@HorsesandMuchMOAR
What I meant is that the beautiful Russia of today would not exist without Putin ending oligarch control and western exploitation. You say that Russia is nice now? You also have to give credit where credit is due.
It’s not difficult. You could say, “well, Putin is kinda crooked but he did make Russia good again,” and I could accept that— for now. What I won’t accept is this illogical notion that Russia was bad a until a few decades ago, and now it’s magically not, and that the evil villain Putler had nothing to do with that transformation. Now, if you want a perfect leader, there’s Jesus Christ.

To me, I take whatever I like from other cultures. Likewise, I enjoy Sanskrit without obeying Modi, some US retro art without needing Trump or Biden, or Han Dynasty art without bowing to Emperor Xi.

And in my case, I like Malay art, but I don’t like my prime minister for being so corrupt.

I meant that “just because a bad leader rules a country I like doesn’t mean I cannot enjoy its culture - and oppose that leader.” As long as I don’t support him or pay him a single sen, then I can take what I like from that culture. Isn’t that what fiction art is for?

@HorsesandMuchMOAR
There is no such thing as the Russia you love so much, ie. “normal people going to Mcdonalds” without Putin.

I still like Russian culture - I don’t see the Soviets or the gopnik squatters, but all I see in Russia is Rodnovery and Tsar Saltan. And Youtube Poops, normal people going to McDonalds, gamers, and the Green Elephant.

And this lovely letter, the yat:

Even then, I can still separate them from the Z mob and Putin - because I enjoy them, but I never leave a single cent for these mobs. Don’t worry, Роисся, I take what is good and leave out the bad.

Who is it then? The army, or the Ukrainians?