Hmm... how interesting. I clearly remember that when I embedded the video of Rashkin’s speech in a post, it had 85 or 87 views. I even thought: what a good speech, it’s a shame so few people watched it.
Now, two days later, it has 760,000 views.
If I’d known it would turn out like this, I would have reuploaded the clip and slapped on a call to vote for ratification of Article 20 of the UN Convention against Corruption. I don’t think Rashkin would have objected—this is exactly what he’s calling for, just like the entire Communist Party of the Russian Federation (KPRF).
So the video went viral, even though it has none of the usual signs of virality: nobody falls down, no Dagestanis are beating anyone up, there’s no parking-lot fight, no girls in swimsuits come running out, and Miley Cyrus doesn’t knock Rashkin off the podium while flying in on an iron wrecking ball.
It’s just a guy in a tie standing at a podium for ten minutes, talking about how thieves have seized power in Russia and how we need to fight illicit enrichment. And 760,000 people watched that, and soon it’ll be a million—I have no doubt.
After that, go ahead and tell me that corruption has faded into the background and dropped out of the country’s political agenda.
But actually I want to talk about something else. I’ve been branded here as, basically, someone promoting false heroes. Pasha Senko, for example, dug up all sorts of disgusting bills that Rashkin pushed and is urging people not to believe his—Rashkin’s—sweet-voiced songs of the communist siren.
I’m not arguing with that. They’re bad bills. But we’re not joining Rashkin’s party, are we? Someday, in the beautiful Russia of the future, we’ll be in our own party and some hypothetical Rashkin will be in his. We’ll compete with him honestly for voters’ support, influence in parliament, and the formation of a coalition government. Rashkin and the KPRF will represent, among others, those citizens who believe the state should regulate food prices. There are people like that—even in America.
We can argue with Rashkin about those issues in open debates. But if he is now speaking out in support of a crucial anti-corruption initiative, why not express full approval?
I understand everything about the KPRF. We all understand. But if we want to achieve our goals, we need to reach millions of people with our campaigning and act together with them. Rashkin has just persuaded—or at least informed—760,000 people, both for himself and for us.
It’s perfectly appropriate to say, “Well done, Rashkin,” without giving up a single one of our criticisms of the “systemic opposition” (officially tolerated opposition parties).
Let’s build a coalition for Article 20 wherever there are people sympathetic to it.
And let’s keep spreading the video, since it’s doing so well. As people have already urged on Twitter, let’s post it in the most hellish and “vatnik” (jingoistic pro-Kremlin) corners of the internet.
Right there—where it’s all about Novorossiya, fighting the “ukry” (a derogatory term for Ukrainians) and the “pendosy” (a derogatory slang term for Americans). Where there’s Babai (a pro-Russian militant nickname), Elena Vaenga, and healing with a pressure cooker. Where there’s Stas Mikhailov and groups called “how to get your beloved back with the help of old tea leaves.” Where you can click and learn the name of your future husband. Where people “give a class” (the Odnoklassniki equivalent of a like) and believe in a world government. Throw it in there. Right into the thick of it. Rashkin will show up and stir things up.