If you live in Russia and work for Russkoye Moloko, which means “Russian Milk”, it’s not just good enough that your job is done well. You also have to kowtow to everything that falls under the rules of the Orthodox Church. It seems that “Boiko the Great”, as he likes to call himself, has determined that having an abortion is a firing offense. He says it is murder and will not employ anyone like that. One woman is currently on the chopping block as a result. But that’s not all. He also thinks that if you’re “living in sin”, you’re wrong and should be fired. He has given an ultimatum that will be carried out on October 14 (a holy Russian, Orthodox day). If you are living in sin after that, you’re fired.
What’s interesting is that even if you’re not of the Orthodox religion, he doesn’t care. You’re still going to be fired. What’s even more interesting is that this is not a man without sin either. This guy just served time in prison for fraud allegations in 2007, which really isn’t that long ago. So because HE found religion in prison, suddenly everyone else has to suffer as a result.
All I can say is that I’m fortunate that I don’t work in that environment. While there are times when my own geographical area scares me religious-wise, as the locals can be somewhat dogmatic about religions that aren’t mine, and there have even been times where I’ve seen that filter over into the work environment, at least my job hasn’t been at jeopardy because one lunatic decided that his way is the only way. It’s one of those things that has scared me for quite some time because as an amateur philosopher-scientist and writer, I find myself often at odds with practically everything and everyone around me. I’ve always been open to everyone else, even to the point where I don’t care what religion other people are, and I’m not going to be expending any energy trying to convert other people to my own religion. Let people worship what they want to worship, even if they’re all wrong and going to Gre’thor when they die (Klingon Hell for those not versed in Star Trek mythology). Everyone has his or her own religious beliefs, and I think that’s wonderful. What is not wonderful is when some moron thinks that his or her own religious beliefs should be worshipped by everyone, including those who aren’t of that particular faith.
I’m fortunate that I live in a society where I don’t have to worry about such things. But that may not always be the case. It doesn’t take much for a lot of stupid people to start forcing their values and norms on everyone else. It also doesn’t take a lot of time either. Mobs of stupid people have been known to destroy the very foundations of enlightened societies, but unfortunately people don’t take lessons from history or psychology. They take lessons from their own hearts, and as comforting as it may be to them, it’s not all that comforting to people who are not them. Just imagine being told that your very livelihood (and sometimes even your life) depends upon bowing down to a religious entity you don’t believe in. And then imagine forcing someone else into that same paradigm. That’s why I don’t push my own religious values on others. Unfortunately, there are way too many people who don’t feel the same way.
Vasily Boiko is one of them, and things in Russia just got really crappy for a lot of people who were probably minding their own business until this ultimatum came upon them. It’s amazing how one powerful, shitty person can ruin the days of so many.
(image: from Startrek.com)
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