Belarus BELARUS 2021 - not taking part

[escYOUnited]

 

[Mimmon]

I asked Nir if he wants to write an article about Kazna and our bid, as we are friends and he has written several articles about my entries, but he told me that you guys will write a general article on Belarus. Waiting for that

Im planning to publish it Tomorrow when the deadline for submissions

 

[nik92]

Im planning to publish it Tomorrow when the deadline for submissions

Awesome!

 

[DannyDS]

I don't know which is more Toxic
Facebook or Twitter....

Definitely Twitter.

 

[GianlucaTomoe]

Btw we should remember that "Braids" is not the first song in the Eurovision world that talks about braids...

 

[Ana Raquel]

I was meant to answer you all when I woke up but I just did so basically at 10 pm

SO, regarding the flag issue: no, I am sure she didn't know about the meaning and I don't think many of us who critique her because of that expect her to know - nobody should know every single political and social issue from the US when Americans are not demanded to know the history of Belarus (or any other country).

The problem here is: how does one react when they are told their acts are considered to be problematic? I believe it's when they can learn and avoid the problematic behavior.

Someone on Twitter asked her in a direct message if she knew the meaning behind the flag and posted her answer afterwards.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1352274995557371905

...which was interpreted by many people (me included) as "no I didn't know... but now that I know I don't really care ¯\_(ツ)_/¯"

If you think this is apologetic enough, good for you, just keep in mind that:
1. some people might not think the same way - and they are not in the wrong because of that.
2. some people might not want to forgive her despite her unawareness about the flag - and they are not in the wrong again, because it is a symbol that carries enormous oppressive power and can be traumatizing enough for who is the victim of their holders.


I've seen that the blackface debate was also brought into question here, so I'm using it as examples as well. During FiK, it was spread that Anxhela, Era and Kastro did performances in blackface before (if I remember correctly, all of them were for that Your Face Sounds Familiar show). I don't remember if Era was called out by it. However, I remember some users calling both Anxhela and Kastro out and explaining how blackface has racist origins.

This was Kastro's response:

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1341428914695106561

And this was Anxhela's:

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1354898175946063874

There IS a difference between them. An obvious one. You can learn from awful mistakes. You can become a better person. You can spread more awareness towards sensitive issues. Blaming """toxic twitter""" and blocking people who called you out. And if you don't wanna listen to """toxic twitter""", you can read books and papers on cultural appropriation - some of them were released last century, maybe years before you were born.

It's beautiful that you mention how esc should be about celebrating diversity among several cultures, identities and music genres. However, don't forget the public is also part of the equation - and it's not really inclusive when you blame a minority group for feeling triggered and speaking out about it. If they feel there is a much bigger issue behind all of this, even if unintentionally, they have the right to say so.

Don't worry, nobody is holding you at gunpoint forcing you not to like the ZUPAH BAWP!!11 - you can still listen to it. I, on the other hand, like so many people, prefer to give my support to something else. Good night.

 

[EscGeek]

^Agree to disagree?

 

[Ana Raquel]

^Agree to disagree?

I don't think anyone here is gonna change their opinion so sure why not

 

[crashworld]

It's beautiful that you mention how esc should be about celebrating diversity among several cultures, identities and music genres. However, don't forget the public is also part of the equation - and it's not really inclusive when you blame a minority group for feeling triggered and speaking out about it. If they feel there is a much bigger issue behind all of this, even if unintentionally, they have the right to say so.

It's not about blaming them for speaking out. But it's the way they go about speaking out which is the issue.
It seems like they have the idea of going on a witch-hunt and thinking that naming and shaming these people is alright, which comes across borderline aggressive. If the artist/person gives an "unsatisfactory" answer, then these "minorities" will drag them. They can't demand change resorting such methods.

 

[Mimmon]

 

[njdevils94]

This one kind of creeped me out.

 

[randajad]

This title is more than appropriate for this discussion

 

[MiraWarninyi]

It's not about blaming them for speaking out. But it's the way they go about speaking out which is the issue.
It seems like they have the idea of going on a witch-hunt and thinking that naming and shaming these people is alright, which comes across borderline aggressive. If the artist/person gives an "unsatisfactory" answer, then these "minorities" will drag them. They can't demand change resorting such methods.

The thing is: People messaged her before with a friendly tone and she gave no f*cks.

 

[Mrm]

This one kind of creeped me out.

Yeah, and that picture..

 

[crashworld]

The thing is: People messaged her before with a friendly tone and she gave no f*cks.

Because she sees nothing wrong with her braids style?
With regards to her reply on the confederate flag matter, you can tell English is not her first language.
Her tone seems more like she is exasperated after these people dragged her for something she wasn't aware of.
Sure, she could have apologised, but even if she didn't, I find her explanation of not being aware of that issue understandable.
But to force an apology out of her seems way too unnecessary.

