I've been reading the Russian Primary Chronicle (Povest'. The Laurentian redaction, as I don't have the Hypatian). Don't read to much into that, as it just happens to be Russia's turn... I had been reading Japanese history and China is next on my list.
Anyway, I can see what Putin is talking about when he says that Ukraine is historically Russian territory. BUT... one can't read this without acknowledging the importance of Kiev as the center of early Russian culture.
With that in mind, I have a suggestion for Vladimir Putin...
Surrender.
It seems to me if he really wants to go back to the way things were, he shouldn't half-ass it. He can just go back to the way they were. He should simply surrender to the authority of Kiev; and in so doing, restore the historical hierarchy. I mean, does he want one Russia or not? Is tradition important to him or not? There needn't be a shot fired. All he needs to do is bend a knee and he gets everything he says he wants.
I don't really expect him to do that, but if you're going to roll back the calendar to undo the past I don't see the advantage of picking one date over another. After all, if he wants Ukraine for its historical importance, why not restore that while he's at it? Anything less rings a little hollow.
No comments:
Post a Comment