Teddy Bears Cause International Diplomatic Crisis

[Napkiraly]

I hope we didn't drive him back into hibernation.

Us punners can be quite grizzley at times.

Even if we lack koality at times.

[L Ron Cupboard]

Punning is a grizzly art form.

Quite polarizing at times as well.

Quick where is my kodiak polaroid camera, I need to take a picture of this!

[Big Jim P]

I hope we didn't drive him back into hibernation.

Us punners can be quite grizzley at times.

Well, when asking for bear puns it is only logical to expect unbearable punishment.

[Napkiraly]

Quite polarizing at times as well.

Quick where is my kodiak polaroid camera, I need to take a picture of this!

Make sure the cap is off, you wouldn't want the shot to be black, now would you? They're the worst.

[L Ron Cupboard]

What is all the pandamonium in this thread about anyway?

[Big Jim P]

What is all the pandamonium in this thread about anyway?

Just a bunch of ursinine rambling.

[Napkiraly]

What is all the pandamonium in this thread about anyway?

A European authoritarian leader finding the Swedes and their shenanigans unbearable has caused a diplomatic incident of a most polarizing nature.

[L Ron Cupboard]

What is all the pandamonium in this thread about anyway?

A European authoritarian leader finding the Swedes and their shenanigans unbearable has caused a diplomatic incident of a most polarizing nature.

Something bruin in the woods then.

[Charlotte Ryberg]

What is all the pandamonium in this thread about anyway?

A European authoritarian leader finding the Swedes and their shenanigans unbearable has caused a diplomatic incident of a most polarizing nature.

Yes, I'm afraid the human rights situation in Belarus is not good. Alexander Lukashenko and his government have gone to many lengths to hold onto power. He's not only banned oppositions rallies, but also clapping in public.

[Napkiraly]

A European authoritarian leader finding the Swedes and their shenanigans unbearable has caused a diplomatic incident of a most polarizing nature.

Something bruin in the woods then.

This will eventually go Baloo everyone's radar.

[Ethel mermania]

A European authoritarian leader finding the Swedes and their shenanigans unbearable has caused a diplomatic incident of a most polarizing nature.

Yes, I'm afraid the human rights situation in Belarus is not good. Alexander Lukashenko and his government have gone to many lengths to hold onto power. He's not only banned oppositions rallies, but also clapping in public.

An unbearable dictator, I agree. Grizzly results will come to the people if they chose to come out of their dens, and fight like salmon swimming upstream.

[Napkiraly]

A European authoritarian leader finding the Swedes and their shenanigans unbearable has caused a diplomatic incident of a most polarizing nature.

Yes, I'm afraid the human rights situation in Belarus is not good. Alexander Lukashenko and his government have gone to many lengths to hold onto power. He's not only banned oppositions rallies, but also clapping in public.

Serious post:

Yeah, I mean he sucks, and getting rid of him would better serve European, and the West's in general, geopolitical interests, but what can we do? As long as he is getting bankrolled by the Russians and continues to do not to screw over the economy and other things, he most likely isn't going anywhere. Unless we invade Belarus, which creates even bigger problems in itself.

[Ethel mermania]

Something bruin in the woods then.

This will eventually go Baloo everyone's radar.

That would be a small Boo-boo, I agree, maybe we could settle this over a picnic basket.

[Soviet Russia Republic]

More sanctions? Yeah that will work.

[Napkiraly]

This will eventually go Baloo everyone's radar.

That would be a small Boo-boo, I agree, maybe we could settle this over a picnic basket.

And cigars so we can Smokey.

[Ardchoille]

*** Ecce Eduardus ursus scalis nunc tump-tump-tump occipite gradus pulsante post Moderatorem descendens! ***

See what happened the last time players turned a perfectly respectable thread into a beargarden?

Now stop ruffling the OP's fur and get back on topic.

[Jafas United]

Studio Total was wrong to intrude on Belarusian airspace, but the knee-jerk reaction from Lukashenko, really? Is there anything he does like? But other than posting irrelevant twitter comments, Carl Bildt isn't doing a good job at handling the issue.

Either way, Belarus as the last dictatorship of Europe, is a shame on our continent.

Anything else is all hogwash.

Sluta läsa Aftonbladet och Expressen.

[Jafas United]

What is all the pandamonium in this thread about anyway?

Basically, a Swedish PR firm dropped teddy bears onto Belarus to demand free speech in the country. Naturally, Belarus is upset about this, so they expelled Sweden's ambassador. Likewise happened with their ambassador to Sweden.

Now Lukashenko is really butthurt and said "WELL FUCK YOU SWEDEN", and just severed diplomatic relations.

[Risottia]

Well, what are we supposed to say?

"Go, Sweden!" or something? What's the debate? Whether or not Lukashenko is a terrible human being who should rot in a prison somewhere for the rest of his life?

Go Sweden!

Although it would have been better to parachute pelouche elks. Much more in style with Sweden.

[New Rogernomics]

Next the Germans will be mounting a blitz on Belarus with giant gummy bears; and soldiers disguised as past Olympic mascots and Disney characters.

In summary: Teddy Bears are a delightful form of protest, and I am hungry now.

[Helertia]

What will we call it if this ends up leading to an Arab Spring style overthrow of the dictator? The Teddy Bear Summer?

[Charlotte Ryberg]

What is all the pandamonium in this thread about anyway?

Basically, a Swedish PR firm dropped teddy bears onto Belarus to demand free speech in the country. Naturally, Belarus upset about this, so they expelled Sweden's ambassador. Likewise happened with their ambassador to Sweden...

I'm quite surprised as to how a perfectly harmless protest with bears led into so much controversy. The president should think about what would happen if he continues to suppress freedom of speech in such a way - I mean, one just needs to look back at the 1989 revolutions and the Arab Spring. Those revolutions happened because of the suppression of freedom of speech. Plus, International isolation would just make the Belarus president more unpopular with the people of Belarus and beyond.

[New Rogernomics]

What will we call it if this ends up leading to an Arab Spring style overthrow of the dictator? The Teddy Bear Summer?

No, a Teddy Bear Picnic.

[Teddy Bear Republic]

We promise - we had nothing to do with it.

I'm quite surprised as to how a perfectly harmless protest with bears led into so much controversy. The president should think about what would happen if he continues to suppress freedom of speech in such a way - I mean, one just needs to look back at the 1989 revolutions and the Arab Spring. Those revolutions happened because of the suppression of freedom of speech. Plus, International isolation would just make the Belarus president more unpopular with the people of Belarus and beyond.

To the President of Belarus, though, it's probably not perfectly harmless, since it violated his national airspace without anybody noticing (thus a worry for his defenses), and also points his flaws (thus a worry for his politics). All I can say for certain, though, is that the Teddy Bear thing certainly got the world noticing Belarus all of a sudden.

[Ifreann]

Beats the hell out of dropping bombs to spread democracy.