Comments on: Ukraine: A View From Crimea http://globalvoicesonline.org/2008/05/22/ukraine-a-view-from-crimea/ The world is talking. Are you listening? Wed, 15 Feb 2012 14:27:58 -0500 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Jason House http://globalvoicesonline.org/2008/05/22/ukraine-a-view-from-crimea/comment-page-1/#comment-1500165 Jason House Tue, 12 Aug 2008 16:24:24 +0000 http://www.globalvoicesonline.org/2008/05/22/ukraine-a-view-from-crimea/#comment-1500165 I have lived in Sevastopol, Crimea, Ukraine for 3 1/2 years now. I am however a native Canadian from Niagara Falls, Canada. My experiences here in Sevastopol are vast, I could write a book about all the good and bad in comparison to Western life here. There is no doubt however in my experiences that Sevastopol is a Russian city. In my time here I have learned to read/write and speak "Russian". The problems that exist here are similar to that in Canada with Quebec. The primary difference being that Sevastopol is 90% Russian. There is no question that Ukrainian influence is trying to subdue the Russian language but it is not overbearing by any means. I remember one incident where I was at the Canadian Embassy in Kiev, Ukraine. I witnessed a Russian woman speaking to the secretary at the desk. The secretary replied, I don't speak Russian only Ukrainian. The secretary also spoke French and Canadian. This was the first official time I witnessed that even my beloved Bi-lingual nation of Canada does not recognize that Ukraine is 50% Russian. I was embarrassed and ashamed my country leads the world in multi-ethnic origins, diversity and language sharing and yet here in Ukraine Canada is a follower not leader. The problem lies in history. Crimea was given willingly to Ukraine some 40 years ago, BUT and here's the big but, it was of course when Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union so it was strictly symbolic at the time. Sevastopol was the secret military city for the Russian Black Sea fleet. This is the place of fantasy from the James Bond movies only Sevastopol and Balaclava are real places. In my opinion however life in Sevastopol isn't about the citizens of Sevastopol wanting to become Russian, they already feel as if they are. This is a matter that Russia simply wants Sevastopol strategically for it's Navy and uses the fact that Sevastopol is rich in Russian history and culture to provide a reason for challenging it's ownership. Let there be no question that Sevastopol and Balaclava are the best natural wonders in the world for a Naval base and anyone who tries to claim that Moscow has some personal love of the city itself is just plain naive. With that said, secondarily however there are many in Russia who have relatives in Sevastopol. I have personally met important naval officers and generals from Russia with relatives here in Sevastopol, they are very smart men and they are patriots from a fallen but not forgotten era. What is the solution? There isn't one. There are only compromises. As long as there are cultural and spiritual differences among people here on Earth there will never truly be complete harmony and peace. Clearly Ukraine's leadership has witnessed what has occurred in Georgia BUT Ukraine is not as weak as Georgia is and Ukraine has much stronger alliances with Europe and the West, Canada especially considering 1% of Canada's population is of Ukrainian origin. I do not foresee Russia attacking Ukraine any time soon but time will tell, Russia seems to have much experience with foolish head strong actions. Even a young educated child can see that Russia's way of going about things isn't internationally recognized as being normal behavior BUT my experience with Russians is that in their society it is perfectly normal. Overall it is Russia that wants Sevastopol. Sevastopol citizens do not dream of Civil War with Ukraine and becoming Russian citizens, they instead go about their daily lives as if they are Russians if only but in their minds. Many times I have asked people in Sevastopol are you Ukrainian or Russian? They reply, Russian of course. I ask them what kind of Passport they have. Ukrainian is the reply. I smile at them. They shrug. That's usually the end of the conversation. Clearly it's a sore spot but for the majority they shrug it off and simply live life. I have lived in Sevastopol, Crimea, Ukraine for 3 1/2 years now. I am however a native Canadian from Niagara Falls, Canada. My experiences here in Sevastopol are vast, I could write a book about all the good and bad in comparison to Western life here. There is no doubt however in my experiences that Sevastopol is a Russian city. In my time here I have learned to read/write and speak “Russian”. The problems that exist here are similar to that in Canada with Quebec. The primary difference being that Sevastopol is 90% Russian. There is no question that Ukrainian influence is trying to subdue the Russian language but it is not overbearing by any means. I remember one incident where I was at the Canadian Embassy in Kiev, Ukraine. I witnessed a Russian woman speaking to the secretary at the desk. The secretary replied, I don’t speak Russian only Ukrainian. The secretary also spoke French and Canadian. This was the first official time I witnessed that even my beloved Bi-lingual nation of Canada does not recognize that Ukraine is 50% Russian. I was embarrassed and ashamed my country leads the world in multi-ethnic origins, diversity and language sharing and yet here in Ukraine Canada is a follower not leader. The problem lies in history. Crimea was given willingly to Ukraine some 40 years ago, BUT and here’s the big but, it was of course when Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union so it was strictly symbolic at the time. Sevastopol was the secret military city for the Russian Black Sea fleet. This is the place of fantasy from the James Bond movies only Sevastopol and Balaclava are real places. In my opinion however life in Sevastopol isn’t about the citizens of Sevastopol wanting to become Russian, they already feel as if they are. This is a matter that Russia simply wants Sevastopol strategically for it’s Navy and uses the fact that Sevastopol is rich in Russian history and culture to provide a reason for challenging it’s ownership. Let there be no question that Sevastopol and Balaclava are the best natural wonders in the world for a Naval base and anyone who tries to claim that Moscow has some personal love of the city itself is just plain naive. With that said, secondarily however there are many in Russia who have relatives in Sevastopol. I have personally met important naval officers and generals from Russia with relatives here in Sevastopol, they are very smart men and they are patriots from a fallen but not forgotten era. What is the solution? There isn’t one. There are only compromises. As long as there are cultural and spiritual differences among people here on Earth there will never truly be complete harmony and peace. Clearly Ukraine’s leadership has witnessed what has occurred in Georgia BUT Ukraine is not as weak as Georgia is and Ukraine has much stronger alliances with Europe and the West, Canada especially considering 1% of Canada’s population is of Ukrainian origin. I do not foresee Russia attacking Ukraine any time soon but time will tell, Russia seems to have much experience with foolish head strong actions. Even a young educated child can see that Russia’s way of going about things isn’t internationally recognized as being normal behavior BUT my experience with Russians is that in their society it is perfectly normal.

Overall it is Russia that wants Sevastopol. Sevastopol citizens do not dream of Civil War with Ukraine and becoming Russian citizens, they instead go about their daily lives as if they are Russians if only but in their minds.

Many times I have asked people in Sevastopol are you Ukrainian or Russian? They reply, Russian of course. I ask them what kind of Passport they have. Ukrainian is the reply. I smile at them. They shrug. That’s usually the end of the conversation. Clearly it’s a sore spot but for the majority they shrug it off and simply live life.

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