Yes, Russian used to be seen up until 2004 as a more educated and higher class language. After 2004, Ukrainians began to no longer view Ukrainian as a village language and instead many Russian speaking Ukrainians began to take pride in learning the language and being able to speak it.
It's a beautiful language and close to Russian so they should pick up on it quickly. There's still an imperial complex there. Russian pop culture and media still largely dominates and for example the two main political show are hosted by Russophones.
I don't agree with that. The Canada comparison might be apt here. Canadians consume large amounts of American pop culture and media, but they have their own distinct versions and are quite proud of them. You just don't realize it until you go to Canada, or Ukraine in this case. Most American movies on TV are in ukrainian. They have their own shows from Kiev. Heck some channels have even started dubbing Russian in Ukrainian, which is really funny.
I allowed this post to marinate before engaging. 1) "A prospective run at a history Ph. D." That's interesting because I'm currently finishing up my B.A. in history. Well, two more years left at UC Davis and I'll assess my prospects for making a "propsective run" from there. It seems to be such a fickle profession. Not only does one need to possess ability, patience, and research perseverance-but luck seems to be a major part of the equation. As any liberal arts major, anxiety over employment is ever present. I have a 9-5 job and hate it, so I decided to go back to school and pursue the "dream." Self-actualization is the goal. I'll keep you posted and let you know how I'm self-actualizing. 2) The trend in historical studies has been one, recently at least, of fragmentation. The historical society was created, in part, to be the intrepid defender of more broader historical research. The historical industry also focuses on fragmented history. Notice the number of history books that take one event under a microscope and claim that said event was the catalyst for bigger, more profound events. Case in pointL: "1831." 3) As for narritive history books; I will agree that their sources and information seem a little far fetched. I've been reading "Red Mutiny" (historical acount of the Battleship Potemkin) and the book (novel) mentions specific details and conversations by a number of different personas that are linked to the event. It's really intimate information that would rarely be recorded, much less preserved. I've been meaning to check this guys sources but who the hell has time for that! Void of personal interactions among the different array of characters, the book offers a great deal of insight into the events and the state of Russia in the early 20th century. Thanks to the book, I have begun to understand, and justify, the ruthless provocations of the Bolsheviks.
Belgium would be a good example of how horrible a bilingual country can function. Since rbubela was trying to say Ukraine could work with two languages, Belgium would be a bad example to use.
Yes, because it at least functions. But the Swiss have a strong national identity that transcends language. Belgium is a country that can barely function and whose future integrity is at least questionable.
I do not understand what you mean by "Belgium is a country that can barely function". I mean I do not hear of any inter-ethnic clashes, pogroms, linguistic crises in Belgium. I thought Belgium is as boring as it gets!
They have not had a government for 450 days. http://articles.boston.com/2011-09-06/news/30119699_1_belgium-new-government-socialists
And the world is not coming to an end. No bodies in the streets (at least not that I know of) Neither the Flemmish nor the Vallonians are having the problems like do the ethnic Armenians in Azerbaijan and vice verse, do they?
Yes because Belgium has a cleaner history and stronger institutions than either. There is a reason democracy works in some countries and not in others. The proper comparison is not Armenia and Azerbaijan, but holland and Luxembourg.
I also wonder what goes on inside the heads of people like that. I mean, do they really have no self awareness whatsoever?
I see that this thread is alive a kickin again. Just finished One Hundered Years of Solituted: Probably the best book I've read. Also finished Malcolm X's autobiography. Disappointed to say the least. Tremendous orator, no doubt, but the man is filled with endless contradictions. Working on Solzhenitsyn's Cancer Ward. I don't necessarily feel he's a great writer but his subject matter is riveting.