Remember those “compare and contrast” essay questions we used to get in school? I’m still in school — eternally in school — so let’s do another US vs Russia contrast.
Russia: in response to the mass non-violent protests supporting Alexey Navalny, Russia’s “law and order” forces have detained more than 3000 people. Navalny himself is in prison for reasons that are so Stalinistic, I’m not going to repeat them.
America: Since the insurrection at the Capitol on January 6, more than 125 people have been arrested on a variety of charges. Every arrestee has been named individually and had his/her life and background dug out and reported in our newspapers. Currently, newspapers are reporting on and discussing the potential charges, with special emphasis on conspiracy.
Meanwhile, a furious discussion is being held on Twitter at any hint some of the rioters might not be arrested and charged and that the current charges are weak.
Most of the most irate people are not lawyers. Lawyers know people shouldn’t be arrested until there is demonstrable evidence of wrongdoing. When masses of protesting people are arrested and detained in this country — lots of examples — what ensues are lots of lawsuits.
And charges consist of immediate evidence; they can be superseded when more evidence is gathered.
Compared and contrasted? Done.
Of course, there’s Newt Gingrich’s notion of compare and contrast: