

There are definitely varying degrees as to how far that phenomenon has taken hold, and it has done so to a much larger degree in the US than in a lot of other countries. There is not really any point in trying to relativise this, it is not “business as usual”, this is radicalisation on a 1930s Germany level.
Who cares about the eyes of lowly peasants? This is about defending the eyes of the glorious leader Putin, and it is a risk he is willing to take.