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Lets get a healthy debate going shall we…..
13 March 2022 | by 
Everyone is aware of what is going on in Ukraine with the Russian invasion. Each day we hear of new sanctions and boycotts regarding Russia. In Amateur radio circles I have heard opinions from both sides regarding contacting Russian stations or not. The RSGB has made it very clear that they will not accept Russian or Belarus entrants in any RSGB contest. At this point in time, I don't believe the ARRL or RAC has made any statements regarding Russian amateurs?
Here is my question, coming up next weekend is a very popular Russian contest for both CW and SSB the Russian DX contest. In the past, I have seen lots of participation on the bands regarding this contest and it has a very good turn out of Russian hams. Are you going to take part this year or boycott it? I have read both sides on this one, how ham radio and politics should be separate. Or ham ops also need to boycott as well to send a consistent message to Russia.
This is the first time as a ham that I have run across this issue does participating in the contest show support for what Russia is doing or does it show we support Russian hams by participating and allowing world events to remain a separate issue?
What are your thoughts on the RSGB banning Russia and Belarus?
Are you going to take part in the upcoming contest and if you are not a contest fan are you still contacting hams from Russia or Belarus?
Should the ARRL or RAC come up with a position either way?
Finally, I would ask those who do comment to keep it polite and realize we all have an opinion that we may not agree with. I also will delete any inappropriate comments. I always think a good healthy debate is a good thing.
34 Responses to “Lets get a healthy debate going shall we…..”
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It’s a shame that it’s come to this, politics and Amateur radio shouldn’t be mixed.
I think what the RSGB is doing is following suit with what the Britsh government is doing regarding sanctions.
All I would say is go with what you feel is right, nobody else can make that decision for you.
73, M0IHY
ARRL,
It’s a conundrum, we want Putin to stop his unwarranted, illegal invasion of Ukraine, while wanting to get the Russian people to rise up in protest of that atrocity. So banning Russian hams does not sound like the thing to do. Maybe better, accept them and have some discussion on air of the issue, maybe even echoing some of the information we have rather than the suppressed propaganda the Russian Government is putting out. This is a way of having a people to people negotiation, if you will, on a grass roots level. Ham Radio is suppose to connect the world not divide it. It not their fault that Putin is in control and misbehaving, but they, as the Russian people can voice their opinions amongst themselves and for some publicly (as we have seen with the mass protests all over Russia). We should support our fellow Hams in the support of factual information exchange between borders, especially in emergency and crisis situations.
Good evening Bryan, yes I guess they are following the government. I do agree that politics are not for mixing.
Thanks for stopping by and leaving your comment.
73,
Mike
VE9KK
Good evening John and very nice to hear from you, yes Putin sure has caused a fluff in the world order. It’s too bad for the censorship in Russia but it has always been like that. I’m not sure I will talk politics over the radio, heck even talking with family can end up in a bad way. I do agree that showing support is a very good option.
73,
thanks for taking the time to leave a comment.
Mike
VE9KK
I can speak only for myself – I will NOT participating in any Russian events, nor will I be contacting any Russian or Belarus amateurs. Let them know that the reprehensible actions of their governments have consequences.
Good evening Mike very nice to hear from you and thanks for sharing your view on the matter. I can understand your feelings on the matter as you just have to tune in to CNN and see all the devastation in Ukraine.
Thanks, Mike and have a great week,
Mike
VE9KK
I think M0IHY is right. This is a matter of conscience for each ham to decide. No blanket rule should be applied. Personally, I think we need venues where politics are avoided. We need channels for human to human communication that can be relied upon without regard to nationalism, religion, or politics. However, not much “real” communication goes on in a contest, and no one should feel bad about abstaining from one. That is my wishy-washy opinion.
Good evening Jim thanks for taking the time to read the post and leaving a comment. Very true that each ham will have to come to their own conclusion. I felt it would be beneficial to hear all opinions. We can learn from each other and there is no harm in looking at a subject from a different light. Oh and Jim there are no wishy-washy opinions…..just opinions.
73 and have a good upcoming week.
Mike
VE9KK
My Mother used to say, “I never argue Politics or Religion”. Most likely a good approach. I will only say that Amateur Radio should be a Bridge between all of us a a good will approach as others would say. 73 to all.
Good evening Steve, your mother was very wise and thanks for sharing this.
73,
Mike
VE9KK
If we stop talking to each other, it is much easier to imagine the other as evil instead of just human. This is an integral, indispensable part of mobilization for war.
I’d rather talk …
Good morning Kristian, yes very important to keep the communication lines open. Even in personal relationships once the communication breakdown happens the gap starts to widen. Kristian very good point thanks for commenting. Oh and you may have miss-spelled your call as I am not able to locate it anywhere?
73, have a nice week.
Mike
VE9KK
The callsign is correct.
https://ans.bundesnetzagentur.de/amateurfunk/rufzeichen.aspx
Mike,
One other observation, not participating in a Russian Contest because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, is a political statement. For those that don’t want any politics on the air, abstention is politics. As I have said, I think it best to keep the communication lines open and we should all be available to help in this emergency if call on (it’s in our charter). It is unfortunate that the Russian people will have such a hard time going forward because of this but not as hard as the Ukrainian people. We as Hams can and should offer support to all that need it. The politics come in only because of why this emergency exists.
Stay Safe. 73
John AC9UV
Good afternoon again Kristian, I had no intention to insult you or doubt your call. I have done it in the past by mistake, I have signed it as VE0KK or VE9KK/M not sure how it happened but now and then it does. I just like to look up all the calls that leave a comment just to learn about them. I have found that I have learned some very interesting things about those that comment.
