Topic: Russians tear down Steve Jobs monument because Tim Cook is gay (Read 2725 times)

It wasn't the Russian government which decided to tear down the monument. But again, there is no use of arguing with those idiots who are blinded by American propaganda and Russophobia.

So Apple & the FBI are bullshitting? http://www.npr.org/blogs/alltechconsidered/2014/10/08/354598527/apple-says-ios-encryption-protects-privacy-fbi-raises-crime-fears

Revelation made by Snowden, who accused Apple's production for transmitting the data to American intelligence services, is an actual reason of deconstruction.

Actually, after re-reading what you wrote and what the article says, I don't think we're actually saying anything different.

A memorial to Apple Inc founder Steve Jobs has been dismantled in the Russian city of St Petersburg after the man who succeeded him at the helm of the company, Tim Cook, came out as gay.

The two-meter high monument, in the shape of an iPhone, was erected outside a St Petersburg college in January 2013 by a Russian group of companies called ZEFS.

Citing the need to abide by a law combating “gay propaganda,” ZEFS said in a statement on Monday that the memorial had been removed on Friday – the day after Apple CEO Cook had announced he was homosexual.

“In Russia, gay propaganda and other sexual perversions among minors are prohibited by law,” ZEFS said, noting that the memorial had been “in an area of direct access for young students and scholars.”

“After Apple CEO Tim Cook publicly called for sodomy, the monument was taken down to abide to the Russian federal law protecting children from information promoting denial of traditional family values.”

Promoting “traditional values,” President Vladimir Putin last year signed a law prohibiting the spread of “gay propaganda” among minors.

Putin says there is no discrimination against gay people in Russia and the law was needed only to protect young people, although members of the gay community say its passage has increased problems for them.

ZEFS – or West European Financial Union – groups companies offering a range of products and services in areas such as real estate, construction, advertising and microfinancing.

Cook said he had decided to come out to help move forward civil rights, confirming a fact that had been widely known in the Silicon Valley tech community but was rarely discussed.

Steve Jobs, who died in 2011, was not gay.

Vitaly Milonov, a St Petersburg legislator who has campaigned against gay rights and was among legislators behind the law signed by Putin, has called for Apple’s CEO to be barred entrance to Russia, Russia media have reported.

Maxim Dolgopolov, the head of ZEFS who ordered the removal of the monument, expressed opposition to personal sanctions in Monday’s statement, but supported the “protection of traditional values” by law.

“Sin should not become the norm. There is nothing to do in Russia for whose who intend to violate our laws,” he said.

The “gay propaganda” law caused outrage and protests in the West, particularly in the run-up to the Winter Olympics hosted by Putin in the Black Sea resort of Sochi in February.

Residents of Saint Petersburg have reportedly torn down a giant interactive iPhone memorial that commemorated the death of Apple founder Steve Jobs after the company's current CEO, Tim Cook, came out as gay on Thursday.

Business FM Radio reports that the company that originally funded the memorial, ZEFS, decided to tear it down after Cook said he was proud to be gay.

Homophobia is rife in Russia, and many LGBT people living in the country have been subjected to harassment and violence.

The six-foot tall memorial was erected in 2013 to celebrate Steve Jobs' life. It featured a large screen that showcased moments from Jobs' life, as well as scrolling quotations from his speeches and a QR code on the back that would take people who scanned it to a website.



Speaking in a press release sent to Russian media outlets, ZEFS chairman Maxim Dolgopolov explained that the memorial was torn down for two reasons: Tim Cook coming out as gay and Edward Snowden's revelations about NSA spying. (Snowden's documents suggest Apple products were used by the NSA to conduct surveillance.) He didn't rule out reinstalling the memorial, however, but said that it would only return if it could be modified to instruct Russian citizens to use products from companies other than Apple.

Homophobia is rife in Russia, and many LGBT people living in the country have been subjected to harassment and violence.

Maybe. But I've seen original comment by ZEFS chief, a guy who ordered installation in 2013 and later ordered removal of this monument. That's why I really don't care what CBS, CNN, Fox or whatever are saying. They can say anything, actually...

Actually I think it's quite possible that somebody recommended to remove this installation after reading the news about Tim Cook. But the decision itself was made by installation owner, not by some authority. And mass surveillance is the reason declared by owner. Owner is allowed to do anything with his property... He can remove it, install it back and then remove it again repeatedly during ages...

Maybe. But I've seen original comment by ZEFS chief, a guy who ordered installation and later removal of this monument. That's why I don't care what CBS, CNN, Fox or whatever are saying. They can say anything, actually.

1) This monument wasn't teared down, it was removed by municipal services in accordance with standard procedure.
2) Revelation made by Snowden, who accused Apple's production for transmitting the data to American intelligence services, is an actual reason of deconstruction.



So this article is quite cheap propaganda, but nice try