Russian brewers ask for help replacing imported hops

What you're doing is called "whataboutism". For those who don't want to click on a wikipedia link, it's a classic Russian/Soviet/other bad actor tactic that attempts to discredit an opponent's position by charging hypocrisy without directly refuting or disproving the argument.

 

OK BUD

 

Not true. Our involvement in the mid-east was not an overall benefit for the inhabitants, There was "collateral damage" in Afghanistan and Iraq, but civilians and civilian targets weren't targeted by the US military as policy, as appears to be the case in the Russian invasion of Ukraine (also in the cases of the Russian involvement in Chechnya and in Syria).

 

I have an incredible amount of sympathy for the Russian people--the majority of whom are against this war--and I am firmly opposed to them being blamed for the evil actions of their leaders. However, the lack of hop imports is hardly a concern when compared to the genocide of Ukrainian civilians.

 

This is the correct take.

 

Very unfortunately, this is not entirely true. A lot of recent polling shows that there is majority support for the war. IIRC the demographics of 40+ are the most supportive (they don’t have to fight) while the younger demographic isn’t more ‘I say yes to the war!’ Per se, as much as it is the majority are neutral and in the ‘I don’t know category’, but there are more people supportive of the war than against it.

I can try to find the polling if anyone is interested, it was posted by a reporter I was following on Twitter. I’d like to point out this doesn’t mean we can’t have some sympathy, I mean the media situation is completely different in Russia. Heck, even in the west we have plenty of people living in what is almost a completely separate reality. This makes it hard to reconcile our views together and put down partisanship even when it matters. I imagine that fracturing is even worse in Russia when it comes to supporting dissent. Ultimately the lions share of my empathy goes to the Ukrainian people being shot and murdered by an invasion force, but yeah. These politically fraught threads are a hard line to walk lol I get anxiety even reading these replies

 

Yes. We are very nasty and lethal. Don't get me started on Viet Nam. I think you and I likely agree more than disagree. Let's just say that I'm mostly Quaker, anti-war, a 60s and 70s protester, and an American that's a realist that despises Putin and all war mongers.

 

Wish the best to the Russian brewers, but the war needs to be over.

The US seems to be crucial here. The EU has provided one bill, the US 1.7. Your kind of might is welcome here.

Keep the hop production up also!