The following article was linked during yesterdays' discussions here:
http://www.nationofchange.org/ukraine-s-civil-strife-not-about-language-1395150464
It seems OK by and large. But there are some points which are not
correct (either just plain wrong or badly stated). Here are two:
1.While it is true that the cancellation of the Kivalov-Kolisnichenko
language law (the KK law for short) on February 23 was a political
error, since this was done hurriedly and without proper preparation or
explanation, one cannot simply describe this KK law as "a declaratory
instrument to protect minority languages". It was rather a frontal
assault on the priority of Ukrainian as THE SOLE state language in
Ukraine, guaranteed by the Ukrainian Constitution, many of whose
provisions (KK) were in direct conflict with that Constitution, and
also filled with smaller contradictions. It was designed to elevate
Russian everywhere as practically a second state language, which could
even de facto replace Ukrainian in certain areas of the country. The
law was roundly criticized by the Ukrainian intelligentsia and
constitutional as well as linguistic experts. Its authors were rather
odious personalities. Kolisnichenko is a Ukrainian "pereverten'"
(traitor) who has since defected to the Russians, and Kivalov was a
Russian Ukrainophobe from Odesa, better known as "Pidrakhuy" ("Numbers
falsifier") who was responsible for the first count in the
Presidential election of 2004 which gave the Presidency to Yanukovich
and resistance to which developed into the first Maidan and the Orange
Revolution.
The KK law was nevertheless foisted upon Ukraine by the Yanukovich
regime. In response to the criticism, the Khan gave his usual lying
promises that the law would be changed or improved (which assurance
was supported by the Khan's Goebbels, "agent Theresa" to wit Ms.
German (Herman). Nothing was done of course and the KK law was in
force from the summer of 2012 and even to this day.
A committee has been formed in the Rada to formulate a new language
law for Ukraine in line with the Constitution (which includes
recognition of all reasonable linguistic rights for minorities). When
that is passed, this KK law will finally go where it belongs, the
dustbin of history.
2. The use of the expression "Kiev, mother of Russian cities" in the
article is an echo of the imperial Russian position, which "borrowed",
and falsified a famous adage in the Old Ukrainian chronicles. The
adage referred to the position of Kyiv as the metropolis of all the
territories of mediaeval Rus', and has nothing to do with Russia or
contemporary Russians, or indeed their language. Unfortunately the
English language cannot easily distinguish between the expressions
"russkij" and "rossijskij". The former term should hence be translated
as the irregular form "Rus'" and the latter reserved for "Russia".
The Russian word "russkij" (double -s-) did not exist until the 15th
c. and was originally an adaptation of the Old Ukrainian "rus'kyj"
(single -s-) as applied to ecclesiastical identity. The secular
"Rusyn" was never used by the Russians.
Indeed their political development owed more to the Mongol Empire than
to Rus', since the cradle of the state, Moscow, emerged as an
administrative entity with an autonomous princely line rather late, in
the 2nd half of the 13th century. I don't want to get into much detail
here about the practices and success of this (eventually)
Slavic-speaking and Orthodox Mongol ulus. Suffice to say that "Kyiv
"mother of Rus' cities" had nothing to do with it, until the
Metropolitan of Kyiv (who happened to be a Galician!) moved his see
there in 1326. As for our Kyiv, the Russian language did not exist
there until 1654, and was in a minority position (competing with
Polish too) until the mid-19th century. The Russification of the city
then became intense, and was only shaken somewhat during the period of
Ukrainianization in the 1920's. After the Holodomor, Stalinist
repressions etc. etc, Ukrainian was almost absent except at home and
in intellectual circles (roughly speaking). Not until the independence
of 1991 did it start to make a comeback, and the article's comment
about it being heard as much as Russian on the streets of Kyiv is
merely the current stage of that comeback.
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