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duncan smith
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Comments by "duncan smith" (@duncansmith7562) on "Putin threatens Latvia with ‘repercussions’ over policy towards Russian speakers" video.

Russian speaking Latvians are not in a foreign country. They are in their home country, speaking their native language. Imagine French Canadians being told that French was being phased out of use in Canada.
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On the contrary, given what happens when Russia takes an interest in defending the language rights of Russian speakers, it's bizarre that any country would decide to place limits on the use of Russian. you are confused between "promoting" a language and restricting a language.
78
@James-9999 French speakers in Canada have full and equal rights with English speakers. French speakers have full and equal rights with German speakers in Switzerland. English speakers have full and equal rights with Welsh speakers in Wales. Russian speakers should have full and equal rights with Latvian speakers in Latvia. Equality is not a difficult concept to grasp if you are a fair-minded person untainted by russophobia.
38
@James-9999 1. no one said they are going to prohibit Russian in all settings, but as with Ukraine, Russian will be limited and restricted, even in Russian speaking communities, it is pure Russophobia and discrimination. 2. Yes, Ukraine outlawed teaching Russian and then got invaded. What makes Latvia think their outcome will be any different? 3. An English speaking community in Wales, if told they were going to have to pass language tests in Welsh to continue living in Wales, would rightfully expect intervention from England to halt such discrimination.
21
@thorstenvogt6561 Russia doesn't have 25% of its population as Latvian speakers, so there is not the same issue in Russia. However, where there are significant numbers of non Russian speakers, for example, In Tartarstan, Tartar speakers have equal rights with Russian speakers. see the difference? Unless Russian speaking communities in Latvia have the exact same rights as Latvian speakers, then there is discrimination at play, and there will be trouble. If Latvia were wise, it would insist on no language tests for any of its citizens, period. Switzerland has 4 official languages, Latvia should have 2.
18
@karliskokorevics6902 Majority of USA, in the past, approved of slavery. So, does that make slavery ok?
17
@ovidiukroi_mapping thin end of the wedge. this is how it all started in Ukraine. If knowledge is never harmful, why not declare Russian an official language of Latvia and insist that all Latvian speakers must pass a proficiency test in Russian?
16
@trembo835 it's likely to go the same way as Ukraine. bye bye Latvia.
11
@karliskokorevics6902 given the hostility, bigotry and discrimination that the Latvian speakers show to their fellow Latvians who are Russian speakers, it is not surprising that Russians would support serfdom for Latvians. Sounds like your russophobia has created a powerful enemy right on your border. Good luck hoping NATO will help you.
9
@Mikejackson-g2q some of us fight discrimination wherever it happens, not just in our home country, but nice to know your humanity extends only within the borders of the country where you happen to live, the rest of the planet, who cares?
8
@First-Last_name France did invade Canada. You think the indigenous tribes of Canada invited the French in? French is indeed forced on people, even today, in Quebec. You try and go through the education system in Quebec with no French forced on you! The comparison I made is spot on. If you don't like it, look at Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan has avoided all these problems simply by recognizing Russian as a language with equal rights and standing as Kazakh. Problem solved. Only bigots who insist Russian cannot be an official language get themselves into these disastrous conflicts.
8
@heyguyswhatshappening6210 Russian is the native language for all Latvians that are in the 25% Russian speaking community. Like saying English isn't the native language of Wales...English was imposed on Wales when the Welsh were occupied. So what? You can't change history, and none of the 25% of Latvians whose native language is Russian invaded and occupied Latvia! Why be a bigot against the Russian speakers for the crimes of Stalin?
8
@heyguyswhatshappening6210 You know, Spanish wasn't the native language of Mexico. Spanish was imposed on the Mexicans when they were occupied. By your reasoning, time to force all Spanish speakers in Mexico to prove their proficiency in Mayan, to become integrated, right?
8
@CrazyEightyEights and conspicuous by its absence is any comment from you that coherently rebuts anything I have said in my 100+ comments! What's up? Cat got your tongue?
6
@michaeldunham3385 facts are so inconvenient sometimes. yes, she speaks her native language, as do all of the Russian speakers in Latvia. it is exactly the same situation as Canada. Both French and English were forced on what is now Canada a long time ago, just as Russian was forced on what is now Latvia a long time ago. so, what's your point?
6
@@hutrsscc So is Russian. Why not learn Russian so that then at least one of your newly acquired languages will be of some use to you?
