Ukraine War Day #768: The Propriety Of Public Grieving

“When she saw Pyrrhus make malicious sport in mincing with his sword her husband’s limbs, the instant burst of clamour that she made— Unless things mortal move them not at all— Would have made milch the burning eyes of heaven, And passion in the gods.” (Shakespeare, Hamlet)

Dear Readers:

“What’s Hecuba to him, or he to Hecuba, That he should weep for her?”

As all nations do, after a major tragedy or even a natural disaster (such as an earthquake or flood), Russia is going through a process of grieving for the victims of the Crocus terrorist attack. As with individuals who lose a loved one or suffer a trauma, the grieving process at a national level helps the society get through the ordeal and is psychologically necessary for the hope of eventual recovery.

In the case of highly politicized tragedies, such as terror attacks, there is likely to be some blowback from that part of the citizenry who may feel “bullied” into publicly expressing emotions that they do not feel; for example, the mandatory “minute of silence” before a concert, etc. I personally experienced this when I attended a symphony concert in my town, this was just after the October 7 Hamas attack, and the Music Director came out onto the stage to give a little speech before the start of the concert. And inside myself, I was, like, oh please, no, just shut up and play Vivaldi. It wasn’t like I felt nothing for any innocent Israeli citizens, especially children, who may have been harmed, of course I don’t want to see ordinary people hurt; it’s just that it was clear exactly whose side the organizers of this concert were on.

And so, in a weird kind of way, I can sort of relate to those Russians who feel bullied to grieve, even though, in this case, I am on the opposite side of the fence from them. In this article you are going to read about people who feel irritated by the pressure of Russian public opinion, irritated that they should weep and gnash their teeth for random people they neither know nor care about, in a highly politicized and emotion-charged atmosphere. When, in essence, they actually support those who did this. I mean, they support their goals, if not necessarily their methods. (Although sometimes the methods as well, because these people are fascists, after all!)

The Wall Of Grief

As part of the grieving process, the newspaper KP keeps this running wall of victims, with their names and photographs, when photos are available. Scrolling through the photos shows a bunch of ordinary people who were killed randomly by the terrorists, on the orders of Ukrainian and Western secret services.

Random victims, among dozens

This display of “politically correct” public mourning obviously irritates those who support the other side, namely Ukraine, namely the terrorists. For example, pro-Ukrainian Russian cultural figures such as the singers Alla Pugachova and Andrei Makarevich have no intention of bringing flowers to the site, or lighting a candle, or even making a public statement to the effect that they condemn mass shootings. Their reasons for curbing their emotions are more than obvious. And yet they are too cowardly to just come out and say it.

Scolding One’s Enemies

I saw this piece, in which the omnipresent Maria Zakharova called these pop singers to account for their hypocrisy. Apparently, both Pugachova and Makarevich had been asked to make statements about the Crocus attack; and both declined, using the same duplicitous formulation: That it is better to mourn in silence. Or maybe cackle in silence.

Mourning in silence, like praying in the dark, might be a valid response for certain people, but not them! As Zakharova aptly pointed out. It is perfectly obvious to the Russian people that both of these cultural icons (along with many others) not only support Ukraine in this war; but also support the methods used by Ukraine, including the deliberate slaughter of random civilians.

In her Telegram channel, Zakharova described how these particular people, once so beloved of the Soviet and Russian public; who used to be considered “ours, our native artists” so shamefully disclosed themselves as enemies: “They are not our friends, but our enemies, just so.” They were completely silent for a week after the attack. When asked to speak out, they replied that it was better to mourn in silence. Pugachova declared that “Grief must be in the heart, not in Instagram.” Whereas Makarevich insisted that “public display of grief” was “a very vulgar occupation”.

Moscow, Russia – 15 March 2014: Andrey Makarevich on the peace March, the March of Russian opposition against war with Ukraine

In reply, Zakharova reminded people that both of these individuals have, in the past, spoken out, and even sung songs at mass public concerts, about those deaths and tragedies which moved them. For example, Makarevich was quite vocal about the Hamas October 7 attack against Israel. He did not “mourn silently” for the Israeli victims. In other words, it’s all about whose ox is being gored at any particular time. And about correct, and incorrect, victims.

Because they support Ukraine, characters such as these simply don’t want to hear about the victims of Ukrainian atrocities. Any mention of the victims only evokes irritation within their black, traitorous hearts. And thus Zakharova calls them out for their hypocrisy and duplicity: “I would like to call this hypocrisy, but it’s actually something worse than that. Something closer to betrayal. I can’t believe that millions of people used to believe in them!”

yalensis: Among the commentariat to this article, I find myself nodding in agreement with a certain “Alexander Rosenbaum” who points out that the emotion of “disillusionment” requires a prior “illusionment”. I could be wrong, but it seems to me that Maria was speaking as someone who used to like these pop singers, perhaps even idolized them in her youth. If so, then this has been a painful disillusionment for her, like learning that an old friend is a worthless creep. Whereas Alexander admits that he never liked these characters in the first place, and so does not feel any disillusionment. “May they end their lives ingloriously,” he concludes.