Kyiv Mayoral Election

[is5512]

While I recognise that it is up to Ukrainians to decide what is appropriate for Ukraine (and Kyivans for Kyiv) and that to try to impose my standards would be arrogant and inappropriate, I do favor Step's argument...

...and I remain amused by something I read in Andrew Wilson's "The Ukrainians: Unexpected Nation." Discussing the Papal visit of 2001, Wilson notes, "A few monks and pensioners marched in protest, but most ordinary Ukrainians took the visit as a compliment - not least because the Pope spoke better Ukrainian than many government ministers."
--
A growing number of people where I live speak only Spanish. I have no problem with a politician reaching out to them in that language. I would, however, find it difficult to take the politician seriously if he hadn't bothered to learn the official language of the country in which he lives and is running for office.

[is5512]

This just in:

Campaign spending laws limit per-candidate spending to $100,000. In fact, election budgets averaged $25- to $40-million per.

Hey, I used to make math mistakes in my checkbook like that all the time before my bankruptcy.

[bm-21Lemko]

[stepanstas]

I am not saying that it will be easy to do, but it should be done over time.

It is easy to give up and say that "Well the eastern side of Ukraine has no hope". The truth is that you cant tell people who have been speaking russian for 50 years to start speaking Ukrainian. But if you push Ukrainian around them, then they will be interested in learning.

Ukrainian language is not dominant and it is very sad. I want to change that.

As far as young goes, TEACHERS IN UKRAINE SHOULD TEACH IN UKRAINIAN.

[is5512]

Originally Posted by Kathy

The difference is that those speaking Spanish chose to emigrate to an English speaking nation.

One might be tempted to think so. The animated discussions in various lunch rooms opened my eyes. There are those of Hispanic descent who have been in this country for generations...indeed, before that part of the country even *was* USA. My family chose to learn English (to varying degrees).

Originally Posted by Kathy

There are hundreds of thousands, perhaps more than a million Kyiyanins who do not speak Ukrainian. These changes do not occur overnight. Moreover, because of its large Russian minority, if Ukraine wishes to join the EU, it must give Russian minority language status.

I respect your position, even if our votes would cancel each other's out.

Originally Posted by Kathy

The more important issue is whether the mayoral candidate can govern effectively. I've heard Klitchko speak. I don't think he has the grey power to do this job. I wonder who is the power behind the throne.

We had Nixon. He sho' nuff did govern.

You don't suppose.....nah!

Would make an interesting thread, tho: Who's pulling the strings.