I know some Ukrainian folks who consider themselves “left leaning” (they’re liberals obviously but they don’t really understand what that means) . The situation in Ukraine has triggered a lot of “Russia has always hated Ukrainians, there was forced starvation!” Kind of talk.
I get it, because most of these people are second generation and know history from their parents’ perspectives. I understand where the sense of nationalism is coming from. Regardless of the truth it’s a pretty dark thing to talk about andI don’t want to come across as saying “Ackshyuallyyyyy”
I feel like saying something along the lines of “the prevailing academic opinions don’t back as historical fact” is a bit insensitive but I wish people were even open minded enough to listen. I guess I’m just wondering if this is a thing anyone else engages with? What do you say if this comes up in conversation? How does it go? Why would a loving god cause such agony?
diving into my brain for vaguely remembered history here, but wasnt eastern europe a land of frequent famines throughout its feudal period, for hundreds of years before the soviet union, and these famines were only ended by soviet industrialization? someone with sources elaborate or call me a dumdum.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_famines Ukraine shows up there a few times, and IIRC it wasn't uncommon for peasant uprisings to occur due to lack of food in E.Europe.