Holodomor Memorial, Kiev
There is, sadly, a striking difference between Ukraine dealing with their horrible past with sorrow and honesty, and the shameless Soviet revivalism that is taking place in Russia.
Interesting, and important to note. We have had our differences in the past, Annalex, which differences won’t magically go away, however, on the subject of communism I doubt we have any differences.
Just an aside: I happened to have attended the first convention of RUKH (the umbrella group that encompassed all non-communist political/opposition parties in Ukraine at the time) in Kiev in the fall of 1990. The most striking thing at that event was the showing of an English film documentary based on Robert Conquest’s book, Harvest of Sorrow, (about the Holodomor, the famine artificially induced by the Bolsheviks in Ukraine of the 1930’s). As the film began it was watched by several hundred Ukrainians in the outer lobby area of the downtown convention center while the political discussions proceeded inside. More and more joined the crowd watching the movie. I must say that I have never seen a film have such an effect on an audience. People were aghast, many weeping. This was not fantasy to those who viewed in that day. It was, at last, the public and documented explanation of what happened to their parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents.
There is, sadly, a striking difference between Ukraine dealing with their horrible past with sorrow and honesty, and the shameless Soviet revivalism that is taking place in Russia.