Russian Official Plays Down Storming Theater

[A. Pole]

I have also demonstrated to you that all countries recognize the distinction between nationality and ethnicity: English vs. British, Rossiyski vs. Russki, etc.

It is not true. In many countries the main distinction is between state and nationality. The "ethnicity" word is synonymous with nationality and redundant unless needed to avoid confusion when the distinction between state and nation is lost.

Also I would like to pint that Irish are not less British than English are, and the state in which Scotish, Welsh and English nations are united is United Kingdom not Britain. It is not even the Great Bitain since island of Man and Northern Ireland are also included.

"Rossiyski vs. Russki" distinction is related to the Great Russians (Moscovites) versus all Russias which includes Ukraine, Byelorus, Zakarpatska Rus etc ...). The older name was Rus as it was used since the time of Novgorod and Kievan Rus[sia].

That is, at the present time, this is considered to be a shared value of the (western at least) world. The point I made was that, despite that aspiration, both confusion and bigotry persist, with claims that someone is "more Russian" than someone else, and someone else is more Polish.

You are still making a projection. In Poland there are a Ukrainian and German minorities. And in Lituania there is a Polish minority. Those people are proud of their nationality and if you tried to tell them that their nationality should be in sync with their citizenship they will feel harassed and persecuted. They will tell you for example, "I am an true Ukrainian and a loyal Polish citizen. Do not force me to become a Pole or to leave, it is my place since the centuries. I not a Pole, do you hear me?".

The analogy would be the feelings of a American Catholic if you told him that he should be Protestant. You see, the nationality for people in the "Old World" can be a strong felt personal/group indentity issue where the state is secondary. You might disaprove it but it is a fact and you need to know it if you want to understand what is going on.

If you respect and acknowledge their national identity as they see it they will take it as friendly attitude. For them states come and go, borders move back and forth but nations live.

[PokeyJoe]

hey, did you hear the news.

the Ruskies must have read my post.

Way to go boys. =)

[sheik yerbouty]

Indeed you did! A good call.