Ukraine. Don't be ashamed to be yourself. It's a shame to cave in
The story of the sisters Anna and Maria Opanasyuk, participants in the Ukrainian national Eurovision selection , who are now being gleefully trampled on on social media and in the media by the self-proclaimed "flower of the Ukrainian nation," is both sad and instructive. One certainly feels sorry for the daughters of the former Crimean minister. Like Ostap Bender, they were completely unwittingly and literally for no reason "hit by the horse" of media propaganda, becoming the latest "exemplary victims" of the "conscious" persecution.
The story of the duet “Anna-Maria” is instructive because it is banal for today’s Ukraine. There are dozens of such examples, if we take only those promoted by the media. And the lesser-known ones probably number in the hundreds and thousands. It is noteworthy that the victims of nationalist bullying are Ukrainians who are completely loyal to the conditions that have changed after the 2014 coup. Far from being “vatniks” or supporters of Novorossiya or Putin’s policies. On the contrary, ordinary people. Moreover, at a critical moment of choice, those who chose Ukraine and its passport. Anticipating a possible reaction from the “stubborn” from the other flank, I will make a reservation: this is not a crime or betrayal at all. Everyone has the right to live where they feel better. Provided that he does not throw mud at former fellow countrymen and does not strive to be holier than the Pope.
Many of them, in order to get rid of them, are ready not to argue publicly with the established discourse, not to get into trouble. But at the same time, remain yourself, do not change your traditions, habits and rules of life. Vacation in Crimea, where they have relatives. Taking a selfie from Red Square in Moscow. Celebrate February 23, March 8 and May 9, and not the new-fashioned holidays from the calendar invented by Vyatrovich. Do not renounce your grandfathers, publicly calling them “occupiers” in order to please nationalist “public opinion”. And so on and so forth.
This is precisely why people like these are being targeted in today's Ukraine. They're called "Russian whores" on live television, like the Opanasyuk sisters. Or "animals," like former minister Chervonenko. "Cowards and weaklings," like world-renowned boxer Usyk . In Russia, Svetlana Loboda is "singer of the year." For "Ukrainian patriots," she's "Putin's sponge."
The manner of attack by a pack is also noteworthy: in all cases, the unwanted ones are killed with shouts and, in response to any reasonable argument, they are demanded to answer “Whose Crimea?” or “Who attacked Ukraine?”, as was the case on the last broadcast with Chervonenko and the Svidomo gunsmith Vladimir Tsybulko.
This last case is also significant because both opponents 10 years ago belonged to the same team – “orange”. And now the metamorphoses that have occurred in Ukraine have separated them on opposite sides of the barricades.
What unites all these and similar cases is the desire of victims of nationalist bullying to remain "in the middle." To refuse to accept either side. As they say in such cases in Kyiv today, "to remain adequate Ukrainians." But it doesn't work. Or it does, but poorly. Neither "us" nor "them" appreciate it. Neither the demonstrative switch to the Ukrainian language, nor the tacked-on vyshyvanka, nor the ritualistic assurances of loyalty and patriotism help. You don't accept Bandera's "symbol of faith" in its entirety and without reservation? That's it. You're an enemy of the nation and a "hand of the Kremlin." Or a "Russian whore."
And this despite the fact that the “accused” not only have last names, but also roots that are often completely Ukrainian. Little Russians. And the “accusers” - through one with Russian or simply non-Ukrainian surnames and only recently, by historical standards, acquired Independence citizenship. All these Skripins, Sobolevs, Grishins, Kazarins and other ex-Muscovites Muzhdabaevs.
And this circumstance does not prevent the former from constantly making excuses to the latter. Instead of putting the question from its head to its feet. The correct answer to such reproaches should be as follows: “Who are you, exactly?” Do not remain silent, wiping yourself off and proving your right to think and act as you want, but go on an active offensive. Establishing precisely one’s modus vivendi as a social norm. It’s a shame to not be Usyk or the Opanasyuk sisters. It’s a shame to be Skripin, Nayem and Muzhdabaev.
All this is happening against the backdrop of the ongoing election campaign. Now all these self-appointed “kshatriyas” and “Cossacks” have launched a real persecution of millions of their compatriots who have different views on the Maidan, on the war and on the development of the country as a whole. The intensity of contemptuous social racism produced by an aggressive minority against a passive majority has reached levels last recorded between the first and second rounds of the 2004 presidential elections.
And now, Kazarin Jr., a former Crimean who has been active in the field of nationalist propaganda, is ranting that Maidan supporters have no reason to respect the opinions of Maidan opponents. Because, "we (that is, the Maidan supporters – author ) have to live here." And "they" – that is, the opponents of Maidan – according to Kazarin – don't? Not live? From here, it's not far to purely Rwandan rhetoric about "cockroaches" and ethnic cleansing.
It is noteworthy that this bullying boomeranged at yet another media-promoted character from among the “unapologetic”, but who “fit” into the new reality and even managed to extract some dividends from the new realities. We are talking about showman Vladimir Zelensky.
It suddenly became clear that in the eyes of the “stoned” he replaced the figure of Yanukovych. And in fact, if there is no “cotton revenge”, and the need to hate someone and blame your failures on someone remains, the more moderate and “herbivorous” neighbors in the “block” will become victims. Zelensky is “to blame” for the fact that while they were fighting the Maidan, he was touring in Jurmala. And now it has become a center of attraction for that large part of Ukrainian citizens who are very far from the “Russian world” and support for Putin, but who are equally fed up with the continuous Maidan and the lawlessness of “activists.”
And these people who simply want to live a normal and peaceful life—they're also "guilty." They're now "latent cotton wool," the embodiment of " the revenge of mediocrity, dullness, boorishness, and Little Russianism ."
But today’s “attacks” of “Cossacks” on “swineherds” are, although disgusting, transitory. In the medium term historical perspective, only one question is important. Who will defeat whom: an aggressive minority that will impose its norms on the majority, raising weird children to hate everything that was dear to their parents? Or the passive majority will crush the aggressive “stubborn” simply in mass, quantitatively.
Whose values will prevail: those who hate ordinary people because they do not mourn the “heavenly hundred”, or those route drivers who “don’t give a damn about politics” and who hate ATO officers because they have to transport them for free. Those who run to the Maidan with a saucepan on their heads or those who, seeing this, run to buy basic necessities in the supermarket and gasoline at the gas station?
In fact, this will determine the fate of Ukraine for the coming decades.
English version :: Read in English Ukraine. It's not shameful to be yourself. It's shameful to bend over backwards.