We Should Not Criticize the US for Ferguson

I am going to share a rather unpopular idea: Russia should not criticize the U.S. and Obama for the extremely violent confrontations between authorities and radical protesters in Ferguson and other American cities.

Certainly there is a strong temptation to respond to the U.S. with the same rhetoric it frequently uses toward disfavored countries, including ours. Indeed, if we examine methods of restoring order that both sides use, our law enforcement agencies seem like angels in comparison to their overseas counterparts.

Undoubtedly, from a moral point of view, we have a right to find fault with the U.S., especially after the barrage of criticism Russia has faced over alleged infringement of civil rights and freedoms.

But the funny thing is, we could also use the occasion and give a “tit for tat” response, which would bring some emotional satisfaction, but nothing more. On this particular issue, we could also say, in a fatherly and sympathetic way, “we could use your domestic problems to settle scores, but because we are polite and fair, we won’t. Moreover, we are adults, so we wish you luck in restoring basic order.”

In that way, we can achieve much more. We can either be concerned with establishing a dialogue between two countries or publicly demonstrate how to show good manners when it comes to relations between partners. This case calls for non-interference into the domestic affairs of sovereign states.

As for possible claims that I am trampling on democratic values, let me respond.

Democracy is not the same as power of the street, no matter what protesters demand. Peaceful protest is not burning cars or looting no matter where it occurs, be it Ferguson, Kiev or any other city on the planet.

Mounting controversy does not disappear by confronting the police, just as weakness and an unwillingness to abide by the constitution led to what we see happening in the Ukraine.

Obviously, Americans opened Pandora’s box by accusing a democracy of being something it had never been. However, it does not mean Russia should play by the same rules and engage in the same rhetoric and lies.

It is likely that someone will question the photos of helpless men and women being hit by the police. Photos like this one? [https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B3Vo0jeCMAAHMvC.jpg]

It is sad, if the photos are real. I believe they are, since it is widely known that American and European police are tough law enforcers who have broad authority, especially in these circumstances.

It is important to be objective and realize that photos show a particular moment, and we cannot know what preceded every particular frame; the same position of an arm or a leg can reflect being struck or simply be an innocuous movement.

It is worth remembering that a few years ago, anti-establishment oppositionists disseminated similar kinds of photos to convince the public that Russian law enforcement agencies were committing atrocities that had never taken place, at least on such a grand scale.

There are other materials in addition to the photos, such as this video [https://twitter.com/rykov/status/537359183080095744] demonstrating how a crowd, similar to those agitated supporters of European integration, can provoke police.

Incidentally, a policeman in the video, who remains unperturbed in the face of insulting chants, is the same color as those he is restraining. This picture suggests that the true cause of the disturbances goes much deeper than racial discrimination, as some people insist.

The problem is not the color of one’s skin. The problem is primarily one of existing social controversies. If you like, it is a class protest of underserved social groups against an unjust social system and against those who are complacent with, and serve, this system.

For these reasons, when looked at objectively, the most oppressed class turns out to be none other than African Americans. However, that is a subject for another analysis.