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For the past three decades, the Ukrainians have been doing to ethnic Russians what she accuses Putin of trying to do to Ukrainians. ... I have sympathy for the

For the past three decades, the Ukrainians have been doing to ethnic Russians what she accuses Putin of trying to do to Ukrainians. ... I have sympathy for the Ukrainians who suffered, but I have just as much sympathy for the Russians who suffered. It extremely, extremely difficult to see how one can even begin to consider the respective "baskets" of suffering under discussion here: - The body of (we will acknowledge) obnoxious restrictions on the use of the Russian language in official and commercial contexts; versus - Easily 4,000+ civilians killed (in just the past three months), not to mention all the rapes, mutilations, destruction of entire cities (did we mention the theatre in Mariupol, even)?, and the displacement of millions; combined with official statements at the highest levels of the Russian government blatantly stating their intention to wipe Ukrainian identity and culture off the map As being anywhere near comparable, in either scale or moral or psychological impact.

wrp 4y ago
...the Ukrainians have been doing to ethnic Russians what she accuses Putin of trying to do to Ukrainians... In my post, I did not equate cultural suppression with physical violence. She accused Putin of currently trying to eliminate Ukrainian culture. I said that Ukrainians since 1991 have been trying to eliminate Russian culture within Ukraine.
- akhmatova 4y ago
  It is definitely hyperbole to suggest that's Putin's goal, as described by the author (the overt obliteration of Ukrainian identity) is comparable to the even the worst and stupidest of the "official status" legislation passed in recent years. In my post, I did not equate cultural suppression with physical violence. As for as what's coming from the Russian side -- since Feb 24 of this year, the two have become inseparable. Russia's efforts at suppression of Ukrainian identity aren't merely legislative, and they aren't enforced by civil fines and such. They're backed by cold-blooded murder of thousands of civilians, in front of the cameras, in broad daylight. That's why there's no comparison between the spate of misguided legislative shenanigans in recent years in Ukraine - and the overt obliteration of Ukrainian identity that Putin is seeking to accomplish.

wrp 4y ago

...the Ukrainians have been doing to ethnic Russians what she accuses Putin of trying to do to Ukrainians... In my post, I did not equate cultural suppression with physical violence. She accused Putin of currently trying to eliminate Ukrainian culture. I said that Ukrainians since 1991 have been trying to eliminate Russian culture within Ukraine.

akhmatova 4y ago
It is definitely hyperbole to suggest that's Putin's goal, as described by the author (the overt obliteration of Ukrainian identity) is comparable to the even the worst and stupidest of the "official status" legislation passed in recent years. In my post, I did not equate cultural suppression with physical violence. As for as what's coming from the Russian side -- since Feb 24 of this year, the two have become inseparable. Russia's efforts at suppression of Ukrainian identity aren't merely legislative, and they aren't enforced by civil fines and such. They're backed by cold-blooded murder of thousands of civilians, in front of the cameras, in broad daylight. That's why there's no comparison between the spate of misguided legislative shenanigans in recent years in Ukraine - and the overt obliteration of Ukrainian identity that Putin is seeking to accomplish.