Putin Raja & A Delightful Political Conversation
In the biggest election year in history, democracy is crashing and burning spectacularly. Might as well have fun.
I listen to the BBC’s Global News Podcast every day when I walk and just learned that Vladimir Putin had a big bash for his celebrity supporters at the Kremlin’s St Andrews Hall. The BBC’s Russia Editor Steve Rosenberg was invited, maybe as a “sign of Putin’s growing confidence,” he says.
See this description I found of the venue. Perfect for Putin Raja:
The large room has a vaulted ceiling supported by ornately decorated columns. Between each column there is a chandelier. At the far end of the room is the Imperial throne. Above it there is a motif of an all-powerful eye, surrounded by gold rays. The Kremlin is a fortified complex of palaces and cathedrals in Moscow. The Grand Kremlin Palace is the largest building in the Kremlin and has five reception rooms named after the Orders of the Russian Empire, including this hall named for St Andrew.
Anyway, Rosenberg decided to have fun seeing how people would respond to criticism of the sham election that Putin just swept in the “world’s best democracy” (Putin’s words not mine). He recorded this brilliant conversation he had with Margarita Simonyan, editor of Russia’s state-controlled broadcaster RT (Russia’s Arnab?)
BBC: Do you believe the election was free and fair?
MS: C’mon, you don’t? Don’t you tell me you don’t. You live in Russia, you see that everyone supports Putin.
BBC: Everyone?
MS: Five-six years ago I knew a lot of people who didn’t. Now, me personally, I don’t know anyone.
BBC: Was there a serious challenger in the election? A serious opponent?
MS: Is there a need for a serious opponent? Why?
BBC: Why is there no need for a serious opponent?
MS: Why do you always think that the way you live is better than the way we live? You know better.
BBC: Not at all.
MS: Yes you do. Even the way you ask questions? ‘Why don’t you guys do it the way we do?’ Because we don’t like you.
Toooo good. Anyway, in the biggest election year in history, when democracy is crashing and burning spectacularly, here’s my two bits on The World’s Best Democracy.
You can kindly read my column by clicking on the title below.
The article is too good, Priya! A lot of definitions need to be changed. And yes, why are we teaching kids about unattainable ideals and making their life harder? It is something I also think about quite a bit.