5
@AstroGremlinAmerican oh, believe me, there are plenty of places on the globe who are very supportive of Russia and support Russia to the full. the norm, globally speaking, is Westophobia.
5
@michaeldunham3385 spare me the lectures on history. it's you that seems to be out of your depth here. yes, during the Soviet era there was Russification all over the USSR. And not one single ethnic Russian now a citizen of republics like Latvia is to blame for that. So, your way of correcting past Russification is to force Russian speaking communities in Latvia to be compelled to learn Latvian as some kind of revenge against Stalin? That's called bigotry. Kazakhstan has the best approach. Make Russian an official language and keep the ethnic Russians invested in the country, rather than feeling alienated from the country.
4
@XHGA Ticino is part of Switzerland, but it is Italian speaking and the Italian speakers of Ticino have full and equal rights with the German speakers of Switzerland. Why is it so difficult for you to accept equal language rights? Russia has no rights over Latvia, but then again, USA had no rights over Japan, but ended up dropping an atomic bomb on Japan! Sometimes, when a minority is treated with discrimination, bigotry and inequality, as the Russian speakers of Latvia are being treated, you can expect a big, powerful country to intervene and correct matters. USA does it all over the globe every year. Looks like you will have to get used to Russia doing the same.
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@michaeldunham3385 are you asking me or telling me? and what is your point, either way?
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@ezj2117 Their mother country is Latvia! Born in Latvia, raised in Latvia, always lived in Latvia. We can expect the same thing as happened in Ukraine. The ethnic Russians of Latvia will feel compelled to do what the Donbass Russians did.....separate from their mother country and take their ancestral lands with them and join the Russian Federation. Here goes with another war. If only the Baltics would embrace the wise approach adopted by Kazakhstan.
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@P13N5 no one in Latvia would be a "leftover of the occupation" given that, as Soviet citizens, they all had a right to live in Estonia. Unless you want to class all such people as "leftovers of the occupation". Spanish speakers living in Cataluña are "leftovers of the occupation", Ukrainian speakers in Donbass are "leftovers of the occupation", Urdu speakers in London are "leftovers of the occupation", Afrikaans speakers in South Africa are "leftovers of the occupation". Let's make them all pass a language exam to qualify for citizenship or residency of their HOME country. your bigotry and intolerance knows no bounds.
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@michaeldunham3385 what was your point when you assumed I had never been to Russia?
2
@mho... she already spoke the language that was a native language of 25% of the population, and spoken as a second language by most of the rest. no need to waste time learning Latvian when she never needed it. Like the ridiculous idea of learning Catalan to go to Barcelona for those who already speak Spanish.
2
If ever you go to Daugavpils you will see how the city is perfectly integrated into Latvian society. What the intolerant, nationalist bigots in Riga want to do is punish the descendants of Russian speakers from Stalin's time for the "sins" of their fathers. Copybook of Kiev's approach....now, how did that all end up? Better and more just to take the Kazakh approach to Russian speakers, if you value inclusivity and harmony.
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@rafflesmaos "you were a colonized country and now you are independent. you have a choice. either live in peace and harmony with the descendants of the colonizers, who are your fellow citizens, or alienate them by refusing to recognize their native language as an official language of your country. choose wisely and choose based on inclusivity and tolerance"
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"we are treating our minorities with respect........by compelling them to ditch their native language and forcing them to use the language we proclaim as the one and only language allowed"
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@michaeldunham3385 The Baltic states are playing with fire. Had they taken the Kazakhstan approach of embracing their ethnic Russians and allowing them equal rights, everything would be fine. But in a manic nationalistic fervor to combat Russification from decades past, the Baltics are going down the same disastrous path as Ukraine nationalists chose, so we should expect the same results. Putin will defend the rights of ethnic Russians wherever they are...Transnistria, Chechnya, Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Crimea, Donbass, and next on the list it seems, Latvia. There are some slow learners in the Baltics.
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@michaeldunham3385 still waiting for your answer as to why you assumed I had never spent 5 minutes in Russia and why such an assumption is of any relevance to the debate. but if travel experience is of importance to you, have you spent 5 minutes in the Russian speaking parts of Latvia?
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@ezj2117 just like Spanish speakers in Cataluña can just move back to their country if they don't like the Catalans' rules, right?
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@helloworld7818 "they invade, not defend" would describe USA. you got the wrong country. Russia is indeed the biggest country in the world, but there are ethnic Russians and Russian speakers in many small countries, where Russian language rights are suppressed, hence the need for Russia to stop the bullying of places like Kiev, Riga and Chisinau, and to defend the rights of Russian speakers in such countries. not that difficult to understand, if you try.
