tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25230932.post2163390113255411189..comments2023-10-06T10:10:06.982-04:00Comments on La Russophobe: EDITORIAL: Russian History Takes Another BeatingLa Russophobehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05672264388217953086noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25230932.post-57302796876225867502008-05-19T22:26:00.000-04:002008-05-19T22:26:00.000-04:00This is the sadness of Russia today, that they are...This is the sadness of Russia today, that they are still mired in 60 year old Stalinist-era lies. If Professor Richter would spend some time in Ukraine, he would discover that Ukraine is undergoing a painful exploration of its past, one that is not always complimentary, as is neighboring Poland. Beginning in the 1930s the OUN and UPA waged an ugly struggle with the <I>Sanacja</I> regime in Poland, which reciprocated in kind with bloodshed. During the war there was a low grade but brutal war between UPA and the Polish AK with atrocities against civilians by both sides. In the 1947 Poland retaliated against continued UPA activity by deporting 500,000 Ukrainians and Lemko from Bieszczady in southeastern Poland. How do I know all this? Because Poland and Ukraine are modern civilized countries and we allow scholars to study and publish the truth. It's not always pleasant, but it's the only way forward. Poland and Ukraine have hung plaques to each others' victims, set up reconciliation meetings with veterans and supported recognition of mutual cultural events where our histories overlap in places like Lwów/Lviv or Jarosław/Yaroslav. And no, the CIA isn't involved. We're just two countries who recognize that although we haven't always gotten along, we need to now. <BR/><BR/>When Professor Jan T. Gross published his book <I>Sąsiedzy</I> ("Neighbors") about Polish atrocities against Jews during the war in the village of Jedwabne there was a public uproar and denials, but after a few years of study a government commission supported most of Gross' allegations and provided evidence -- a very unpopular move. No one likes to learn unpleasant things about their country, but no country is a saint. The crucial difference is that in Poland, the government uses professional scholarship to support the truth, even when that truth does not reflect well on Poland. In Russia, the government is still in 1950s mode, suppressing the truth of what Russians have done to themselves and others, and painting a pretty lie of the Russians as a Cinderella-like nation. And yet Russians get angry and defensive when they realize they are the pariah of their neighborhood...Tomekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00589651700779715876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25230932.post-63206399068781115892008-05-18T13:54:00.000-04:002008-05-18T13:54:00.000-04:00In Ukraine today, there is a day of remembrance fo...In Ukraine today, there is a day of remembrance for the people who were victims of the political repressions of the 1930's and 1940's. Flags are at half staff.<BR/><BR/>Story in Ukrainian here:<BR/>http://5.ua/newsline/184/0/50757/<BR/><BR/>In Russia - political repression continues.<BR/><BR/>They simply haven't learned from their brutal historyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com