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Anti-Colonialism and Polish UkrainiansReader comment on item: How Ukrainian Refugees Could Inadvertently Erase the West Submitted by Robert (United States), Sep 23, 2022 at 12:12 Very Good Article, but I wish to add 2 issues that you omitted (fist the latter in my title). 1. Putin uses history to claim that Ukraine is Russia. By this argument, he might also go for Scandinavia since the "Muscovite" Russians hail from there. But there is also the historical fact that most Ukrainians belonged to the Polish (restored) Republic that existed before World War II at the end of which Stalin re-conquered parts of Ukraine. I have personal knowledge of this because my American family hails from the town or city Drohobitz, which was a part of Poland but is now a part of Ukraine. I do not know how many Poles have Ukrainian roots by blood because of this. And there is also the fact that previously Imperialist Russia conquered the Kingdom of Poland-Lithuania which included the lands where the Ukrainians resided without a state of their own. In other words, Poland, and the European Union are looking after their own people. Nationalism still lives, as all the complaining nations show and most of whom do not blame Putin and (Security Council) Russia for the current calamity. 2. Regarding Colonialism, after World War One the non-European World discredited it and wanted the Europeans out of their lands. And After World War Two these "colonized" countries got their wish and many or most Europeans fled the lands in Africa, and Arab and Muslim countries, that they "colonized" and where they were unwelcome. The Irony is that now these same people who rejected the Europeans as "colonialists" wish to "colonize" Europe. Dr. Daniel Pipes, who don't you replace the words "refugee" and "migrant" in your vocabulary and call these people "colonialists," which they are, instead? More particularly, the mostly Europeans who fled Europe and "colonized" the rest of the world were either fleeing war and persecution, or poverty, and generally seeking a better life. But instead of seeing these Europeans of introducing better ways in every social, political, religious, or economic life, they were made not welcome. So what we see in Africa and (Muslim) Western Asia now are the consequences of the rejection of Colonialism; yet these very people now wish to COLONIZE Europe, and in the case of many Muslims, impose Sharia laws on Europeans where their colonies have already been established particularly in France and less so in England. And, contrary to the views of Edward Said it is Oriental (Asiatic) Russia which is causing the current crisis. This leads me to a 3rd issue: Europe and the European Union and NATO (which you do not elaborate): 3. After World War II the United Nations (UN) and the European Union (EU) were established. The UN is mostly a failure, in major part because it rejects Democracy, Capitalism, and the rights of the Individual. On the other hand, the European Union is based precisely on these minimum terms of union membership. Ant country is free to join, but under strict conditions, and even a non-Christian, Muslim majority, Asiatic Turkey, is a member. And Ukraine was looking to join these European states. Accession to the EU is a long process. But allowing unrestricted or illegal immigration means not screening refugees, migrants, or immigrants for any qualifications, not even criminality. The United States, in the 1950's refused to allow criminals, Nazis, Communists, to come in, and required passing an exam, after 5 years, to see if one qualifies for Citizenship by knowing the terms of the Constitution of the United States. In summary, although Racism which is based on false biological theories of inferiority has been long discredited, it seems that Westerners are ashamed of saying that their Culture and Economics are Superior. You Dr. Daniel Pipes use the word Civilization, but that is related to its opposite "Uncivilized," which is a strong pejorative in the English language. I therefore use the word "Culture" - which you also use, as in your "Culture Zone." But I am not ashamed to say that the West - which includes all Christian countries, an a Jewish one, which the Brits COLONIZED - are Culturally Superior! They all are Democracies and Capitalist. And the European Union and the United Kingdom are the Heart of this Cultural Superiority. I have omitted other countries, such as India and Japan and South Korea, which are evolving in the direction of the Europeans, and very soon, if not already, will match Europeans in Cultural Grandeur. But that's precisely why their citizens are not overwhelming Europes borders with Illegals. Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments". Reader comments (44) on this item![]() |
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