"Ukraine" or "the Ukraine" and what difference it makes

Some time ago at class I spoke a little about "Ukraine" or "the Ukraine" question and the controversy it raises. Now I'd like to discuss it more deeply.

This problem was described in some periodicals during Euro 2012 and at the time of Euromaidan or Ukrainian crisis. For example, there is The Washington Post's article ""Ukraine" or "the Ukraine"? It's more controversial than you think" which was written just after the annexation of Crimea. It was the time when the name "Ukraine" often appeared in media, in political speeches and just in everyday conversation. The author of this article notices that even important political figures like President Obama or Mitt Romney used the construction "the Ukraine".

However, putting "the" before "Ukraine" isn't just a question of grammar. It has some political, historical and social background.  Back in the Soviet Union it was a part of a big country. That's why "the " was placed before its name. Now Ukraine is independent and referring to it as "the Ukraine" whether it's accidentally or not, looks like treating my country as second-rate and inferior.

"I don’t want to say it's derogatory, but it’s putting it in a subordinate position," William B. Taylor Jr., the U.S. ambassador to Ukraine from 2006 to 2009 commented on this issue. "When you talk about 'the Ukraine,' that suggests that you really don’t think that Ukraine is a sovereign independent country."

It may be just a detail, but it plays an important role in perception of my country by foreigners.
So, please, remember that it's "Ukraine". It's not a part of Soviet Union anymore, but it's sovereign, independent and united Ukraine.

Writing can be fun!

Yes, even it's a school assignment. I realized it myself after attending Tiffany Debicka's writing seminar last week.

Surprisingly enough, writing of a big academic paper can be described by four simple words: exploring, planning, drafting and revising. The teacher introduced to us all these steps in a very simple way. Before the seminar the whole process of writing of a big paper was a great unknown for me. But thanks to Tiffany, it doesn't scare me anymore.

And would like to mention two things from the seminar that impressed me most.

The first one is freewriting. I totally liked it! Actually, I knew about this technique before, but for some reason I've never used it. But from now on, I surely will. Honestly, it's such a fun to put down everything that goes to your mind without revising it. By the way, recently, I read an interesting article about freewritng. It claimed that while writing we use to revise different ideas in our minds before putting it down. However, often we dismiss some brilliant thoughts just because at the first glance they looked inappropriate. So, all these good but unorganised ideas flee from our head and never came back. Freewritng can help us to avoid it.

 And the second thing I particularly liked is the movies we discussed. Frankly speaking, I've never been much into the movie industry. I'm definitely "a book person". I prefer to create the images of settings and heroes by myself rather than give this privilege to filmmakers. So, from times to times during our classes I was like, "What they are talking about?" However, I must admit, that a lot of movies I heard about on this seminar sounded very interesting. So, I guess, I have to catch up :)

Ukraine in Obama's 2015 State of the Union Address and some reflections on it

Two days ago, on January 20th, Barack Obama gave his annual State of the Union Address in which he announced his plans for his last two years in office. The president discussed improved economic situation, talked about education and cyber safety and proposed new taxations for Wall Street companies. Moreover, he discussed some important international conflicts and commented on the situation in Ukraine in his speech.

 "We’re demonstrating the power of American strength and diplomacy.  We’re upholding the principle that bigger nations can’t bully the small -- by opposing Russian aggression, and supporting Ukraine’s democracy, and reassuring our NATO allies", Obama said.

 Also the president mentioned sanctions that were imposed on Russia by American and EU governments in order to support Ukraine. He compared Russian and American economic situation and their definitions of strength.

"Last year, as we were doing the hard work of imposing sanctions along with our allies, as we were reinforcing our presence with frontline states, Mr. Putin’s aggression it was suggested was a masterful display of strategy and strength.  That's what I heard from some folks.  Well, today, it is America that stands strong and united with our allies, while Russia is isolated with its economy in tatters.  That’s how America leads -- not with bluster, but with persistent, steady resolve", President added.

 The speech showed that Obama believes in the power of diplomacy and negotiations more than in weapon. He spoke about withdrawal of the US troops in Afghanistan and reduction of armed forces in Iraq as a great achievement. However, these words in a way disappointed Ukrainians who waited for the US Army to interfere into the war on the East of Ukraine.

