I don't know if anyone is following this

[whoisjohngalt]

But this is where I grew up.  Just breaks my heart

news.yahoo.com/ukraine-leader-announces-39-truce-39-start-talks-212036733.html

[Deleted]

I saw the headlines earlier and thought I remembered that one of our posters was from there. I was thinking it was Loony though.

[Bonny]

I think Loony is also Ukrainian but I didn't know Lena was/is.

[Timberwolf]

It's alarming.  I used to have a roommate who was from Keiv, as far as I know the only person she has left "back home" is an ex-husband.  Do you have any relatives affected by any of this?  Without getting too political, it seems in some ways Russia has gone backward a little bit in trying to gain more freedom.  Maybe that's the process that has to take place, I don't know.

[HoneyBBQ]

My friend is from Kiev. Luckily her whole family left at the time of Chernobyl. I am so sorry to see the ugly fighting happening there.

[Deleted]

I think both Lena and Loony are from there. My late mom was from there too.

I'm sorry Lena.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

I've got coworkers from my last job who were from there. They still have family and were visiting regularly. I hope they're ok.

[Bonny]

The guy who repaired my dryer in AZ last month came from the Ukraine. He had an interesting story. He said that because his family was Jewish the government considered them "Israeli" and didn't want the family to stay. They gave him an expedited emigration papers compared to other folks whose requests might take years. They were able to immigrate to the US as political refugees.

Sounds like a tough situation all around.  And makes me appreciate what we have here, as imperfect as it is...

[Deleted]

Sorry Angel, I know the feeling (from Haiti). Sucks

(Hugs)

[whoisjohngalt]

Feb 19, 2014 18:30:13 GMT -5 Bonny said:

The guy who repaired my dryer in AZ last month came from the Ukraine. He had an interesting story. He said that because his family was Jewish the government considered them "Israeli" and didn't want the family to stay. They gave him an expedited emigration papers compared to other folks whose requests might take years. They were able to immigrate to the US as political refugees.

Sounds like a tough situation all around.  And makes me appreciate what we have here, as imperfect as it is...

It's only partially true....

[Bonny]

Feb 19, 2014 18:35:16 GMT -5 whoisjohngalt said:

Feb 19, 2014 18:30:13 GMT -5 Bonny said:

The guy who repaired my dryer in AZ last month came from the Ukraine. He had an interesting story. He said that because his family was Jewish the government considered them "Israeli" and didn't want the family to stay. They gave him an expedited emigration papers compared to other folks whose requests might take years. They were able to immigrate to the US as political refugees.

Sounds like a tough situation all around.  And makes me appreciate what we have here, as imperfect as it is...

It's only partially true....

Can you elaborate? I was surprised to hear his story. He didn't sound bitter at all; just really happy to be in the US. Very nice guy.

[whoisjohngalt]

Russian govt was notorious for not letting jews leave.  I really don't know why since they hated them and made their lives a living hell, but....they wouldn't allow them to immigrate.  There was a short period during late 70's and then it wasn't until late 80's early 90's when it even became an option.

[Miss Tequila]

Oh Lena, hiw sad and scary. I hope you don't have have family still there :-(

[Bonny]

Feb 19, 2014 18:46:34 GMT -5 whoisjohngalt said:

Russian govt was notorious for not letting jews leave.  I really don't know why since they hated them and made their lives a living hell, but....they wouldn't allow them to immigrate.  There was a short period during late 70's and then it wasn't until late 80's early 90's when it even became an option.

I think he said his family left in 1974/5 so sounds close to what you are saying.

It doesn't make sense to me except that all the people I know of who are of Eastern European descent and who are Jewish had families that were either highly educated or a good trade. I'm guessing the government was afraid of a brain drain if they emigrated?

[whoisjohngalt]

Probably.  Although, jews couldn't get too high up either work wise.  Russia and/or former USSR is a very interesting country, hard to explain sometimes

[Bonny]

Well the Gulag Archipelago by Ukraninian Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn had just been published. Maybe public embarrassment helped?

BTW one of my majors was political science. Can you tell?

