To begin this is not WWII or Hitler. You are going out on a limb without the support of the tree.
This is going to sound strange Mr. Fierstein, but, it is the truth. Russia's political culture is none of our business. We are attending the Olympics, we are not observers to their elections.
Do you remember Matthew Shepard? Matthew was killed by those that have no value for human life. They treated Matthew as an object and killed him. Something tells me that Russia is not ready for a cultural revolution.
Now, I don't know about you, but, when I run a revolution and/or resistance I want to be sure there are people alive at the end of the revolution or why bother fighting it in the first place?
Russia doesn't even have hate crime legislation to tell the country if they kill a young man for being himself there will penalties over and above that of what the initial crime is.
Mr. Fierstein, do you know we had a Secretary of State named Hillary Clinton? Sometimes people are too busy to keep up. You are very successful and that did not happen over night. You are respected and that didn't happen without building a substantial understanding of your talent and personable insight. But, if you had the chance to hear Former Secretary Clinton speak while serving in office you would have heard words that would rattle the most extremist of any country. She traveled with body guards. She measured her content and leveled opinion in a way that was non-threatening to governments so there would be no retaliation of people living in their borders.
I am quite sure Secretary Kerry is just as forthright in regard to women's rights and gay rights. The USA believes oppression of any group regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or whom they love is a human rights violation. That same focus is in the UN among some very powerful nations, but, leaders know how to bring opinion without causing adverse effects that kill people.
Freedom of speech is a right in the USA. At least most of us like to think so. The USA has never stood in support of oppression of any people and demands retraction of it under this administration. I realize sometimes a single person can move mountains. But, in order for that to occur, Mr. Fierstein the country has to be ready for the movement. Russia is not there. The changes President Obama's administration instituted spread like wildfire. The country was more than ready we were disgusted with the oppression and victimization.
There are signs there is movement in Russia. There are more political leaders standing up to what they state are illegal elections. There have been demonstrators expressing themselves and they are serving time in prison for their bravery. But, they are alive Mr. Fierstein. We need to work to keep them alive. We need to value their message and be sure our leaders value them as well and make inquiry to their well being. They are our heroes as well as those in the country.
And it is their message we need to hear. Not ours. If we are to respect them for their cultural differences while gay we need to hear them correctly, not just in our own understanding.
I believe in much of President Obama's administration has accomplished in regard to Gay Rights in the USA. I am proud of it. I am not gay. But, I have a country now that is unashamed of our citizens and providing a path to personal happiness for all our people. I am sure you are aware of the struggle, but, our Freedom of Speech protected many regardless of those that died violently and without cause.
Boycotting the Olympics is huge, Mr. Fierstein. We don't have to boycott those events when we have an administration we can trust. The changes for our gay community in the USA are historic. Someday, many more countries will be able to measure that same pride for their citizens, too. But, in Russia at this time 'the church' is a focus of cultural clout. Odd, isn't it? I mean I grew up being told the church in Russia was simply for 'Show and Tell.' It was propaganda. Now, we know how deeply that propaganda was wrong.
When I run into a wall with others of the same mind and it feels as though we are defeated; what I say is, "We keep at it." That is the best we can do Mr. Fierstein. We hold up our heads, deny the defeat and point to the short comings of those that appear to be the victor.
"We keep at it" and I promise you the day will come and probably not to much of a distance into the future when all citizens of Russia will respect diversity while changing the culture of their identity.
Non-threatening, Mr. Fierstein and steady dialogue. It will happen. It is inevitable. Russians aren't stupid people and they love their social content. When they realize how their social culture will be enriched when they open their minds and hearts to diversity it will happen. We will rejoice with them, but, we will do it together and trust our President and his administration to help.
I wish you well. I wish you much success. Hey. Every hear of Radio Free Europe? Just a thought.
If you don't know him Harvey Fierstein by sight, you know him by sound. His VOICE was once compared to "a deep-throated jazz diva who has just tossed back a double-bourbon."
"One of my favorites was 'a sixth grader in shop class learning to use a rasp,'" Fierstein said.
"I mean, at very least, I'm the guy with the voice, you know? Then hopefully, I'm the guy who's really funny with the voice. And then the guy who can not only do comedy, but can do tragedy as well with the voice. And the guy that can really command a stage with the voice."
He comes by the voice naturally...
This is going to sound strange Mr. Fierstein, but, it is the truth. Russia's political culture is none of our business. We are attending the Olympics, we are not observers to their elections.