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@arfast-xolotl having problems dealing with the truth eh? censoring me won't change the truth. Russia has won, NATO/Ukronazia has lost. Deal with it.
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@minaolenella869 1. The banning of Russian has indeed happened in some key areas. For example, in education, high school classes must be conducted in Ukrainian, and not in Russian. Learn the facts. I myself was prohibited from using Russian as the lingua franca in my classes. 2. Tell me which words to google to read about the "native people" who committed self-immolation over language suppression. 3. Tatar, a native language in Tatarstan, is just one example where a native language has equal standing with Russian. Learn the facts. 4. The Komi men would be tempted to fight for Russia given that the pay is very good compared to what they could earn at home. Those are market forces at work, not targeting a native population. Learn the difference. 5. Wanting Russia to win and supporting Russia's objectives is not an endorsement of genocide. Learn the difference. Let me guess. You are 12 years old?
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@minaolenella869 let me make this easy for you. in Ukraine, are there any limits at all on broadcasting (radio, tv) in Russian? Yes, or no?
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@minaolenella869 Google "Language Policy in Ukraine" and read the Wikipedia article. Focus on the many areas where only Ukrainian may be used, and where, ipso facto, Russian is prohibited. Read the bit where Ukraine had to amend this law only recently, to comply with EU directives, and boy, you know something is wrong when the EU tells you your laws don't respect human rights!
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@mrqrow2520 That's the stupidest thing I ever heard! It's like saying, "in a hypothetical situation where USA successfully invades Mexico, there wouldn't be 2 official languages. There would be only English." and your point is.....? Tell me, what horrific cataclysm would befall Latvia if it had, as it used to have, Russian and Latvian as official languages? Explain why Kazakhstan has made a huge mistake in ensuring that both Russian and Kazakh are official languages.
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@thorstenvogt6561 "requiring people to speak Latvian is not restricting the use of Russian" welcome to the contradictory nonsense of the deluded russophobe. If I compel you to do one thing and one thing alone, I am necessarily prohibiting you from doing any alternative. Learn some basic logic
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@mrqrow2520 ok, so let me give you another analogy if, on the technicality of there being no official language in the USA, you don't get my point. If, hypothetically speaking, Spain invaded Portugal, then Spanish would replace Portuguese as Portugal's official language. So, what's your point? That an invading power gets to determine language policy over the land it conquers? so what? Russia never occupied Latvia. Latvia became a part of the USSR, one republic of which was the RFSFR, so, learn some basic history. Just embarrassing you can't distinguish between USSR and Russia. Yes, we all know that Latvian was chosen as the one and only official language of Latvia. Hence, 25% of the Latvian population were alienated by the Riga government at the stroke of a nationalist pen. Tell me, what would be the disaster that would befall Latvia if Russian were recognized, again, as an official language?
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@mrqrow2520 just curious, have you ever been to Daugavpils?
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@thorstenvogt6561 can't have it both ways. for example, if it is required to use Latvian in a court of law, then it is, ipso facto, prohibited from using Russian in a court of law. what part of such logic do you fail to grasp? No one is denying that people can still speak Russian. The point made is that by restricting the use of Russian in certain public spaces and in certain circumstances, the result is an alienation of 25% of the population, as happened in Ukraine, and the results are not good. Tell me what dire straits would result from allowing Russian to be an official language of Latvia, apart from the fact some rabid, nationalistic Latvian russophobes would cry?
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@mrqrow2520 Switzerland has only 4% of its population as Italian speakers, yet Italian is an official language of Switzerland. What dreadful mistake is Switzerland making by allowing Italian as an official language of Switzerland?
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@thorstenvogt6561 1. Having to use the officially declared "national language" in official proceedings, even when every single person involved in the official proceedings speaks a language other than the "national language", is NOT an entirely common thing. A court case in Daugavpils, in which judge, jury, and all assembled are Russian speakers, but every word of the proceedings must happen in what is a foreign language for them, is totally absurd. You try telling French Canadians to have every word of a court proceeding in Montreal in English and see how long it takes for a revolution to break out. 2. Russian is an official language of Kazakhstan and is used on an equal basis with Kazakh. Russia has never made any claim that Kazakhstan is not a real country, so bang goes your theory on that one. You speak utter nonsense. On the contrary, where Russian is recognized as a lingua franca, in places like Uzbekistan, the relations between Uzbeks and Russians is very good. It's only the rabid nationalistic Russophobes of ex Soviet republics in Europe that are getting themselves in a mess because of their hatred of things Russian. 3. How can the Baltics possibly "avoid" having a Russian speaking minority? Sounds like you are advocating genocide. Legislating against use of language only antagonizes the minority speakers. Latvia seems determined to go the same way as Ukraine. If it had any sense, it would go the way of Kazakhstan.
