Olympic observers must not be passive in the face of intolerance

With the Winter Olympics in full swing, all eyes are on Russia. The Games at Sochi are attracting a surplus of media attention, ranging from reports on the unfinished hotel rooms to the invasive surveillance program implemented to avoid terrorist attacks. Earlier this month, however, exposé writer Jeff Sharlet reported an even more somber Russian reality in an article in GQ Magazine, titled “Inside the Iron Closet: What it’s like to be gay in Putin’s Russia.” For those looking for a worthwhile read (or even just procrastinators bored of BuzzFeed), I highly recommend this short report on a world far away from our own.

Sharlet paints the reality of life under Putin’s iron fist, exposing Russia’s acceptance of violent hate crimes. But more importantly, his article gives an explicit voice to the voiceless. He does not hide the dangers of his investigative reporting as he meanders through the treacherous waters of LGBT activism, interviewing activists, victims, and Cossacks. Through their stories, we see a passionate screenshot of what life is like in Russia. Their citizens lack security and safety from the law, the Orthodox Church, and they are legally persecuted by both the Cossacks and the lay citizen.

It is evident that homosexuality is fundamentally wrong in the eyes of the Russian majority. Earlier this year, Putin passed a law prohibiting the distribution of “gay propaganda” to minors in Russia. One issue of particular concern is the law’s ambiguity; because the definition of “gay propaganda” is left open for interpretation, it gives the power to the Cossacks and to homophobic Russian citizens to interpret and enforce its meaning. Later in the year, Putin hopes to pass a law that will remove children from homes with gay parents. It appears the Russian leader would rather dismember a family out of hate and lack of understanding than risk having a globalized society that accepts gays.

The ban on gay propaganda has attracted a lot of media attention, but how will fans and athletes handle it during the Winter Games? Many have been encouraged to fight the good fight by protesting the ban, but there are also some who feel protest is useless. Fox News reported that Daniela Iraschko-Stolz of Austria, an openly gay women’s ski-jumper competing in the Games, claims that protesting is irrelevant as “no one cares” in Russia. She further opined that the ban is an internal social concern that will work itself out in due time.

This particular athlete's passivity is disheartening and disappointing. Ultimately, it is her decision what she does with her voice, but it’s a pity that she chooses not to involve herself even as she has the opportunity to sustain change. The entire world is watching the athletes at Sochi. Typically I would agree with the idea to stay out of someone else’s business, but there is something so twisted about the reality of the world in this instance. Hosting the Winter Games is an honor that should be regarded with the highest level of prestige, but yet behind the festivities and the competition, the Russian government is attempting a eradication of homosexuality in their country.

The acceptance of violence and brutality is a social norm for Russian citizens of Russia. Looking at our nation’s history, we too used to accept prejudiced discrimination, but with the activism of great humanitarians, such as Harvey Milk and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we eradicated unjust hate at the federal level. While there still are hate groups, our government no longer condones the separation of blacks and whites. Definite progress has been made. In more modern times, we see even more progress in creating a more humane and accepting living environment. The LGBT community thrives compared to what it used to be. Earlier in the twentieth century, Greenwich Village underwent raids against the homosexual community, but now, states are legalizing gay marriage. Change may have taken a while to accomplish, but we only succeeded because of the perseverance of courageous activists willing to risk their personal safety and comfort for the greater good of the community and for the future generations to come.

While we watch Russia this winter, we should not passively ignore the social issues that exist within their borders. If the rest of the world puts pressure on Putin, over time, something is bound to happen. Civil injustices do not go unnoticed forever. There comes a point where one side must fold, and if, God forbid, Putin continues with his suggestive extermination of people based on their sexual orientation, the rest of the world will have no choice but to engage out of moral principle. The reality of the situation is reminiscent of the beginning of humanity’s horrid past hate crimes, such as the acts of the KKK and the Holocaust. The fundamental differences between the government’s treatment of people opens the door to potential international conflict. Will this lead to another instance of the iron curtain hiding the world from the citizens of Eastern Europe?

The United States legislative branches of government are fighting to create a society of safety and prosperity, whereas Russia is furthering a divide out of dated fear. In this standstill, we are forced to standby and watch humans be stripped of their freedom. The pain in my chest I feel when I think about these realities makes me thankful for the country I live in, but also makes me anxious for the future of the rest of the world. We must look out of our bubble and ask ourselves what we can do to help protect those who have done nothing but be themselves.

Carissa Zukowski is a freshman from Baltimore. She has not decided what to major in yet. She is an Opinions Staff Writer for the Newsletter.