 

[Sammy]

The thing is: People messaged her before with a friendly tone and she gave no f*cks.

the problem is - she doesn‘t have to give them the reaction, they want her to show. This is not comparable to a situation where somebody uses the n*-word, where there is a broad consensus in society that this is racist. The level what is called racist today - defined by a very small group that love to speak for others constantly is ridiculous. I was once bashed by this kind for imitating a french accent when talking english - just for fun and even more because I love french language. I was called racist and attacked by three people at a time - who don‘t even speak french or have any connection to France. (The same people who refer to germans constantly as „Piefkes“ or even „Scheiß-Piefkes“)

 

[rasmuslights]

Because she sees nothing wrong with her braids style?
With regards to her reply on the confederate flag matter, you can tell English is not her first language.
Her tone seems more like she is exasperated after these people dragged her for something she wasn't aware of.
Sure, she could have apologised, but even if she didn't, I find her explanation of not being aware of that issue understandable.
But to force an apology out of her seems way too unnecessary.

and also why would you apologize for something you weren't aware of, sure politeness, but it's just that politeness, if you say that you weren't aware of it that is an apology on it's own. + again cultural appropriation is bs so she should not and I hope she doesn't apologize for it. And it's not like the black people are demanding an apology is 99 % white people who think they are allies of black people when they put a #blm in their bio and think they really did something, I just hate this type of activism it's lowkey cringe and immature + I would also accept that the cultural appropriation is offensive if all black people would agree with that statement, but I've seen a lot of black people on youtube which also think it's bs.. it's mostly an agenda behind it and not the actual - being offended, because I can't imagine a person being offended when someone else wears a hairstyle same as them, if they are, they should just get a job, life has more important things to deal with that a white person wearing braids (which once again aren't an invention of black people as some people claim), yes they were discriminated because of them, but a lot of people are discriminated on lots of things and it really doesn't make any sense.. But of course I do agree that that flag is offensive, but she already put out an statement about it.

 

[rasmuslights]

the problem is - she doesn‘t have to give them the reaction, they want her to show. This is not comparable to a situation where somebody uses the n*-word, where there is a broad consensus in society that this is racist. The level what is called racist today - defined by a very small group that love to speak for others constantly is ridiculous. I was once bashed by this kind for imitating a french accent when talking english - just for fun and even more because I love french language. I was called racist and attacked by three people at a time - who don‘t even speak french or have any connection to France. (The same people who refer to germans constantly as „Piefkes“ or even „Scheiß-Piefkes“)

exactly I'm not sure if these people actually know that they are causing a bigger divide between people and are not building bridges. The fact is also that 10 years ago none of this bs even existed.

 

[MiraWarninyi]

Because she sees nothing wrong with her braids style?
With regards to her reply on the confederate flag matter, you can tell English is not her first language.
Her tone seems more like she is exasperated after these people dragged her for something she wasn't aware of.
Sure, she could have apologised, but even if she didn't, I find her explanation of not being aware of that issue understandable.
But to force an apology out of her seems way too unnecessary.

It's not what she sees, she's white and don't have a word to say about Fulani braids and this is not an "annoying group" on twitter saying it but POC and academic ressearchers. It doesn't require that much to read, I suppose she can read at least.
Yes, she doesn't need to be aware of every single stuff in the world (it's normal, none of us do!) and she could take it as a lesson and learn (like Anxhela did), but instead she's recording tik tok with a pinch of salt and debauchery, and not to mention she's blocking people elsewhere. She's not open to dialogue, so the cancelling sprew is right in this one.

 

[MiraWarninyi]

There's a thing you should understand: If your culture weren't harmed about culture appropriation and racism, you have NO right to say what you think it's culture appropriation/racism and what's not.

 

[MiraWarninyi]

the problem is - she doesn‘t have to give them the reaction, they want her to show. This is not comparable to a situation where somebody uses the n*-word, where there is a broad consensus in society that this is racist. The level what is called racist today - defined by a very small group that love to speak for others constantly is ridiculous. I was once bashed by this kind for imitating a french accent when talking english - just for fun and even more because I love french language. I was called racist and attacked by three people at a time - who don‘t even speak french or have any connection to France. (The same people who refer to germans constantly as „Piefkes“ or even „Scheiß-Piefkes“)

Sweetheart, racism is not only saying the n word or spanking someone by their skincolor, and once again, a "small group" vocalising this is not ridiculous, ridiculous is not giving them voice enough.
Now, you suffered racism for speaking in a french accent? Hilarious, nice joke.