Let’s not confuse Russian propaganda with the ideological beliefs of politicians in the United States, even if we don’t like them
One of the diseases of the growth of our politics and civil society, which was exacerbated during the full-scale invasion, is the categorical rejection of other views and the very fact of its existence. In the context of attitudes toward Ukraine and our war with Russia, this is absolutely justified.
However, sometimes this attitude is transferred to entire strata, which are distinguished primarily on the basis of ideology. However, this is extremely strange, since there are virtually no mainstream political parties in Ukraine that have a clearly defined, stable political ideology. And populism and juggling with terms are a constant practice during election processes.
But in Europe and the United States, the situation is quite different. And if a party proclaims itself a Christian democratic or conservative party, it is very unlikely to implement socialist ideas. It is impossible to even imagine libertarian parties raising taxes after winning, or social democrats canceling social assistance.
When Ukraine discusses the victory of the National Rally party in France, it is very wrong to assume that everyone who voted for this party is against supporting Ukraine because its informal leader, Marie Le Pen, has longstanding ties to Putin. An even bigger mistake is to assume that everyone who supports Trump in the United States wants Ukraine to lose the war. It is also a mistake to call all politicians who back him pro-Russian.
Colleagues from the Ukrainian data journalism agency Texty.org.ua have made a study “American swing. From Trumpists to Communists, Who and How is Campaigning to Stop Aid to Ukraine”.. It contains many correct remarks about the statements of certain politicians regarding Ukraine. Yes, we have and must say that Ukraine is waging a just war, defending itself against an aggressor that outnumbers us in numbers and resources, and that is why we need the support of other free nations of the world. Yes, we must present proven facts of cooperation between politicians, journalists, or public figures and our enemy. But we should not confuse the proven fact of cooperation with the coincidence of positions. We should not claim to be working for Russia if we do not have indisputable facts to prove it.
Even in the case of Tucker Carlson, it is not correct to say that he is a “spreader of Russian propaganda.” Because this media figure has made quite different statements, he has officially renounced his cooperation with Russian television, and he has publicly called Putin’s words about Nazis in Ukraine nonsense.
Even more wrong is the blanket criticism of some conservative foundations and environments.
“The people of Ukraine have shown their commitment to the transatlantic community, and the United States should provide Ukraine with advanced weapons and other tactical equipment, such as secure communications. We should not assume that such a decision by the United States will help resolve the crisis and end Russia’s aggression. While Ukraine’s future success depends primarily on Ukrainians themselves, U.S. leadership is essential to counter Russian aggression and support reforms,” the Heritage Foundation said in a report released in November 2017.
In other words, the “center-right think tank that has consistently advocated for an end to support for Ukraine” – according to Texts – has not always been so. They write about Ben Shapiro’s The Daily Wire: “Fact-checkers consider the site to be biased because of its distortion of facts to favor a conservative bias and its history of disseminating unverified information.” And what is the importance of promoting conservative ideology, especially if “Ben Shapiro even criticized Tucker Carlson for being manipulative in linking the welfare of Americans to aid to Ukraine.”?
Texty.org.ua is now under a barrage of criticism in the United States, with calls to cut off funding through grants from the US government and even to add them to the list of terrorist organizations. This is an unacceptable reaction to the publication of journalists. No matter who writes. If any of the colleagues named in the material personally believe that they have been unfairly insulted and slandered, there is a court. Where you can file.
However, we, as the Conservative Platform, as a community of like-minded people who share the values that Tucker Carlson, Ben Shapiro, Jordan Peterson, and many others mentioned in the Texty.org.ua article, hopefully live by, want to note that our struggle, which is taking place because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, is also taking place at the level of meanings, information, and disinformation.
To American conservatives, Republicans, right-wingers, and anyone who wants to understand Ukraine and the reasons for the war with Russia.
In the United States, they are trying to convince you that Ukraine is the worst personification of everything you dislike about your political opponents. However, in order not to look like a party making excuses, we will simply say who we are.
- We are Christians who respect and treat other religions with respect. On July 6-20, 2022, the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) conducted its own all-Ukrainian public opinion poll, Omnibus. According to its results, only 10% of Ukrainians considered themselves atheists. Does this somehow coincide with what you are told about Ukraine? Of course, different polls will show different numbers, but none will give less than 80% of people professing any of the world’s religions, and there will be at least 85% of Christians among them. In Russia, according to their official survey, there are 10% fewer religious people and 15% fewer Christians. So where do we need to protect Christian values?
- Yes, you may be told that Russia is fighting against LGBT people, who are banned in Russia, and that Ukraine is holding Equality Marches. However, this only means that we recognize the existence of such people and do not repress them (like all democratic countries), and we do not lie to ourselves or to you. Because the scandals with the “naked parties” and the Russian elite’s belonging to this category of people break through even their propaganda. And we want to emphasize that we are talking about the cultural and political elite of Russia.
So, yes, we really do not prohibit something that has existed despite all prohibitions at all times, including in the United States. We provide equal civil rights to everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation. However, if you look at our news at least briefly, you will see that in general, Ukrainian society has an extremely negative attitude towards the PROMOTION of LGBT+ culture, and we are in solidarity with conservatives in America and around the world. Because, as noted in paragraph 1, Ukraine is a Christian country. - We know what a problem the situation with migrants is for the United States. And we respect the efforts of every country that protects its identity from erosion and destruction. And in this regard, Ukrainians are no different from ordinary Americans. Moreover, because of Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, our people and our country are under the threat of dilution and destruction of our identity.
A hundred years ago, the Russian Empire, having exterminated millions of Ukrainians through genocide and artificial famine, settled in their homes representatives of peoples who had never lived on this territory. Now, in the temporarily occupied territories, this is happening again. And for the first time in our history, humanitarian aid for the occupied territories is being provided in the form of several thousand sheep for the religious needs of people whom Russia calls citizens of the occupied territories. We respect nations that practice Islam. But in our traditions, there has never been a ritual killing of animals in city squares. As has been happening for several years in Moscow and other Russian cities. - You are convinced that we have no chance of winning. That we will soon surrender. This is not true. It is in the traditions of the Ukrainian nation to wage a desperate, uncompromising struggle against a much more powerful enemy. In 1941, the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists began this struggle on two fronts at once, against both the German and Soviet occupiers. The Ukrainian Insurgent Army, created by the OUN, terrified the Bolsheviks for more than 10 years, with the total superiority of the USSR.
After February 24, 2022, everyone, including US intelligence, gave us a week to three weeks to surrender completely. But we are still standing. We are certainly grateful to the American people and all the free nations of the world for their support, without which we would have had a different format of war. However, we emphasize that we would have fought anyway. Including with Molotov cocktails and other means that we used in the first days and weeks. We will fight under any circumstances, because the alternative is complete destruction. And we assure you that if we win, the United States will have a most loyal ally, with one of the best-trained and most experienced armies in the world.
We also assure you that the Ukrainian people have no sympathies or antipathies for your politicians that would influence our country’s position. However, on a personal level, you can draw a quite logical conclusion from the above that you, American conservatives, are our like-minded people. And we hope that you will be our friends and allies.
We know how many people do not want this. How they want to split us up. How they provoke the dissemination of information that harms our relationship. We assure you that this can be overcome. And together we can return greatness to the Euro-Atlantic community, make America and Britain, Germany and Ukraine great. All free democracies of the world!