Michael Ignatieff- Anti Ukrainian?
"My difficulty in taking Ukraine seriously goes deeper than just my cosmopolitan suspicion of nationalists everywhere. Somewhere inside I'm also what Ukrainians would call a great Russian and there is just a trace of old Russian disdain for these little Russians" from Ignatieff's book Blook and Belonging
He wouldn't get my vote if he was running in my riding.
posted by canadianwild.ca @ 11/29/2005 05:49:00 PM
4 comments
4 Comments:
Thanks for pointing that out.
My Ukrainian Great Great Grandmother Did not almost drowned in the Atlantic, nearly starve to death in northern Saskatchewan, and raise a family for 80 years to be slandered by a privileged Pro-Bush mouthpiece. An integral part of Canadian history involved these "little Russians" contending with the English language, planting fields and fighting sicknesses like tape worms and scurvy. I will never know what it’s like to live through all of that. Perhaps if I wear a “peasant embroidered shirt” I will have some Idea, right Michael? Whether she realized it or not my Great Great Grandmother worked hard so I didn’t have to; that was her gift to me.
Historically the Ukraine has struggled; even their anthem hints to this by proclaiming "Ukraine's glory has not perished". Many Robust Ukrainians were successful in Canada because they were survivors and saw opportunity where others saw wilderness. Living hand to mouth when the winter came was accepted by my ancestor as a necessary sacrifice to give -me- a better future. While Ignatieff maintains that his ethnic slurs are out of context, This "Great Russian" must at least appreciate the enormous contribution the Bread Basket of Europe has made to Russia; whether it wanted to or not.
It is unfortunate that Ignatieff attempts to adorn the adjective liberal in his professional life. But if he even -tries- to seek the leadership the Liberal party it should be offensive to anyone left in that organization that conceders them self to be tolerant.
Hopefully Ignatieff's anti-Ukrainian views will be brought out into the open during the next election and the usual airing of the dirty laundry politics. Someone with this mentality towards Ukraine or any country that sought freedom from their oppressors should not be in any political arena, much less a potential leader of a democratic society.
I realize this may get deleted as you may disagree with it, but it needs to be said.
If you read the book, Ignatieff is clearly going through a bit of introspection. He's acknowledging the prejudices that he was raised to believe and trying to battle them. We all have our nationalist prejudices, and until we name them, and acknowledge them for what they are, they will continue to influence our judgement.
Take a look at what he's done since then in regards to Ukraine.
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