:::spoiler Spoiler for off-topic

Russia is attempting to paint outside groups as subhuman. Are you attempting to be an apologist for those statements?

I don’t know which specific statements you’re referring to, but no, I don’t agree with painting anyone as subhuman.

are there posts/comments that were painted in too broad of a stroke as Kremlin propaganda?

I don’t know, because the post is unclear as to what constitutes Kremlin propaganda, which is why I asked for clarification.

Second, I am calling out the whataboutism in your post.

Explaining my motivations for seeking out information from multiple sources is not whataboutism. I believe that it’s worthwhile to understand the perspectives and mentalities of groups that I disagree with, and I presented the example of my experiences in a “post 9/11 world” to illustrate the dangers of equating “Seeking to understand the other side’s motivations” with “Agreeing with the other side.” 20 years ago, we could be having a very similar conversation but I’d be accused of being a terrorist sympathizer instead of a Russian propagandist. Understanding the historical context of the creation of the Taliban and their motivations does not mean that I agree with them any more than it does when I understand the same as Russia. But it’s easier to recognize that that’s true of past events, because it is no longer in the heat of the moment.

I consider your accusation of whataboutism to be anti-intellectual. The study of history is vital to understanding the present. Writing off all historical comparisons or attempts to learn from the past is dangerous and not valid. How can we possibly avoid repeating the mistakes of the past if we can’t compare them to present events?