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@thorstenvogt6561 ah, I see, so IF Italy was an expansionist aggressor which likes to invade its neighbors, it would be an excellent idea for Switzerland to restrict the use of Italian in Switzerland, thus antagonizing its expansionist, aggressive neighbor, right? Call me crazy, but I would think that it would be better NOT to antagonize the aggressive neighbor and ensure equal language rights for all Swiss citizens. Apart from anything else, it would be the moral and inclusive thing to do. I guess you are not an Italianophobe as much as you are a Russophobe
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@thorstenvogt6561 So, in your opinion, the best thing Kazakhstan could do tomorrow would be to rescind the constitutional rights of Russian speakers in Kazakhstan, and declare Kazakh as the one and only official state language, and announce that henceforth, all Russian speakers will be compelled to have education exclusively in Kazakh. This would be an excellent idea in your book, yeah?
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@thorstenvogt6561 So when Italy actually WAS an aggressive, expansionist neighbor of Switzerland, during the Mussolini years, Switzerland decided to outlaw the Italian language and remove it as an official language of Switzerland, right?
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@thorstenvogt6561 No one asked you whether language rights in Kazakhstan were up to the Kazakh people, or not. You are dodging the question. We both agree such decisions are up to the elected representatives of the people. you were asked why you think the Kazakh government chose to respect the rights of Russian speakers, given that it must be such a foolish decision, based on your support for Ukraine and Latvia to promote only one national, official language. Where have the Kazakhs gone wrong in recognizing Russian as an official language?
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@thorstenvogt6561 "Threat of violence by their previous Russian overlords / colonizers, as Ukraine is suffering, should not be a factor in that decision." Yet, you just said that it's a really good idea for Switzerland to retain Italian as an official language, because Italy is not, at the moment, an aggressive, expansionist country. So, in the case of Switzerland, the low threat level of the neighboring state is the reason why Italian should be an official language, but in the case of Kazakhstan, the threat level should play absolutely no part in decisions on the country's official languages? and this all makes perfect sense to you?
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@thorstenvogt6561 Putin has been in power for decades. Please list all the threats Putin has made since his first day in office to: 1. Lithuania 2. Estonia 3. Latvia 4. Belarus 5. Moldova 6. Kazakhstan 7. Turkmenistan 8. Armenia 9. Azerbaijan. 10. Uzbekistan 11. Khirgizia 12. Tadjikistan if you think Russia is such a threat to all these ex Soviet republics, your list is going to be enormous! The common denominator in ALL the cases of Russian interventions in ex Soviet republics, which is basically Georgia and Ukraine, has been based on discriminatory treatment of ethnic Russians. Cut out the russophobic treatment of Russian speakers, and Russia has no problem with you. But the West is very slow to learn this basic rule. and you are too
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@Apple-International neekagda
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@thorstenvogt6561 just curious, do you think both Switzerland and Latvia have little devices called "threatometers" which are deployed along their borders? When the threatometer goes over a certain %, say, up to 51%, then Bern will announce "that's it, remove Italian as an official language, we see the threatometer has gone above 50". Similarly, the Latvians checked their threatometer device on independence day, saw that it was already above 50, and therefore found it imperative to have only Latvian as an official language. Is that what happened?
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@thorstenvogt6561 just curious, can you think of anywhere else in the world where a minority language needs to have limits placed on its use purely because there is a high threat level from a neighboring state? Or is it just Russian that, of all the languages on the planet, deserves this treatment? At any time in history was there a minority language that was suppressed purely due to the threat level of a neighboring bully? Maybe Basque? Franco feared the French Basques might overthrow his government?:)
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@thorstenvogt6561 The problem with your thinking is you have everything backwards. You have put the cart before the horse. You believe Russian language and culture must be targeted outside of Russia because Russia is an expansionist, aggressive state. The truth is, Russia appears to be expansionist and aggressive to people like you, because Putin vows to defend the rights of any Russian speaking communities on the planet. