Posted by Mirko on October 20, 1999 at 00:12:15:
Being Ukrainian, I am a Rusyn. That is the correct historical designation of my nationality. If the Muscovite nation ever reverts to its historical name there will be no semantical confusion when calling oneself a Rus/ Rusyn/Rusych. The designation Ukraine/Ukrainian originally was a territorial one. A Rusyn living in Ukraine referred to himself as Ukrainian to differentiate himself from a "Russian". My grandmother had no such difficulty. She knew a Ukrainian and a Rusyn were synonymous. Note the march Chervona Kalyna sung by the Ukrainski Sichovi Striltsi says "...vyzvolyaty bratiw ukrainciw z moskovs'kykh kaidan...." referring to the Rus/Ukrainians living east of ? Zbruch?. Think of the term Ukrainian in paralell with the term Yankee. Inside America a Yankee is a northerner. Outside America, all Americans are Yankees. Being an ex-Torontonian living in Vancouver I speak a 50 year old version of the Lviv dialect. I have the same difficulty understanding a Ukrainian from eastern Ukraine as I would have understanding you. So what. Dialect adds color & beauty to language. (ever hear English spoken by a Newfoundlander, or South Carolinian, or a Georgia peach?) Welcome brother, for I am as much a Rusyn as you, & I look forward to the day that the somewhat artificial designation of Ukrainian can be shed for the historic one of Rusyn. Let "Russia" forget its imperialistic ambition and develop into a nation state of Muscovy, letting the 18 or so vassal nations go their own way.
PS I bet the "Ukrainian" easter eggs I make look a lot like yours!