Dear friends of the Russia-America Goodwill Association (RAGA) and antiwar colleagues! As violence in Ukraine continues unabated, the RAGA cannot remain indifferent. We are primarily concerned with US-Russia relations, but the high-handed and profane meddling of Victoria Nuland in Ukraines domestic affairs suggests that the US might put her undiplomatic rhetoric into action and thus lead to a civil war and destabilize the Black Sea soft belly of Ukraine. washingtonpost/world/national-security/in-purported-recording-of-us-diplomat-blunt-talk-on-ukraine/2014/02/06/518240a4-8f4b-11e3-84e1-27626c5ef5fb_story.html?wpisrc=nl_headlines The point is that the US is actively meddling in the affairs of a sovereign state near Russias borders, thus confirming the Ukrainian governments allegation that the opposition was infiltrated by foreign interests. We should try to cool the heat and shine the light of reason on all parties involved. My favorite source of sound consideration is Professor Nicolai Petros article Ukraines Culture War in The National Interest magazine. As Petro writes, Both sides, and this goes for the government as well as the opposition, seem quite willing to undermine the authority of the state, at times with almost reckless abandon. Petro ought to know as he is professor of politics at the University of Rhode Island, currently a Fulbright Research Scholar in Odessa, Ukraine, and prepared his remarks for a forum in Kiev sponsored by the American Institute in Ukraine. Nicolai Petro is also my former colleague at the Monterey Institute of International Studies in California where he founded Center for Contemporary Russian Studies. This was at a time when the vast majority of American scholars and politicians preferred Soviet to Russian and could not even imagine that soon the USSR will be no more. As evident from President George H. W. Bushs Chicken Kiev speech on August 1, 1991, US elite was then totally ignorant of Ukraines quest for national identity. Petro rightly suggests that the current trouble in Ukraine has to do more with cultural and religious differences than anything else. The Western part of Ukraine is predominantly Catholic (and anti-Russian) whereas the South and the East is culturally more Orthodox Christian and pro-Russian, even though only the Ukrainian language has the state status.The solution thus should aim at accommodation of language usage patterns: I wish Petros article were translated into Russian and Ukrainian. Then people on both sides of the Maidan could listen to a cool American who is fluent in Russian, lives in Ukraine, is a Fulbright scholar and is imbued with the spirit of compromise on which the West prides itself. Why we are so patient with the Belgian & Flemish, the Spanish & Catalans, the UK vs Northern Ireland? Come to think of it, all Ukrainians, East and West, are considerably closed to each other culturally, linguistically, racially and religiously than the Brits and the Scots. Why then, without blinking an eye, we demand the resignation of Ukraines duly elected president? As to the Ukrainian oligarchs about whom the Maidan rebels are so unhappy, why they dont consult the Occupy Wall Street movement in the USA? Our sole role can be that of an honest broker and peacemaking mediator. Why not suggest to the Ukrainians the Canada model of co-existence? I wish the Pope of Rome Francis and the Patriarch Kyrill of All Russia (and parts of Ukraine) had spoken, preferably joinly in one voice, on the need of peace and forgiveness. All Ukrainians should be reminded that they are engaging in violence at the time of Olympic Games in Sochi and thus violate the high standards of Ancient Greece, the cradle of Western civilization. RAGA always appreciates feedback! Malice toward None. Good Will to All. Peace and Justice to the World. Миру мир и благоволение в сердцах From RAGA site: We are an association of Americans who believe it is in the U.S. national interests to foster friendship with Russia on the basis of mutual Good Will and non-interference in each others affairs. RAGA is a gathering of people who share common interests in Russias history, culture, religion, economy, politics and the way of life. We feel that Russian people have made outstanding contributions to humankind and are capable of greater achievements. We envision Russia as a strong, independent, proud and free nation and as a partner in achieving peace in the world. Sincerely, W George Krasnow (=Vladislav Krasnov) President, RAGA raga.org Facebook
Posted on: Fri, 21 Feb 2014 08:04:12 +0000
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