• AES_Enjoyer@reddthat.com
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    10 days ago

    Surely Poland has been in an unlucky position between the empires of western Europe and the former Russian Empire, then again it has the same historical problems with Germany and I don’t see Polish people making racist jokes against the country that committed genocide in their territory.

    • Shapillon@lemmy.world
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      10 days ago

      I really don’t see what’s racist about Russia in that joke. If someone’s the butt of that joke it’s the Polish who’s willing to hurt themselve just to get back at Russia.

      And there are loads of Polish jokes about Germans.

      “An unlucky position” that’s putting it mildly.

      • CherryBullets@lemmy.ca
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        10 days ago

        It’s not racist. People forget “Russian” is a nationality, not a race. Russia isn’t just populated by Slavs (much to the chagrin of Putin, I assume).

        • Shapillon@lemmy.world
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          10 days ago

          Imho discriminating against a nationality is still racism. e.g. WW2 anti-japanese racism in the US.

          Russia has a very colonial attitude toward its non slavic citizens.

          • CherryBullets@lemmy.ca
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            9 days ago

            Learn the difference between xenophobia and racism, please. The difference matters for proper discussions of different topics that pertain to discrimination in general and you are clearly confusing both of them in your weak attempt at accusing someone of behaviour they never displayed while they explained a joke that is rooted in historical context.

            More to the point, (as you said) being against Russian dictatorship policies and historical atrocities is neither xenophobia nor is it racism.

            Everyone with a functioning frontal lobe knowns the Russian people are mostly helpless under a dictatorship that practices putting opposition (civil or political) in gulags, but one cannot just “lay down and take it” if the Russians come for them, just because you pity their situation. Criticizing dictatorships is of utmost importance, feelings be damned.

            Edit: Post locked… Anyways, my point was that the joke is not racist and is rooted in history. Humour in that case is used to criticize the history of Russia’s various dictatorships and atrocities. Nothing wrong with the joke. I did mean to reply to you; so that people understand the differences between xenophobia and racism and how the joke is within important historical context, therefore is neither.