Robin van Es

The Rio Vegas = @RioVegas

[Robin van Es @therio]

@JamesGrundvig Or, maybe you're a conspiracy theorist that always needs attention! In Europe we do not eliminate others because of differences...

[Robin van Es @therio]

@larry_n0zxh9 This was your only limited thought, hearing the news?! This is a tragedy, not some political bullshit you want to make it.

[Robin van Es @therio]

@SlapendNed @ukraine_map Funny to read that you try to show an inclusive façade on your timeline, but show your true face here: ban everyone who do not fit in your perfect small world.

[Evgen Vorobyov @vorobyov]

President Zelensky granted a "Legend of Ukraine" award to Fuminori Tsuchiko, a 75-year old Japanese volunteer living in #Kharkiv

Using his savings, Fuminori-san opened a charity café in Saltivka, Kharkiv's district most ravaged by russian attacks, to feed people in need for free

[Robin van Es @therio]

@nevertoolat8 @nexta_tv @HMcEntee Lol, take a mirror and see the Russian

[Robin van Es @therio]

@nevertoolat8 @nexta_tv @HMcEntee The fact that you want to compare says enough. Maybe ask Russia to free you from the British...

[Robin van Es @therio]

@nevertoolat8 @nexta_tv @HMcEntee And yet I already said it is very difficult. I would agree if Brittain gave back the northern part to Ireland (would solve some EU issues too), but that's totally different from what is happening in Ukraine.

[Robin van Es @therio]

@23ua @DefMon3 @Eboblya Still, you don't know this guy but now already judging him by your own 'facts'. Good luck with that.

[Robin van Es @therio]

@23ua @DefMon3 @Eboblya Your opinion does even mean less, and sorry for your 'neighbour'. Sure we can discuss his illness and his way of trying to treat it. If it had helped it is something to look at.
But you're missing a valid point, not everything have to be peer-reviewed to be able to talk about it.

[Robin van Es @therio]

@nevertoolat8 @nexta_tv @HMcEntee Reality? I really missed the point where you did try to show some reality. Could you please repeat what you thought was "reality"?

[Robin van Es @therio]

@nevertoolat8 @nexta_tv @HMcEntee I don't know, clearly you know better.

[Robin van Es @therio]

@nevertoolat8 @nexta_tv @HMcEntee Ah, Northern Ireland is occupied and NATO did it. I've been in both sides and yes, it is difficult. But again, you start with "just give them the occupied parts of Ukraine" and afterwards switch sides with "they occupied my country!". Double standard.

[Robin van Es @therio]

@nevertoolat8 @nexta_tv The start was already lost in reality so a good conversation isn't possible.

[Robin van Es @therio]

@23ua @DefMon3 @Eboblya Why would he need to be a combat medic or be in Ukraine to have experience or knowledge about this product? Doesn't it work outside Ukraine? Is there a password on it that only unlocks with Combat Medics?! You missed common sense...

[Robin van Es @therio]

@23ua @DefMon3 @Eboblya He is not saying it is certified, he knows it works. That may also be personal experience.

[Robin van Es @therio]

@nevertoolat8 @nexta_tv Who the F do you think this war started? A country is defending themselves from idiots, but you say "let those idiots take everything!". Strange to hear this out of your mouth while your timeline is full about an idiot that killed a girl (and he has to be punished).

[WarTranslated @wartranslated]

This man is now in Ukrainian captivity, safe. Why is this person on the battlefield? Where are all the Western free thinkers, human rights activists and critics of Ukraine, why is none of them trying to stop Putin from exterminating its own population? All you care about is parroting delusional contrarian slogans and farming engagement on posts with fake beach parties in Ukraine whilst sitting in cozy homes 8,000 miles away. This is insanity...

[Bad Baltic Takes @BadBalticTakes]

Compare and contrast these reactions from fellow athletes towards human rights gestures.

During the iconic podium protest at the 1968 Olympics, Australian silver medalist Peter Norman didn’t feign hurt and surprise. He didn’t demand to be declared winner. He didn’t whine that he’s not personally to blame. He didn’t try to make it all about him.

Indeed, Norman’s own story is largely forgotten. But he’s not the bystander to history that many assume from that famous photo.

Norman was told in advance about the protest by the US athletes, Tommie Smith and John Carlos. In the wake of MLK’s assassination, they had recently launched the Olympic Project For Human Rights to highlight the mistreatment of black athletes and the oppression of black people worldwide. Their demands included the expulsion of South African athletes due to apartheid.

So how did Norman react, knowing he’d have to stand alongside them during the gesture?

He asked how he could show his solidarity with them. That’s why he’s wearing a badge of the Olympic Project For Human Rights while on the podium. Norman also came up with the idea that they share one pair of gloves, hence the opposite hand gesture.

Norman suffered terribly afterwards. He was vilified, punished, and never allowed to represent Australia again, despite consistently having the fastest times.

Yet he regretted nothing. He told the NYT in 2000:

“I won a silver medal, but really, I ended up running the fastest race of my life to become part of something that transcended the Games.”

Now compare that to russia’s “neutral” athletes, as well as athletes from Iran and Belarus.

They know their countries are taking part in imperial genocide. They know in advance about the planned gestures in support of human rights by athletes facing that imperial genocide - which is the entirely reasonable, simple act of not shaking hands with athletes representing countries taking part in the genocide.

Yet they feign hurt and surprise like a bunch of tone-deaf brats hoping for another opportunity to screw over victims of their country’s genocide.

Partly, this comes back to the disgusting habit of tone policing victims of genocide, which is common even among russians who consider themselves anti-war.

‘Don’t be emotional, don’t make jokes, don’t use insults, don’t use swear words, don’t fight back like that …and don’t reference the genocide where we prefer to celebrate sportsmanship - even though we are representing countries that violate the most fundamental rules of international law, the UN Charter, and the Geneva Conventions all because we don’t think you have a right to exist. Now be sporting and shake our hands.”

Fuck that.

I’ve heard people say, “but what if the athletes being snubbed for a handshake are genuinely decent people who don’t support the war?”

Then they get it. They get why their hand won’t be shaken while they are representing a genocidal nation. They don’t throw a tantrum over it. You don’t need to worry about them being insulted. If they get it and are truly decent then they won’t be insulted by a gesture for human rights.

If anyone wants to know how to be a decent ally then be like Norman.

PS. South African athletes were indeed expelled from the Olympics for two decades, adding to the international isolation of the regime, which eventually helped end apartheid. It’s a fact that the Olympics is proud to show off in its own official history …without mentioning the iconic podium protest or hoping anyone notices the parallels with russian and belarusian athletes today. Current IOC President and pal of Putin Thomas Bach is still opposed to the 1968 podium protest and recently chastised World Athletics President Seb Coe when he gave an award recognising all three athletes, including Norman who died with little recognition. Coe also happens to support the exclusion of russian and belarusian athletes while the IOC attempts to ease sanctions.

[Robin van Es @therio]

@ikmultimedia @OpenELEC

[Robin van Es @therio]

@safaren95 @KyivIndependent LOL, see that mirror? Don't confuse that image as something else... Propaganda did have its effect on you.