12 ms·
The Baltic Republics vs. the rest of the USSR. Just FYI, since I assume you're not very familiar with these countries: this kind of lumping together the so-ca
by einr 10y ago
The Baltic Republics vs. the rest of the USSR.
Just FYI, since I assume you're not very familiar with these countries: this kind of lumping together the so-called "Baltic Republics" with the "USSR" is generally very offensive to Estonians, Lithuanians and Latvians, who have nothing to do ethnically or culturally with Russia and generally view the Soviet era as very dark times.
Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania were invaded and taken by force because of geographical proximity to Russia. Nothing else. There are no relevant conclusions to be drawn by making comparisons like yours because these are different peoples with different histories and pretty much nothing in common.
- salamisultan 10y agoMuh privelege...
- crottypeter 10y agoIsn't that the point of the parent post? The two regions are very different.
- creshal 10y agoNo, because they never had any ties to Russia to begin with.
- BurningFrog 10y agoThey were part of Russia for several hundred years, gained independence in 1918 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Brest-Litovsk https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Brest-Litovsk) and were retaken by Stalin in 1939.
- einr 10y agoSo different indeed that the comparison is meaningless. That is my point. If you're going to draw conclusions from comparisons -- like the OP did with his coast/interior thing -- the things you're comparing have to be at least somewhat similar.
- DominikR 10y agoHe is highlighting the difference between these regions within the Soviet Union so what's the point of you comment other than signalling political correctness? I believe that this election signals if anything, a popular rejection of political correctness to the point where discussions can't be had anymore.
- the_duke 10y agocrottypeter is probably objecting to the "Croatia & Slovenia" vs Yugoslavia / UDSSR and other generalizations. Which no one familiar with these regions would formulate it that way. The world is big, it's hard not to generalize countries and cultures you barely know.
- nostrademons 10y agoI was a little perplexed by the parent comment as well since I thought I was highlighting differences, but I upvoted it because, well, I learned something. He was polite in his correction, at least. FWIW, coastal Democrats are equally offended with being lumped in with Trump supporters, Scots would probably be equally offended with being lumped in with English, and Croatians would be equally offended with being lumped in with Yugoslavians, so at least I'm an equal-opportunity offender.
- DominikR 10y agoMy parents came from Yugoslavia but I certainly wouldn't have been offended. I could give you information if I find that yours is wrong in some aspect but trying to guilt trip you for some offence that you certainly didn't intend to give seems wrong to me.
- WilliamDhalgren 10y agoA Croat here; I have no idea what you're talking about; Who the hell are Yugoslavians? Where does this ethnicity live? Before the breakup of Yugoslavia, some people identified as yugoslavian, yes - as one might identify as European today, but by far the majority of population identified as being one of yugoslavia's constituent ethnicities. After the breakup of Yugoslavia, practically nobody identifies as yugoslavian today - what would be the point, since that attempt at unification seems definitively dead to history now? I assume you meant "lumped with Serbs (as being Yugoslavian)?".
- oddx 10y agoEstonia, Latvia and Lithuania were parts of Russia for 300 years with small omissions. It is longer than the time of existence of the United States. So they have a lot cultural and ethnical similarity with Russia. But yes, they try to ignore it officially.
- DominikR 10y agoI believe Estonia and Latvia didn't even exist as a countries before the fall of the Soviet Union. Not even before the Russian Empire conquered these lands.
- p2t2p 10y agoWrong. Soviet Union was the first country which publicly recognised Latvia's independence back in 1920s. Yep, then they took it back in 1940s.
- kpil 10y agoTo nitpick, the Estonian and Latvian Nations have existed for almost 1000 years. The Nation-states are not that old, but there are many young nation-states in Europe.
- kbart 10y agoI was born and live in Lithuania. No, we don't have much in common with Russia. Sure, being occupied by Russia left some scars, but culturally and ethnically we are totally separate nation. USA and Mexico has about the same in common as we do with Russia. There are big Russian minorities in Estonia and Latvia, smaller in Lithuania, but that's another topic. EDIT: also, the fact that during the >150 years occupation we've managed to stay separate nation (despite huge efforts by Russia to integrate us) and keep our identity strong, says a lot of how different we are.
- kislotnik 10y agoDon't forget Ukraine, bro. Now we're trying to keep distance from Russia as far as we can. We had some shared history, but that's only because of our geographical proximity. Everything else - culture, traditions, ideas, language, folklore and literature is different.
- konart 10y ago>folklore and literature is different. >traditions Excuse me, but this is complete bullshit. >some shared history Unlike some other countries Ukraine was almost never independent.
- cik2e 10y agoFolklore, maybe not, but Ukraine does have it's own literature. Anyway, the point he is making is valid. Ukraine is fighting hard to get out from under Russia's boot.
- konart 10y agoI wasn't saying Ukraine doesn't have it's own literature though.
- qaq 10y agoYou are conveniently pretending that a fringe region that overtook it's founding metropoly is somehow entitled to the history and culture of that metropoly. If US annexed England it would not suddenly become a nation with a 1000+ year history.
- kislotnik 10y agothis. cannot upvote more, it's the actual reason we've been harassed for so many years - to make the history shared.
- konart 10y agoNo, nobody is saying that about Russia\Ukraine. Modern Russia comes from were we pushed mongols away and from Grand Duchy of Moscow (est. 1283). This, however, can't change the fact the Kievan Rus' (fell 1240) is the root for both countries. All I was saying is that we do share more than some people thing or want to believe, just because of the recent events.
- guard-of-terra 10y agoThey were a part of Russian Empire for quite some time. Also Latvian sharpshooters were the driving armed force behind communists. Soviet state was a catastrophe you don't get to opt out.
- dang 10y agoWe detached this subthread from https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=12907882 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=12907882 and marked it off-topic.