regard him. An author who states that we are not good at listening attentively to people and we need to master this art in order to better help other people does not sound like a fascist.

              

One thing which Peterson has in common with Zhukov is that he has also been unfairly accused of extremism. Both feel they have been misunderstood. They both want people to ardently listen and love. It is doubtful whether the Russian government is ready to listen to, never mind love, the unwashed masses.