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Re:Snowden's Asylum: 'It's the law, stupid' by gadders on Thursday August 08, 2013 @09:03AM (#6178601)
Well, the USSR is currently criminalising a whole class of people based on what they chose to do with their genitalia in private. That sounds pretty oppressive to me.
Re:Snowden's Asylum: 'It's the law, stupid' by hedgie13 on Thursday August 08, 2013 @09:45AM (#6178827)
The last time I checked USSR stopped existing about 20 years ago. Also:

> is currently criminalising a whole class of people based on what they chose to do with their genitalia in private.

I do not think you know what you are talking about.

Re:Snowden's Asylum: 'It's the law, stupid' by bausson on Thursday August 08, 2013 @09:49AM (#6178866)
He is I suppose referring to this: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/26/opinion/homophobia-in-russ...

State homophobia in Russia is becoming a thing really fast these days.

Re:Snowden's Asylum: 'It's the law, stupid' by hedgie13 on Thursday August 08, 2013 @10:31AM (#6179123)
I will refer to my comment:

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6173274

It is probably a bad law, but it certainly not criminalizing people for what they are doing with their genitalia in private. He was probably thinking about Saudi Arabia or Iran, but there is strangely little outrage against them.

Re:Snowden's Asylum: 'It's the law, stupid' by bausson on Thursday August 08, 2013 @01:36PM (#6180466)
What happen in Saudi Arabia and Iran sure is bad, but it's not new (which excuse nothing).

In Russia, there is a big crackdown on everything LGBT-related, by the government and the church, and its getting worse every day.

A bit more here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Russia

Re:Snowden's Asylum: 'It's the law, stupid' by gadders on Thursday August 08, 2013 @11:30AM (#6179511)
Oh, they're worse. They hang gay people in Iran.
Re:Snowden's Asylum: 'It's the law, stupid' by gadders on Thursday August 08, 2013 @10:02AM (#6178935)
Typo. I'm sure Putin would like to get back to the USSR days though.
Re:Snowden's Asylum: 'It's the law, stupid' by mcv on Thursday August 08, 2013 @10:18AM (#6179021)
There are a lot of people in the US who'd like the US to be equally oppressive. Really, not the best of examples here.

On the whole, it seems that the US is somewhat less oppressive than Russia, but a lot more than most European countries. Particularly disgusting is that many European countries haven't condemned US behaviour regarding Snowden, and even seem willing to act as US vassals.

Re:Snowden's Asylum: 'It's the law, stupid' by fnordfnordfnord on Thursday August 08, 2013 @09:41AM (#6178813)
We're not too far removed from that, here in the US.