I mean it. I will not do Russian State Media.

[stevenleser]

From: Steven Leser <[e-mail]>
To: XXXX XXXX <[e-mail]>
Sent: Tuesday, March 18, 2014 7:36 PM
Subject: Re: radio program

Hi XXXX -

I've checked some of your videos, you seem like a nice person. This is not aimed at you so please don't take it that way, but I have been boycotting Russian state media since shortly after the passage of the anti-gay law in June and I am adding the anschluss/unprovoked war of aggression in Crimea to that list of reasons now why I will not do Russian state media. I've heard the pro-Russian arguments that attempt to explain Crimea away, there are always excuses for unprovoked wars of aggression. I am not swayed. I don't care who may have owned what in the past. At one time the United Kingdom owned the state I live in. That does not give them the right to take it back if they could. I've also heard the lame attempts to portray the anti-gay law as something benign.

Again, I am not buying it.

So you know, I protested my own President, George W. Bush for the Iraq war so you can understand that if I don't give the President of my own country a pass for an illegal war, I am not going to do it for the leader of another country.

At this point I view Russia as an outlaw state headed by bigots and war criminals.

Unless Russia leaves Crimea and repeals the anti-gay law, I've done my last appearances on Russian state media. Not only that, I will do my best to get as many folks as I can not to watch or listen to Russian state media and every business and financial fund I possibly can to divest from Russia.

Different folks and shows from RT and VoR have been contacting me semi-regularly over the last 6-8 months hoping I will change my mind. I am not going to change my mind. Both of those issues are completely non-negotiable for me.

Again, this is not aimed at you personally but I think an explanation is in order.

Thanks
Steve

From: XXXX XXXXX <[e-mail]>
To: "[e-mail]" <[e-mail]>
Sent: Tuesday, March 18, 2014 5:32 PM
Subject: radio program

Dear Steven,

This is XXXX XXXXX, I'm a radio host from the Voice of Russia, Moscow.

I was wondering if you'd be interested in discussing the situation in Crimea on my radio show tomorrow at X am EST?
The program is recorded and lasts 30 minutes.

Please let me know, and I'll be happy to give you more details,

Thank you in advance,

XXXX

[knowledgeispwr]

1. Good on you! nt.

[sheshe2]

2. Good!

Thanks Steven.

[Bluenorthwest]

3. You got out early, I've thought of you several times during these events.

You are well out of there.

[stevenleser]

4. That is exactly what I have been saying to myself. That and I am embarrassed for the pieces I did in

the past. I wish I had never gone on RT or VoR.

The only thing I can say for myself is they seemed tolerable at the time I started.

I was like a frog in water where the heat is turned up slowly. The propaganda was slowly increased over time until the point I found myself in boiling water.

[stevenleser]

5. I'm going to crosspost this to GD. nt

[Cha]

6. Thank you, Steven. I'm thankful for the people who do get it around here..

"At this point I view Russia as an outlaw state headed by bigots and war criminals.

Unless Russia leaves Crimea and repeals the anti-gay law, I've done my last appearances on Russian state media. Not only that, I will do my best to get as many folks as I can not to watch or listen to Russian state media and every business and financial fund I possibly can to divest from Russia."