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Music and Art at the Ukrainian Institute of America
Posted by Roman on October 28, 2000 at 16:32:53:
In Reply to: I can't believe what you are saying!!! posted by Ralph on October 28, 2000 at 16:06:43:
Ralph,
how old are you? hwo old are you ro make accusations to others?
first, I am really offended and I will never reply you with the things you poured on me.
second, I would like to stop hearing from you from now on if you are an intelligent person.
third, I have my personal opinion as for Lviv people. I am personally born in Kharkov and spent 20 years of my life in that Russian speaking city. I perfectly speak Ukrainian but prefer not to switch into it in day-to-day conversations. Same thing in Lviv. I never speak Ukrainian in Lviv and never have problems. I do speak Ukrainian during official meetings and when I want to. But not forcedly. never.
I know everything what you are speaking about. To my mind the --Russian phobia-- is artificially imposed through the western ukrainian mass media. If you speak to ordinary people you will not encounter any problems with language. Especially if you are a foreigner.
I actually wanted to have a beer with you in Kiev but now I am not really for that idea before you apologize.
Yours,
Roman
: Wow, it is hard to believe that anyone from Ukraine would say what you are saying!!
: Having traveled to Lviv and Western Ukraine a few times, I was shocked to see how the people of Western Ukraine felt about anyone who spoke Russian. Being an American I had no problems as everyone accepted my poor attempt to speak. These people were always very friendly and kind to me, but I was shocked to witness grown people, speaking Russian to another person and people completely ignoring the individuals speaking Russian. Once these Russian speaking people realized why they were being ignored and started talking Ukraine, the other people started talking to them. My driver told me that this was quite common and understood in Western Ukraine. You need to speak Ukraine in Western Ukraine he said. If you speak in Russian, people will ignore you.
: I would not even comment on your message if I had not seen this for myself and told this by many people. Hard to believe you are so blind or stupid not to know this and you indicate to other readers that it is no problem.
: Stupidity will get you in trouble Roman!!