Without commenting on the situation or the topic, it's strange how close-minded and terrified of different opinions or ideas people are to this topic. There's a rabid, hateful, jingoistic "you're either with us or you're a traitor" fervor. It's amazing how strongly people are influenced by the popular narrative, the media, politicians. I seem to remember it was like this in the lead up to the last Iraq war too. Freedom fries, and USA chants, and denunciation of traitors everywhere.

Funny thing is a lot of the current hate I see coming from people who would ordinarily be the first in line to blame the west for any and all suffering, conflict, wars, and injustice around the world. Digging as far back to the crusades and the Roman Empire if necessary.

Yet I've never seen alternate views like this highly upvoted or discussed rationally on sites like this or reddit, despite swaths of newly minted Russia/Ukraine experts who one would have thought would be thirsty for new reading and debate on the subject.