Tuesday, November 30, 2021

BBC's take on what it means to be Ukrainian

"Ukraine is not Russia."   

No, it's not the same language. Yes, it uses a similar alphabet but that doesn't mean I can understand it. English uses the same alphabet as French but they are not the same language. 

And it is not the same culture. How to explain to people that Ukraine and Russia are very different cultures? Russia is more oriental in orientation, more Mongol. Ukraine is more Slavic and Nordic. They are different worlds. Much like Ireland and England. Ireland is Celtic, while England is Norman. 

And Russians tried to wipe Ukrainians off the face of the earth. Read about Holodomor and you'll understand the collective memory. 

For once, the BBC got it mostly right. Many thanks, BBC. 

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-37169341

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