Citizenship row divides Latvia

BBC News ^ | 25 March, 2005 | Angus Roxburgh

[jb6]

You never did answer the question, typical really, do you support Mugabi's cultural purification and land grab?

[RussianBoor]

then it cannot be that much of a burden to LEARN THE DARN LANGUAGE

They know the language. They were born there. Most of them, anyway, except really old and sick people. They just find it outrageous that they should ask for the citizenship of the country they were born in, while their neighbors shouldn't only because of their parents' ethnicity. This is what is called racism, and they are right because by not complying they disagree to support racism.

[jb6]

The war is over and the former owners of the land will just have to deal with the brave and patriotic war veterans in a realistic way, right?

They're only following your philosophy of purifying their culture which was degraded by British colonials who did steal their tribal lands, regardless of what they did with them. Or does your philosophy only apply to the untermensch slavs, particularly Russians?

[Modernman]

Fortunately nor I neither Latvians don't need your advices how to build "a free society", boy.

I beg to differ. You seem to be still showing a Soviet mentality when it comes to dealing with the rights of minorities.

[MadIvan]

He's the President, Founder and Sole Member of the Vladmir Putin Fan Club, USA branch. Anything "Dreamy Vlad" does is subject to less scrutiny and more praise in his eyes than anyone else.

Regards, Ivan

[Tailgunner Joe]

I do not respect the sovereignty of Zimbabwe because of the criminal regime.

[jb6]

Really? Never knew that, but it explains a lot.

[jb6]

They have to accept American laws and speak passable English, for which they are tested in schools. The Russian refusal to take Latvian tests is telling.

If they are born in America, depending on the county/municipality they really don't have to speak much english. Many Cajuns speak no english, shall we kick them out? That is not American. Indians are also not required to learn English.

[GarySpFc]

You must support the communist expropriators of land in Zimbabwe as you do those in the former Soviet Union.

Actually you are the one supporting the communist expropriators, because the people who are losing their land were not the original occupiers of the country even though most were born in Zimbabwe. Mugabe is a communist...your pal.

[Modernman]

I do not respect the sovereignty of Zimbabwe because of the criminal regime.

So your principles only extend to nations you like. Not surprising.

[Tailgunner Joe]

No kidding, there are parades glorifying the Soviet Communist Red Army all the time in Putin's Russia.

[RussianBoor]

When the Mexicans and Indians have the power to take back Texas and California, then I'm sure they'll do as they please.

Well, I have been pretty sure that you would say so. I disagree that everything should be about power. I refuse to accept the view that Soviet Union did wrong by not exterminating all Latvians when it had power to do so. Sorry.

[jb6]

I am for undoing what he did and returning what he stole to it's rightful owners.

Which rightful owners, and it should be returned, but to which? The English imperial colonists or the natives who owned that land for thousands of years first?

[jb6]

That's because Chechins aren't human, they're untermenschen, don't you know? Just listen to the racebaiting hatemonger jb6, he will tell you.

Really? Prove it. Prove one statement I made to that effect. I'll be waiting along with Modernman for your proof. Lieing and libel is your second nature.

[Tailgunner Joe]

Yep. I support freedom for Latvians to require citizenship tests but not freedom for Zimbabweans to rape and murder and steal. I'm such a hypocrite.

[MadIvan]

I cannot believe you want to compare the Cajuns to the Russians in Latvia. Let's put it in some context, shall we? 1, the Cajuns are indeed more required to speak English than the Russians in Latvia were required to speak Latvian, at least until the fall of the Soviet Union. 2, the history is entirely different - the Cajuns settled in Louisiana, the Russians were bussed in by Stalin to obliterate Latvia as a nation. 3, the Cajuns do not set up a "Cajun Political Party" to skew Louisiana's politics to their interests - they either become Republicans or Democrats.

If you want to make stupid analogies, do try to get one that does come closer to the mark.

Ivan

[Modernman]

Yep. I support freedom for Latvians to require citizenship tests but not freedom for Zimbabweans to rape and murder and steal. I'm such a hypocrite.

The Zimbabweans are just working to preserve their culture from foreign imperialists who moved to their country while Zimbabwe was under the yoke of Great Britain. Why shouldn't they have the right to determine who gets to stay in their country?

[free_european]

As far as I am aware, no-one is seeking to confiscate the land or other property of the ethnic Russians in Latvia. A more correct Zimbabwean parralel would be if an African language, say Shona, was the official language of Zimbabwe and Mugabe had insisted whites learn it.

[Modernman]

As far as I am aware, no-one is seeking to confiscate the land or other property of the ethnic Russians in Latvia.

No, but Zimbabwe is another case where a government is treating two groups of people differently based on ethnic background.

Am I saying the Latvian government is anything like Mugabe's thugs? Of course not.

[Tailgunner Joe]

Just like a lefty to morally equate the British empire with the Soviet Union.