to feel sorry for the two Russian teenagers being booed

[hjwhjw]

I know Russia isn't popular, but this is uncomfortable

[FatalCabbage]

Their vote representative woman got a very long boo too.

They're still getting plenty of points though.

[UncleT]

It's OK - Russians are very used to being unpopular!

[sooperdooper]

People aren't booing them are they, they're booing Russia in general, they must've been expecting it given whats going on recently

[FatalCabbage]

It's a bit like being British most years at Eurovision, only louder.

[TeaFor6]

I feel sorry for the girls as it's not their fault. But I think it's good for Russia to see how the rest of Europe is seeing its behaviour

(Not that I'm expecting Putin to be avidly watching eurovision and letting it affect military action but, still...it's something)

[hjwhjw]

Of course Putin is watching! Campest world leader at the mo

[pricklyPea]

Really? ?, you needed to know if ywbu?

YABU

[Aspiringhuman]

I feel sorry for them too. They're not responsible for Putin's actions. Even if you are used to being disliked it's still horrible to be reminded.

[Caitlin17]

I felt sorry for them and kudos to Graham Norton for mentioning it several times. He clearly was thrilled Conchita was going to win but it was decent of him to make that point too.

[Joylin]

The contestants aren't responsible for foreign policy. Britain wouldn't like their entries booed for it's far worse policies that killed/maimed/refugeed millions of innocent people in Iraq, can't imagine anybody else who aided in those crimes against humanity appreciating their singers being booed either.

Russia took back a territory that was previously theirs, had a predominantly Russian population who voted overwhelmingly to rejoin their own country. Big deal. The fascists that have overthrown a democratically elected government, caused a shitload of violence, hate everybody who isn't Ukrainian and have taken over Ukraine are far more concerning. Naturally the Russian parts are going to demand the security of their own against those who see them the way the bnp sees foreigners in Britain.

[BOFster]

I don't think anybody there was booing the young women- it was directed at Putin. And I'm sure they aren't daft; they knew they were the political ambassadors for the regime on the night.

[BOFster]

Equally, I think that the victory for Austria was a political show of solidarity with LBGT rights being so hideously violated by Putin.

[Toadinthehole]

Putin if more than a born arsehole. He was probably born out of an arsehole.

As for the Eurovisions, I an reminded of the 1981 SA rugby tour to NZ. A large portion of the Kiwis gave the South Africans absolute hell, to the extent that one of the tests was abandoned. This all got beamed onto television screens across SA, and brought home to many there just how hated apartheid had become elsewhere.

[JennyCalendar]

I felt sorry for the young women, and hoped that they had people reassuring them that it wasn't personal, but I agreed with the booing.

I know people say that it should be all about the music, and I used to be one of them, but I now like the political side of EV. It is about the only chance that ordinary people have to show the rest of Europe what they feel about particular issues, policies or countries in a non-violent way.

Music comes into it too. If Austria's song was rubbish, they would still have scored well, though wouldn't have won.