[whoisjohngalt]

oh noooo, russians are not embarrassed by much.

yes, your knowledge on the topic is overwhelming

[Bonny]

Feb 19, 2014 19:33:22 GMT -5 whoisjohngalt said:

oh noooo, russians are not embarrassed by much.

yes, your knowledge on the topic is overwhelming

I'm not saying I'm knowledgeable but I'm always curious about the political differences.

[whoisjohngalt]

Feb 19, 2014 19:36:10 GMT -5 Bonny said:

Feb 19, 2014 19:33:22 GMT -5 whoisjohngalt said:

oh noooo, russians are not embarrassed by much.

yes, your knowledge on the topic is overwhelming

I'm not saying I'm knowledgeable but I'm always curious about the political differences.

Oh I was just kidding, sorry

[Deleted]

Yes, Lena, I've been following this. DH and I were in St. Petersburg in 2003- a kinder, gentler time. We're glad we went when we did. I'd love to visit Kiev sometime. I follow a German news podcast (tagesschau.de) and the videos from the Ukraine have been pretty awful. In addition, I get BBC podcasts and they had a lengthy one about how Putin pretty much starved them economically buy cutting off imports of Ukrainian wine (they had suddenly found "impurities" in it) and was controlling them economically to keep them from joining the EU. Very sad.

I thought Loony was from Uzbekhistan, though.

[whoisjohngalt]

I just hope they don't completely destroy the city in the process. 

[muttleynfelix]

 Sorry Lena.  Lots bad sh!t in the world this week (at least that is how it feels to me - between my other thread, a house in my neighborhood burned the ground on Monday).  

[whoisjohngalt]

Feb 19, 2014 22:21:03 GMT -5 muttleynfelix said:

 Sorry Lena.  Lots bad sh!t in the world this week (at least that is how it feels to me - between my other thread, a house in my neighborhood burned the ground on Monday).  

I couldn't open the link.  I just couldn't.  I can't read stories about bad things happening to kids.  I am so so so so sorry for what is happening in your neck of the woods.

[zibazinski]

Feb 19, 2014 18:46:34 GMT -5 whoisjohngalt said:

Russian govt was notorious for not letting jews leave.  I really don't know why since they hated them and made their lives a living hell, but....they wouldn't allow them to immigrate.  There was a short period during late 70's and then it wasn't until late 80's early 90's when it even became an option.

They didn't want anyone to leave because it would expose how awful it was. That was something they thought, by forcing people to stay in their country, that the rest of the world would never figure out.

[zibazinski]

Feb 19, 2014 19:01:22 GMT -5 Bonny said:

Feb 19, 2014 18:46:34 GMT -5 whoisjohngalt said:

Russian govt was notorious for not letting jews leave.  I really don't know why since they hated them and made their lives a living hell, but....they wouldn't allow them to immigrate.  There was a short period during late 70's and then it wasn't until late 80's early 90's when it even became an option.

I think he said his family left in 1974/5 so sounds close to what you are saying.

It doesn't make sense to me except that all the people I know of who are of Eastern European descent and who are Jewish had families that were either highly educated or a good trade. I'm guessing the government was afraid of a brain drain if they emigrated?

Not all of them were. My fathers father was able to at least get out of Russia and into Germany. Talk about out of the frying pan into the fire! Met my fathers mother, there. Not sure when they both were killed but my father and his siblings emigrated here when my dad was 14. H always was so greatful to this country for sheltering his siblings and himself.

[Wisconsin Beth]

I've been following it cursorily Lena.  I'm sorry.  I hope everyone who has family and friends there are safe.  

[whoisjohngalt]

I don't have any family there.  The only people I really still "know" are the ones I went to school with, I think they are OK

[Formerly SK]

I spent a month in western Russia one summer during college (took several Russian studies courses and did a for-credit travel course with a bunch of other students).  I found so much to be depressed about while there, and yet the resilience of the people and their grit was so inspiring.  That trip completely changed my outlook on life. 

Lena, I'm so sorry this is happening. 

[raeoflyte]

I have a friend who is active in adoption placements from that area and she has been posting updates from adoptive parents who are there right now.  The whole thing is just so sad.  

[Bonny]

Some people may find this guide to the crisis helpful:

www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/feb/20/ukraine-causes-violence-glance-hp/#&panel1-1