Posted by Bohdan on March 23, 2000 at 11:47:04:
In Reply to: Re: Language Debate posted by Ann Fill on March 20, 2000 at 17:13:21:
: I can't tell you how sorry I am that I started to learn the Ukrainian language. It's a : beautiful language to be sure, but to learn it to what avail? So a person can read : bigoted narrow-minded crap like this in the native language?? This nonsense is : just repulsive to a native American. I never did understand why so many peaceful : people of the Carpathian Mtns balked at being identified as Ukrainians. But if this : intolerant attitude is typical, then their attitude seems more understandable.
Ann,
I think it is very commendable to hear someone comment on something completely foreign to him or her using such outstanding language as "bigoted narrow-minded crap"; you could not have found a better expression! If you believe that my statement was bigoted feces, I think you had better start learning the history of Ukraine and, even better, Russo-Ukrainian relations. I'll grant you that my statement was a bit harsh, but it had a solid foundation. First of all, let me point out that each language has its equivalent, so don't pretend that this is typical of Ukrainians. If you found that statement repulsive, you'd find every other statement made nowadays repulsive too.
As for my seeming intolerance, it is based on fact, not presumptions. All throughout the history of Russia and Ukraine, the Russians have done their best to deny us our freedom and to eliminate us as a race. Some of the best examples of this were during the Soviet regime. The massive famine that plagued Ukraine is 1933 was deliberately planned by Stalin, who also deliberately denied any need for outside help. In the end, after torturing and killing millions of Ukrainians, Stalin even admitted that it was impossible to annihilate the Ukrainians because there are too many of them.
That was just one example. Look anywhere, and you'll find more examples. Nowadays, the Russians will hardly tolerate Ukrainians or our language in their presence, yet they expect us to tolerate them. Just look at all the modern facts. The crisis in Chechnya, the stubbornness of Russia, the incessant hypocrisy of Yeltsin and Putin and their "democracy." The facts blatently show that Russia is still a big bloodhound bent on imperialism. You may call that "bigoted narrow-minded crap"; I call that downright, blatent fact.
Make of it what you will. The fact is that Russia wants us gone.