erosion of human rights in Ukraine

[nickcsadler]

I re-iterate that I aNOTm NOT pro Stalin...I have NOT called you a nazi.. you have called yourself that for what reason I don`t understand... unlike you I don`t automatically associate nationalism with nazism.. my posture as you put it is not defensive or aggresive(unlike yours seems to be).. as for my Faith I merely do what Jesus instructed in The Bible... if you choose not to believe that is your right as God gave us free will, however I reserve the right to say what I believe, and I don`t damn those who don`t believe that Je$sus is the son of God... that will happen on the day of judgement... and mine is Faith NOT religion... if that makes me a terrorist then I plead guilty... can you tell me where I have said that Ukrainian should not be the official languange of Ukraine which once again I say is a country I love(again you have chosen to ignore my previous statements stating my love of yhe country and the people regardless of the language they speak) and yet again you have failed to give an answer to my question re dual language.. after all over 30% of Ukrainians speak Russian as thier native tongue... and you seem tgo forget that my family both here and in Ukraine are Ukrainian or do you deny them that as they don`t speak Ukrainian???

[Hannia]

Nick,

Do you know that overuse of ellipsis points (those dot-dot-dot's) when posting, suggests faltering thought, accompanied by confusion, insecurity, distress, and uncertainty?

EOM

[nickcsadler]

Is that your response?????? that suggests you really aren`t sure of what you are saying???? my thoughts are not faltering, confused, insecure, distressed, or indeed uncertain!!!!! perhaps this describes your position rather than mine... and once again no response to my dual language suggestion... can I ask why????

[Hannia]

Nick,

There is nothing murky about my answer.

Ukraine is a multi-ethnic country, where everyone can speak whatever language they like, but the official language of the land should be Ukrainian, the language of the majority.
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You keep referring to a 30% minority, who refuses any status reversal of the Russian language from a dominant to a minority position. This is misleading. 16% of native Russian speakers in Ukraine have already learned Ukrainian and are fluent in the language, leaving you w/ less than 14% that refuse to learn Ukrainian.

There are also psychological factors that you prefer to ignore as well. These have a great importance , because the Ukrainian language is a national symbol of Ukrainians as an ethnic group. The Ukrainian language is also directly connected w/certain social and political attitudes. Ukrainian citizens who speak Ukrainian feel more integrated and connected to Ukraine and are less inclined to embrace the Russian Federation as Ukraine's big brother, who will not or does not violate their civil rights.
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In the last 18 yrs I have spent a great deal of time in both Western and Eastern Ukraine. I have yet to meet a native Ukrainian speaker, who cannot speak Russian. Why are the less than 14% so reluctant to learn Ukrainian?

Again, I do not advocate forbidding Russian as a spoken language, but I do not think it is to Ukraine's benefit to grant the Russian language anything more than minority status.

THE RUSSIAN LANGUAGE SHOULD HAVE NO OFFICIAL STATUS IN INDEPENDENT UKRAINE.

[nickcsadler]

Why are you SO against the Russian language... I have not advocated the abolition of Ukrainian and fully accept that it is the official language... however I do not accept a language that pretty much every Ukrainian speaks fluently should be mothballed... as for your statement saying you have yet to meet a Ukrainian that can`t speak Russian and less than 14% willing to learn Ukrainian... think about why Ukrainians speak Russian... they haven`t had to learn a completely new language as Russian was, formerly, their native tongue... for Russian speaking Ukrainians to learn Ukrainian may be very tough as it may be years since they have been in a learning environment and to learn a new language very similar to their own would be a huge commitment and for many beyond their means educationally, financially, and also timewise.

[IreneLviv]

....think about why Ukrainians speak Russian... they haven`t had to learn a completely new language as Russian was, formerly, their native tongue...
What do you mean by 'formerly their native tongue'??
Many young people in Lviv no more speak Russian since it has never been their native tongue, and then they no more study it at school or use in everyday life.
The Ukrainian language is but the only 'atttibute' of Ukraine surviving and cementing the nation. After all these years of suppression it needs preferential conditions for its development, otherwise it will be overshadowed, overwhelmed and finally annihilated by Russian

[sjoyce]

Hi Irene,
Just reading Kyiv post and there is now concern that the police are slowly getting out of control. What can possibly be next? I am beginning to fear for family! Do things in Western Ukraine seem to be o.k right now or is this Yanukonvict disease spreading?