Do you remember Matthew Shepard? Matthew was killed by those that have no value for human life. They treated Matthew as an object and killed him. Something tells me that Russia is not ready for a cultural revolution.
Now, I don't know about you, but, when I run a revolution and/or resistance I want to be sure there are people alive at the end of the revolution or why bother fighting it in the first place?
Russia doesn't even have hate crime legislation to tell the country if they kill a young man for being himself there will penalties over and above that of what the initial crime is.
Mr. Fierstein, do you know we had a Secretary of State named Hillary Clinton? Sometimes people are too busy to keep up. You are very successful and that did not happen over night. You are respected and that didn't happen without building a substantial understanding of your talent and personable insight. But, if you had the chance to hear Former Secretary Clinton speak while serving in office you would have heard words that would rattle the most extremist of any country. She traveled with body guards. She measured her content and leveled opinion in a way that was non-threatening to governments so there would be no retaliation of people living in their borders.
I am quite sure Secretary Kerry is just as forthright in regard to women's rights and gay rights. The USA believes oppression of any group regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or whom they love is a human rights violation. That same focus is in the UN among some very powerful nations, but, leaders know how to bring opinion without causing adverse effects that kill people.
Freedom of speech is a right in the USA. At least most of us like to think so. The USA has never stood in support of oppression of any people and demands retraction of it under this administration. I realize sometimes a single person can move mountains. But, in order for that to occur, Mr. Fierstein the country has to be ready for the movement. Russia is not there. The changes President Obama's administration instituted spread like wildfire. The country was more than ready we were disgusted with the oppression and victimization.
There are signs there is movement in Russia. There are more political leaders standing up to what they state are illegal elections. There have been demonstrators expressing themselves and they are serving time in prison for their bravery. But, they are alive Mr. Fierstein. We need to work to keep them alive. We need to value their message and be sure our leaders value them as well and make inquiry to their well being. They are our heroes as well as those in the country.
And it is their message we need to hear. Not ours. If we are to respect them for their cultural differences while gay we need to hear them correctly, not just in our own understanding.
I believe in much of President Obama's administration has accomplished in regard to Gay Rights in the USA. I am proud of it. I am not gay. But, I have a country now that is unashamed of our citizens and providing a path to personal happiness for all our people. I am sure you are aware of the struggle, but, our Freedom of Speech protected many regardless of those that died violently and without cause.
Boycotting the Olympics is huge, Mr. Fierstein. We don't have to boycott those events when we have an administration we can trust. The changes for our gay community in the USA are historic. Someday, many more countries will be able to measure that same pride for their citizens, too. But, in Russia at this time 'the church' is a focus of cultural clout. Odd, isn't it? I mean I grew up being told the church in Russia was simply for 'Show and Tell.' It was propaganda. Now, we know how deeply that propaganda was wrong.
When I run into a wall with others of the same mind and it feels as though we are defeated; what I say is, "We keep at it." That is the best we can do Mr. Fierstein. We hold up our heads, deny the defeat and point to the short comings of those that appear to be the victor.
"We keep at it" and I promise you the day will come and probably not to much of a distance into the future when all citizens of Russia will respect diversity while changing the culture of their identity.
Non-threatening, Mr. Fierstein and steady dialogue. It will happen. It is inevitable. Russians aren't stupid people and they love their social content. When they realize how their social culture will be enriched when they open their minds and hearts to diversity it will happen. We will rejoice with them, but, we will do it together and trust our President and his administration to help.
I wish you well. I wish you much success. Hey. Every hear of Radio Free Europe? Just a thought.
June 9, 2013 10:12 AM
These days it's not easy (click here) for Harvey Fierstein to make his way through the crowded Theatre District. He has two hits playing nearby: "Newsies," which won a Tony last year; and "Kinky Boots," which is up for a slew of them tonight. If you don't know him Harvey Fierstein by sight, you know him by sound. His VOICE was once compared to "a deep-throated jazz diva who has just tossed back a double-bourbon."
"One of my favorites was 'a sixth grader in shop class learning to use a rasp,'" Fierstein said.
"I mean, at very least, I'm the guy with the voice, you know? Then hopefully, I'm the guy who's really funny with the voice. And then the guy who can not only do comedy, but can do tragedy as well with the voice. And the guy that can really command a stage with the voice."
He comes by the voice naturally...
