Exactly. This needs to be emphasized.

Whether it's Russia and its politicians and its speech laws, or it's Iraq or Libya or Syria or whatever, those people need to figure it out for themselves. Maybe they can use the USA for inspiration. Maybe they can use the USA as examples of what not to do.

We can't wish our values and our culture on them. It needs to come from within.

Of course, this shouldn't apply to external affairs. It shouldn't be OK for Putin to invade Ukraine or threaten the Baltics. That band isn't getting back together.

Russia was finding her own way after the first world war and it didn't work out so well for most of Eastern Europe.

No we need to enforce gay rights on them.