What Americans do half-heartedly, the Russians will attempt with gusto.
Parliamentary hearings were held yesterday at which the “Concept for a State Policy in the Area of Spiritual and Moral Education of the Children of the Russian Federation and Protection of Their Morals” was discussed.
Really weird:
The draft law “On Children’s Toys” would ban the production and importation of toys that “provoke aggression,” “model actions of a sexual nature,” “justify extremism and a criminal lifestyle,” “depict horror or unbearable pain” or that are created “on the basis of the psychologically incongruous.” That might be, for example, candy in the shape of skeletons or stuffed toys in the shape of bacteria or viruses.
(Psychologically incongruous? But those are the best toys!)
But wait. It gets stranger. Apparently, the Russian government feels it necessary to fight the growing emo menace:
The drafters of the concept took a particular negative stance in regard to the Goth and emo youth subcultures, which are characterized by black clothing, piercings and a depressed outlook on reality. They authors compared the danger those subcultures hold for society to the dangers of skinheads, soccer hooligans, National Bolsheviks and even anti-fascists. Emo youths, according to the concept, “are subject to suicidal tendencies” and Goth children cultivate bisexuality. “The cost of the sexual services of an underage boy prostitute with Goth attributes is lower than for students in military schools but higher than for usual gay prostitutes,” the authors say, demonstrating their knowledge of life.
I like to think that the last sentence is just a poor translation, but really, judging by the rest of the proposed legislation, it probably isn’t.
If you’re a Russian emo kid now, though, don’t worry too much. You’re apparently already beyond hope:
The authors of the concept say that many of its clauses will have the power of law by the summer of 2009. “Nothing can be done with the current younger generation. It is lost,” said film director and Duma member Stanislav Govorukhin. “We have to save those who are two years old now and those who have yet to be born.”
Oh, just go read the whole thing.
Hat tip: shelestel
Nothing makes a thriving youth culture like the oppression of youth. Maybe it’s actually a secret plan to nurture the next generation of Russia’s creative class.
Well, there is the law, and there is in reality. In Russia, never the twain shall meet. Seriously, if there is one thing typical of Russia it is that noone actually gives a flying f**k about the laws.
Take traffic for a very simple example. They have beautifully designed crossroads, with all sorts of lines marking lanes, indicating where one is supposed to drive into which direction, where one should not drive, there is lots of room, safety margins around crosswalks, everything really well thought out.
But what happens is this: Turning left in Moscow. Everyday, everywhere.
And if they really pass another crackpot law about their misled youth, it won’t make much of a difference. The police do mostly as they please anyway, and they don’t like punks, goths, gays, foreigners, rich people, poor people. They don’t like the looks of someone, they harass him, take his money, beat him up, depending on the circumstances. Sticking out in any way in Russia is really a bad idea, regardless of this new law.
I’m not an expert in contemporary Russia, but I feel fairly safe guessing that they have a lot more pressing issues than the emo nature of their children over the age of 2. Just sayin’.
You would think after the first 100 crackdowns on youth culture that turned immediately into jokes about how old people suck, old people would wise up and restrain themselves.