NEWS AND OPINION: This is an extraordinary story. But perhaps it isn't extraordinary when you consider that a lot of people don't really know what is going on in Russia. And it is reported that some middle-aged, Christian Americans with a family, have decided that Russia will be a better place to live than in America which is suffering 'moral decline'.
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| Deluded, Christian Americans emigrate to Russia for a better family life. |
And Putin has campaigned against the West's moral decline for years. He is portrayed Russia as a country which supports family life. And clearly some Americans have picked up this information and envisage Russia as a utopian paradise where Christian values are adhered to and where families are supported. I'm talking about the conventional family. But the problem is these Americans are in my view completely deluded. They don't understand what is happening in Russia.
And they don't even mention the fact that Russia has invaded Ukraine and killed thousands of innocent civilians and hundreds of thousands of animals in an attempt to annex Ukraine because Putin thinks that Ukraine is Russian. Putin is a mass murderer. And psychopathic arguably. He shows all the signs of being a psychopath in killing dissidents and people who voice their concerns about him. Freedom of speech is entirely suppressed in Russia.
I can remember a young Russian man holding up a blank piece of white paper in Moscow and being arrested for protesting against Putin. He is probably in jail at this moment and he was arrested years ago.
A good example of a family emigrating from America to seek a better life in Russia of all places is the family of Leo Heyer. He is seen on a video published by the Russian Interior Ministry. He is praising Russia to the nines.
He says that "I feel like I've been put on an arc of safety for my family. The person I want to thank is President Vladimir Putin for allowing Russia to become a good place for families in this world climate."
He doesn't realise that Putin's government has cracked down, often violently, on its own citizens who adhere to Christian faiths other than Russian Orthodoxy. And Putin's depiction of Russia as a stronghold of traditional Christian family lifestyles is not backed up by the facts. According to The Times about one third of Russian families have been abandoned by their father. And half of all marriages end in divorce. Hardly a recommendation of family life in Russia.
The pictures we see of Russian apartment blocks looking decrepit and disgusting is hardly enticing. Is this a good place for an American family used to the 'good life'? Russia has become a war machine. I read in the news that about 8% of GDP is given over to building musicians at factories. The norm is around 2 percent. A very high percentage of the earned wealth in Russia is given over to building armaments in order to crush Ukraine. Nice country to live in. And it's bloody cold a lot of the time! 😎
A lot of welfare has accordingly diminished rapidly in Russia. Leo Heyer's family which includes three schoolchildren were granted asylum in Russia this week after fleeing "moral decline" in the US according to state media.
The Russian Interior Ministry spokeswoman said that the Christian family had made the move over fears about the "abolition of traditional moral and family value" in American society. She said that the family was concerned about the future and what awaited their children. It's safer in Russia and the education is better.
All this against the backdrop of the White House accusing Moscow of seizing Americans to use as "bargaining chips" and repeatedly warning Americans against travelling to Russia!
But there is a steady trickle of Americans and I believe Canadians relocating to Russia because they've been drawn by depictions of the country as a bastion of Christian values. Putin has said that he is engaged in an existential battle with the West for the future of humanity's soul.
He believes that LGBT values are the work of Satan and they undermine the traditional family unit.
The Kremlin has outlawed the international LGBT movement.
You will find on social media some Americans and Europeans actively seeking advice on how to emigrate to Russia. They all appear to be totally ignoring the invasion of Ukraine and the moral turpitude behind this action. If a country has decided to commence an illegal and devastating war against a neighbouring country you cannot say that country is worth emigrating to. I don't understand these people.
One woman in Texas, declared on Facebook (on a group called Expats in Russia), that she was planning to escape to Russia to distance herself from "fake people, politics interjected into everything and a lack of family values". She claims that there is no such thing in Russia as racial discrimination. Misinformed and deluded I would argue.
Medvedev says that racial discrimination has been non-existent in Russia for a hundred years. And Putin has said that there is no racial or gender discrimination in Russia. No doubt these Americans are listening to these people. Putin is a known liar as is Medvedev. Medvedev wants to send in A-bomb over Britain and blow the country up.
The BBC has an article about racism in Russia. And they mention that people of colour living in Russia have told the BBC about casual discrimination that they experience on a daily basis. There are apparently tens of thousands of people of colour living in Russia including Russian-born people with mixed heritage.
They mention the story of a young man of colour, an economics student age 21. There is a video of this man being refused a taxi ride. He is left standing on the curb. In the video, published on social media, the driver can be heard saying "If I don't like a person, I won't give them a ride. It's my car."
And when this young black man asked the driver if he is racist he replies casually and confidently "Yes, of course."
You don't really expect Russia to be non-racist do you? Many people in Russia are against homosexuals and as mentioned the LGBT community and the woke movement. It's very far right in their culture. Obviously one can't generalise but the distinct impression I get from reading the news about Russia is that it is not a very tolerant society. It is not the kind of society that these Americans are going to find acceptable. Anywhere near it.
And The Times reports that "Some who hope to begin new lives in Russia appear to have little knowledge of the country."
They are not doing their research. They seem to have an ideological view of Russia because of what Putin is saying but it simply isn't the way they believe it is.
A couple who made a move from Canada this year with their eight children to get away from "LGBT ideology" found that their bank account was frozen when they got to Russia and they were disappointed in Russia and ready to "jump on a plane and get out of here". She deleted her video and apologised later. She probably did that to avoid being arrested because if anybody says anything publicly e.g. on social media against Russia when living in Russia they are likely to be arrested. And the prison sentences dished out by the courts are horrendous. The courts are not independent in Russia. They do the Kremlin's bidding. They are a political machine. Justice is not administered in Russia.
Prediction: all the families will return to the US and realise what a relatively great country it is.
Some more on anti-LGBT actions and anti-Christian actions in Russia from an AI bot:
Read this and believe that these Americans are deluded as I have stated.
Here are some examples of anti-LGBT activity in Russia:
"Gay Propaganda" Law (2013): This law prohibits the promotion of "non-traditional sexual relationships" to minors, effectively silencing LGBT advocacy and expression.
Violence and Hate Crimes: There have been numerous reports of violence against LGBT individuals, including physical assaults and killings, often motivated by hate.
Arrests and Detentions: LGBT activists and individuals have faced arbitrary arrests and detentions, particularly during pride events and other demonstrations advocating for LGBT rights.
Censorship: Media and online content related to LGBT rights or issues often face censorship, restricting visibility and discussion of LGBT topics.
Support for Conversion Therapy: Some government officials and organizations promote harmful practices like "conversion therapy," which aims to change an individual's sexual orientation.
Discrimination in Employment and Housing: LGBT people often face discrimination in various areas, including employment and housing, leading to social and economic marginalization.
These activities contribute to a hostile environment for LGBT individuals in Russia, limiting their rights and freedoms significantly.
Religious Freedom Restrictions: While the Russian Constitution guarantees freedom of religion, there are significant restrictions, especially for non-Orthodox Christian groups.
State Support for the Orthodox Church: The Russian Orthodox Church receives preferential treatment, which can lead to discrimination against other Christian denominations.
Raids and Harassment: Religious minorities, such as Baptists and Jehovah's Witnesses, have experienced raids, harassment, and even criminal charges.
Extremism Laws: Laws against extremism are often used to target religious groups, leading to accusations against those who express beliefs outside the state-sanctioned norms.
Social Stigma: Non-Orthodox Christians may face social discrimination and hostility from the public, further complicating religious practice.
These factors contribute to a challenging environment for Christians, particularly those who do not align with the Russian Orthodox Church.
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