Thread by @GicAriana

A lot of people won’t like this, but oh well.

I think most Ukrainians do not realize just how much the Soviets stripped and destroyed of Ukrainian language, culture, and tradition. Generations were Sovietized to such an extent that much was lost, especially in larger cities.

Many (not all) Ukrainians simply are unaware of how old, extensive, & rich UA culture is. The Soviets did such a good job of breeding a sense of inferiority that even what has remained is often not sufficiently valued, & eagerly cast off for “superior” Western commercial culture.

https://twitter.com/gicariana/status/1347654696442454016

Many Asian cultures are prized, and admired by outsiders. If more Ukrainians only knew how incredible and interesting many aspects of their tradition and culture are, they would cherish them more, do everything to boost, preserve, and protect all of it.

https://twitter.com/GicAriana/status/1347655811196203008

It does not help that most westerners champion “multiculturalism” in Ukraine. They don’t get that what they are really advocating for is a Russified and Sovietized Ukraine, deprived of ancient UA identity. They believe it is “progressive”, but it doesn’t actually work like that.

https://twitter.com/gicariana/status/1347656722282909696

The leaders of Ukraine who have been the country’s best hope of reform, liberal democracy, etc, were the 2 who were chastised for being “nationalist” for championing the revival of Ukrainian national identity & culture. It is in such a UA that genuine multiculturalism can thrive.

https://twitter.com/gicariana/status/1347658427603054593

Just remember: ONLY Presidents Yushchenko (first & foremost) and Poroshenko steered Ukraine Westward. They are the presidents who were tarred and feathered - even in western press - for being “nationalist”. Zelensky, by contrast, takes Ukraine to Moscow, and is a western darling.

https://twitter.com/gicariana/status/1347659729628246020

It is only those politicians who understand the importance of Ukraine’s national identity, language, and culture that want the country unified with the West, as a liberal democracy. Those who do not aim to make Ukraine Ukrainian, only aim to make it Russian. It’s that simple.

https://twitter.com/gicariana/status/1347661146988425224

Ukraine should not simply be a province of Russia that (for now) practices democracy. That is a Ukraine without its own Ukrainian national identity.

https://twitter.com/gicariana/status/1347661876814106626

If Ukraine is not Ukrainian, with citizens who honour and cherish and practice its culture, language, and tradition, one day, when Russia finally becomes some kind of a democracy, there will be no discernible difference between the two countries.

https://twitter.com/gicariana/status/1347667019685122054

And if there is no discernible difference between the two countries, Ukraine will be swallowed whole by its historical and modern day oppressor and aggressor.

https://twitter.com/GicAriana/status/1347667616643637248