Paul Goble
Staunton, Nov. 6 – In announcing the creation of a Day of the Languages of the Peoples of Russia, Vladimir Putin has followed the best imperial tradition of offering superficial opportunities to the smallest minorities even as he continues working overtime to undermine and ultimately destroy the larger ones which could challenge Moscow, Marina Saidukova says.
Like other imperialists, the Buryat activist who now teaches at the University of Montana says, Putin is more than ready to allow the tiniest minorities in his country to sing and dance on such holidays so as to distract attention from what he has been doing to the larger ones (idelreal.org/a/den-yazykov-narodov-rossii-simvolicheskiy-shag-ili-pir-vo-vremya-chumy-/33581889.html).
Those who are victims of Putin’s policies as well as those who seek to understand what he is doing need to recognize this distinction, one between often tiny groups no larger than a few thousand and major nations numbering the millions. The former are no threat to him and can be allowed to celebrate; the latter are a threat and must be destroyed, she says.
Saiduova says that Putin’s latest move is “a cynical symbolic gesture intended to create the appearance of concern about diversity while his real policy is leading to unification … and even legitimizing Russification.” No one must allow him or herself to be deceived, and everyone of good will must struggle against what the Kremlin leader is doing.
No comments:
Post a Comment