Posted by Bohdan Oryshkevich on March 21, 2000 at 22:55:35:
Mr. Stetsyuk implied that a low culture when in conflict with a high culture will wither. He seemed to imply that Ukrainian culture cannot compete with Russian culture therefore Ukrainians must be hard.
I would think that one of the ways to preserve and develop a language is to develop its culture. If Ukrainians strive for excellence Ukrainian can succeed as a state language and perhaps as the only one. But if Ukrainians try to suppress the Russian language in Ukraine where it is often indigenous by all measures then Ukrainian will fail.
German was widespread in the Czech Republic but it declined with Czech ascendancy. Ukrainian should try to compete in the realm of ideas so that it wins the hearts and minds of all Ukrainians, Russian speakers and Ukrainian speakers alike. But I do not think that government can do that by fiat.
Only creative people can. As well as successful businessmen and economic leaders who will make Ukraine a successful economic entity. Until that happens Ukrainian will be largely perceived as the language of a nostalgic past which is being imposed upon a more sophisticated urban populace.