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Dear Halina,
I have to preface some things I say with my impression that you and Zby know this part of history better than me. Having said that, I can say that from what I know that the east became less nationalistic due to heavy handed Muscovite tactics fro 1654 onward. As far as my knowledge goes, from Hrushesky to Subtelny to Anna Reid, the west was alternately under the Poles and the Austrians since that time. The Austrians especially were very tolerant of cultural and geographical diversity. Galicia especially was able to retain a Rus identity. Within western Ukraine there was some conflict regarding Carpato-Rus versus Rus/Ruthenians. The later eventually developed the Ukrainian identity.
In the east, the Ukrainian language was trampeled very badly, culminating in the Tsarist Ukaz of around the mid nineteenth century, forbidding any use of the Ukrainian language whatsoever.
Today there is still some degree of alienation. I have been involved with a spiritual organization in the east, for example, that was more worried about maintaining ties with their brethren in Uzbekistan and Russia than strengthening relations with comrades in Western Ukraine. There is a kind of barrier, almost invisible. like a silk or plastic curtain. I think that the language issue may have something to do with it,while the religious issue is a more subtle undertone.
That's about all I can say about that for now, but I'll be happy to write more when I get more time.
I am also grateful for your voice Halina.
Yuri
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