Have a good week and again no insult was intended.
73,
Mike
VE9KK
Good afternoon John and very nice to hear from you, yes the decisions of a few, unfortunately, affect many. I also concur in regards to how going forward things may never go back to the way they used to be for the Russian people. Again this is unfortunate as the cause of this is the actions of a few.
73 and thanks for your input and have a great week.
Mike
VE9KK
I don’t think we should ban ‘normal’ residents of Russia. This does nothing but isolate them more from the outside world, leaving them in their government controlled bubble. I also don’t think we should speak politics over the radio with them, as that could open them up to a lot of government harassment should they speak out.
None taken, sorry for the brevity. It was in the middle of the work day over here.
73
Good morning Patrick thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment, it’s very true in regards to just leaving politics out of the conversation. Heck, many close families when they start talking politics it creates a divide. Yes, being in a bubble is never a good thing.
Thanks again for the comment.
73,
Mike
VE9KK
Very nice to hear back from you Kristian, we all have been in the middle of a workday at one time or another. Oh not me I’m now retired….but I have been there in the past.
Have a good day.
Mike
VE9KK
Hi Mike, I will not be doing anything differently in regards to who I will engage with on the HF bands. One of the attractive aspects of why I wanted to get into ham radio was what the US FCC has said: Amateur Radio’s “unique ability to enhance international goodwill.” I will stick with that philosophy. I don’t like to draw lines in the sand. 73 Mark
Good afternoon Mark, very nice to hear from you and I hope your week is going well? That is an excellent way of looking at it Mark.
73,
Mike
VE9KK
“Putin sure has caused a fluff . . .”
I doubt Ukrainians see it that way.
No call to avoid your stalking.
Good afternoon Albercht, “no call to avoid your stalking” your killing me Abercht.
Thanks for coming out.
73,
Mike
VE9KK….no paranoia at this end…. :))
I think that it’s important to keep in mind that Ukraine asked for admission to NATO and their application is pending. Russia asked for years for their application to be denied. When Biden announced that Ukraine should be admitted, Putin acted. Like you, I detest what he has done but would we do differently if the shoe was on the other foot and it was Cuba about to get weapons and a protection pact from Putin and Xi?
Like others, I would participate with the hope of extending an olive branch, kindness and understanding to the Russian people who are not responsible in any way for this horrific carnage. They are going to suffer every bit as much as are the Ukrainians and probably for a much longer period of time.
I was initially very torn over this, but at the end of the day I can’t support banning Russian amateurs from events. I look at how most of the industrialized nations of the world hated the previous US administration. US citizens like me hated the administration just as much. It would have been really unfair to me and others to have our amateur radio activity banned because of an administration we didn’t support.
I’d like to add that analogies between Ukrainian NATO membership and what-if scenarios of Russian protection of a border country like Cuba or Mexico (which I’ve heard elsewhere) are very flawed. NATO has a pretty good track record of not engaging in offensive and subversive operations, invading countries willy-nilly. The same cannot be said of Russia. NATO has a very clear and open governance structure lead by rational nation states. Russia is the opposite of this.
Good morning Paul, thanks for taking the time to read the post and leaving a comment. The idea of an olive branch is very good and in the spirit of ham radio all around the world. Also, it’s very true that if the shoe was on the other foot and what would the western world be doing?
Have a good what has is left of the week, Paul.
73,
Mike
VE9KK
Goody as always very nice to hear from you, a very good comparison between administrations and the question of contacting Russian stations.
Thanks for your input and have a good week and weekend.
73,
Mike
VE9KK
My personal opinion: red line has been crossed. People in Ukraine are killed every minute.
This is not politics at all.
We are talking about “accepting Russia HAMS”, “human to human communication”, “good approach”, “talking to each other”, “enhance international goodwill” etc. Try to tell this to Ukrainians, including UR HAMs. If they are still alive, of course.
I’m from OM and we meet Ukrainians refugees daily. One of the first thing they do after beeing on safe place is to have 2 days of sleeping. We can see that suffer on our own eyes. It’s terrible what is happening there. It’s cynicism non-plus-ultra to say, that we (HAMs) are out of it. Are HAMs still beings that feel something? Be a HAM is not be excluded from our real world. HAMs should want to be part of this world. With all positives, but also negatives.
Respect to RSGB, one of the first, who found courage to say NO to it.
Good morning Richard very nice to hear from you, having first-hand experience as you have can allow us to see things through your eyes. Your perspective is very eye-opening and I want to thank you for sharing it. It’s important to see the side you have described to us.
73 and thanks again,
Mike
VE9KK
The question was about boycotting the Russian contest. Personally, I like the opinion from another forum. Yes to participate, but replace the standard Exchange with a word such as “peace” or “mir” in russian, etc. I think it is better than to remain silent.
73 Jiri OK7NV
Good morning Jiri and thanks for your contribution, very interesting idea for sure. Yes very true the question was if fellow hams were going to boycott the contest or not…but sometimes conversation has a way of moving in and out of the subject at hand to put ones point across.
Thanks again for the comment Jiri,
73
Mike
VE9KK
Politics and Amateur radio shouldn’t be mixed.
Very sad that RSGB & CQ Magazine do different.
I will participate at RDXC 160m , thang you and gl
vy Denis DL5SFC
Good afternoon Denis, thanks very much for stopping by and taking the time to leave a comment. Yes both RSGB and CQ magazine have taken a stand and I respect them for doing that and for making a statement that is very clear as to where they stand. Whether we agree or disagree at least we know each of their positions.
Good luck in the contest Denis,
73,
Mike
VE9KK