 American president tries to be a peacemaker and I admire it. I really do. Nevertheless, day by day I hear about more and more soldiers, civilians, women and children getting killed. At such moments I and many other Ukrainians, so desperately wish American or NATO forces to land in Eastern Ukraine and help us to win this war. 

We believe in peace. We proved it during our revolutions and Crimea crisis. But sometimes, forgive me Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King for saying so, peace just doesn't work.

"The Orange Chronicles": Ukrainian Revolutions, part 1

I'm extremely happy to tell that after long search I finally found the last movie for my B.A. paper. It's going to be "The Orange Chronicles".

“The Orange Chronicles” is a documentary made by Damian Kolodiy, an American filmmaker with Ukrainian roots. He came to Ukraine as an ellection observer and got in the centre of civil movement. His documentary presents the beginning of the revolution which was caused by corruption and fraid at the presidential election, development of the protest and its result, a new elections. The movie shows Ukrainians who participated in the Orange Revolution and their non-violent fight for justice. Moreover, the documentary follows Damian's Eastern Ukraine tour and shows a perspective of those people who opposed the revolution.

That’s how the author himself comments on his documentary and his own experience of the Orange Revolution:

“I went to Ukraine knowing that the stakes were high, with a feeling that something there was building, but never expected the joyous explosive expression for freedom that resulted. I was amazed at the unification of people at that time, the level of community that existed throughout, strangers looking out for strangers, and that such huge mass mobilizations remained non-violent. For me, it reaffirmed some really positive things about humanity that seemed to have been forgotten.

Traveling to russified eastern Ukraine was an eye opener; seeing the divisions in interpretation of truth, the role that media plays in influencing perception, and how easy it is for Russia to exploit divisions in Ukraine. Russia continues to play the imperialistic aggressive neighbor, and do whatever it can to thwart Ukraine's westward integration. I hope that the film serves as a reminder to all of the power of people in pursuit of freedom.”

These passages very clearly express the main idea of this movie.The documentary present Ukrainians as enthusiastic and freedom-loving people who are willing to struggle for a better future for their country.

I’d like to add that I’m very happy that my paper will discuss such an amazing event in Ukrainian history as the Orange Revolution. It was the time of unity and dignity for our nation. And this event has a great meaning for me personally. I was only nine when the revolution took place, but I remember so well all the feelings I had about it. For the first time I realized that I am Ukrainian, I am the part of this great nation and I was so proud of it. And I still am.

Even though, President Yuschenko didn’t justify the confidence Ukrainian people put in him and showed himself as a weak man, this revolution proved that we, Ukrainians, are very strong nation.

“The Simpsons” and its “Little Ukraine”

 

“The Simpsons” is considered to be the longest-running sitcom on American TV. It has been broadcast in Ukraine for a very long time, too. Nevertheless, I had never watched a single episode of this show thinking of it as foolish, before I found out that there is an episode about Ukraine. And I just couldn’t pass it by.

In general, this episode is not so much about Ukraine, but about our former President Victor Yanukovych. He is depicted as a not very smart mafia boss (which is, by the way, a true fact) from Kyiv, who kidnaps Homer and hide him in “Little Ukraine”,  a Springfield’s district where Ukrainian diaspora lives.

All the place names here have references to Ukrainian history. For example, there is a “Tsarbucks” coffee shop, “Hot to Trotsky’s” ice skating ring, clothes shop called “Cossacks Fifth Avenue” and mental health center “Insane in the Ukraine”.

One more interesting hero of this episode is Victor’s wife and our former first lady, Lyudmyla. She appears on the screen only for a few seconds to hear from Victor that she must stay in her room. This tiny episode shows that the screenwriter has to know some details of Yanukovych’s family life. The thing is that Yanukovych really tried to hide his wife from the press. The reason for it was the fact that every time she appeared on public she made a fool of herself wearing unsuitable clothes and talking a complete nonsense.

After watching this episode I was amazed how familiar the screenwriter of the show is with details of Ukrainian history and politics. Also, it is worth to mention that the episode was released in 2011, just a year after Yanukovych became a President and at that time he wasn’t criticised so much.

And, by the way, few days ago I read another article describing how sitcom’s creators made fun of Putin and his imperial ambitions in one of the latest episodes of “The Simpsons”. So, it looks like I underestimated this show.