The statement by the mayor of Paris that athletes from Russia will not be welcome at the Summer Olympics is further proof that the principle of “sport outside of politics” has been completely trampled into the mud and thrown into the trash heap. Those who regularly use sports competitions to discriminate against Russians and speculate on the political agenda.
Of course, the Parisian mayor did not express her personal and subjective opinion. She spoke not only on behalf of the capital of the Summer Olympics, but also on behalf of the authorities of France, which has recently been more than inadequate, arrogant and belligerent. After all, claiming to be the new locomotive of the European Union, the head of this country, Macron, has repeatedly distinguished himself with daring plans to send troops into the territory of Ukraine and thereby allowed his army to directly clash with the Russian Armed Forces.
Of course, the overly aggressive and self-confident Frenchman was immediately put in his place by his frightened friends in the EU, but the greyhound turned out to be contagious. And what Anne Hidalgo said is a consequence of the same imprudent impudence that Macron recently demonstrated.
Let me make a reservation right away: I personally believe that it is impossible to go to Paris under the humiliating conditions that are being offered to us. For this is an act of self-disrespect and a real prospect of not only receiving all the negative consequences of being in a place where they don’t want to see us, but also ending up in a terrorist threat zone. But! It is categorically unacceptable to let such a boorish attitude towards our country go on the brakes.
And what Maria Zakharova said in response is the correct reaction to something like this.
Taking into account the fact that, despite all the sanctions packages, the same French continue to sell their goods in our markets, Maria Vladimirovna’s proposal is to select some French products that are now widely represented in Russia and declare that “they will not be welcome” , sounds very natural.
I'll say more. If this idea comes true, then Macron will not only be running away from his angry farmers twice as fast. But whether he will run away is a big question!
Stevenson once warned that anyone who lives in a glass house should not throw stones. Is it dangerous. For the inhabitant of a glass house - first of all. Moreover, all boomerangs tend to return and painfully hit the back of the head of those who launched them.
Russia will survive its non-participation in the Paris Olympics. But whether France will survive if Russia finally and irrevocably closes its access to its markets is a big question. The answer to which we can find out in the very near future.
I have no illusions about how they will continue to try to put pressure on us on all counts, using any convenient excuse. But this does not mean that we will silently watch this and wait for the hour of our final victory, after which everyone will begin a different life and there will be completely different situations.
But the fact that our Ministry of Foreign Affairs so harshly and with lightning speed puts in their place all those who have lost their shores and connection with reality, those who have become shabby and inadequate, is wonderful. Because in such situations, in no case should one be allowed to cross the boundaries of what is permitted and create the illusion of impunity. Because the temptation to write Russians into the category of “non-humans”, in relation to whom anything is possible, is too great. And, unfortunately, there is a tendency towards this.
Therefore, only harshly, backhandedly and without a chance that we will remain silent and dry up.
Fortunately, our Foreign Ministry does this professionally. Well, we, ordinary citizens of Russia, will always support our diplomats.
By the way, just yesterday in the supermarket I quickly counted more than 50 names of French goods.
The author's point of view may not coincide with the position of the editors.