[aaus-list] Of russophiles and scholars

Thu Sep 11 19:13:46 EDT 2008

Dr. Sorokowski is right that russophilia should not disqualify one from participating in the AAUS list and that "[t]he only russophiles that should be excluded are those that deny the very existence of Ukraine and thus the validity of Ukrainian studies as such."

What should be done, though, in the case of a participant who uses (or abuses) the list routinely to propagate the policies of a Russian prime minister who has told the U.S. president that "Ukraine is 'not even a real state,' that much of its territory was 'given away' by Russia, and that it would 'cease to exist as a state' if it dared join NATO"? *

Walter Iwaskiw
Library of Congress (whose views he does not represent)

* http://online.wsj.com/public/article_print/SB122100831438617621.html

>>> "Sorokowski, Andrew (ENRD)" <Andrew.Sorokowski at usdoj.gov> 9/11/2008 12:11 PM >>>

I was under the impression that this is a list for scholars dedicated to Ukrainian Studies, not an association of patriotic Ukrainian scholars. Therefore, russophilia should not disqualify one from participating -- any more than polonophilia or germanophilia or americophilia -- provided that one does support Ukrainian studies. We all have our biases; the issue is whether we can control them and be truthful and reasonably objective. In the academic world even (or especially) being a Ukrainophile can disqualify you from a job in Ukrainian studies if it interferes with your scholarly integrity. The only russophiles that should be excluded are those that deny the very existence of Ukraine and thus the validity of Ukrainian studies as such.
Andrew Sorokowski 
US Department of Justice (whose views he does not represent)

From: aaus-list-bounces at ukrainianstudies.org [mailto:aaus-list-bounces at ukrainianstudies.org] On Behalf Of OSD
Sent: Thursday, September 11, 2008 11:12 AM
To: solar75wind at gmail.com; chumache at illinois.edu; dsfd at unimelb.edu.au
Cc: ukrainians at yahoogroups.com; aaus-list at ukrainianstudies.org
Subject: [aaus-list] VG, F-D:biased

Yes, sounds like someone just threw a tantrum.  But I'm sure you wouldn't call it that.
In fact, Dr Fewdewytsch-Dickson, scholars can in fact pillory articles by anyone without lengthy counter-argument if the proposer of such articles has displayed consistent skewed/ biased patterns of thoughts, such as Mr Gorbach (Vuhdeem), and the article proposed again is shown to be a biased/ skewed piece, meant not to stimulate an objective discussion, as Mr Gorbach claims, but to simply ensure that his point of view is consistently represented, without accepting any counter--argument.  An example is Mr Gorbach's glee at telling the world that Georgia used mines first instead of trying to start an objective discussion on that topic and how the human rights of our Russian neighbors have deteriorated under the regime of Ras-Putin.
So, in fact, it is you and Vadim that are biased and skewed since anytime anyone raises an objection to the obviously russophillic tone of his emails, he, then you, jump in and accuse people of being unscholarly and biased.  In fact, it seems as if the two of you are in cahoots (perhaps you are kohutyky?) .
To the Ukrainians on this chain, do not remove yourselves from the email.  That has been the pattern of Ukrainians in the past.  Are we scholars first and then Ukrainians?  I think not since if that were the case, we would simply be members of our academic organizations rather than this one.  I propose that we are of Ukrainian heritage first then scholars second and as such we should encourage objective debate but not fall away from defending our point of view, our culture, our language and yes, in fact our native country's multi-pluralistic cultures but not at the expense of russophilic goading.
Russophilic kohutyky should be engaged in discussion, challenged and a positive outcome would be ideal. But in the face of consistent lies (yes lies, Vadim states he is not russophillic, that he is objective, but I point to his body of work of emails and see not one shred of evidence of his claims), russophillic goaders must be addressed as a topic by the governing board of this email chain.   Seeing such persistent disregard of the guidance of what should be posted by one or two kohutyky and the non-action of this board is confusing.
With all due respect,
Dr. Oleh Denysyk
Director, Analytics, Organ Transplantation/ Oncology
RLI Laboratories

-----Original Message-----
From: "Daria Fedewytsch-Dickson" [dsfd at unimelb.edu.au]
Date: 09/10/2008 10:35 PM
To: "Vadim" , chumache at illinois.edu
CC: "ukrainians" , "aaus" 
Subject: RE: [aaus-list] Rep. Rohrabacher (R-CA): Russia was right,U.S. was 
wrong on Georgia

Just so. I am astounded that scholars should pillory articles proposed by Mr Gorbach.

They are serious and challenging.

They can also be countered by anyone willing to put in the critical muscle. Otherwise, merely complaining of bias without counter-argument is tantrum-throwing.

D.

-----Original Message-----
From: aaus-list-bounces at ukrainianstudies.org on behalf of Vadim
Sent: Wed 9/10/2008 4:23 PM
To: chumache at illinois.edu
Cc: ukrainians; aaus
Subject: Re: [aaus-list] Rep. Rohrabacher (R-CA): Russia was right,U.S. was wrong on Georgia

I am not pro-Russian. I am pro-ethical and an advocate for critical
thinking and balanced analysis.

V.Gorbach

On Tue, Sep 9, 2008 at 9:45 PM,  <chumache at illinois.edu> wrote:
> Dear Vadim,
>
> Would you please consider stopping this kind of political activism on behalf of Mr. Putin and K?
>
> Rep. Dana Rohrabacher's comments  may be worth to read about some day in the future, but I have serious doubts that AAUS members should suffer from this sort of the internet spam.
>
> V. Chumachenko
> UIUC
>
>
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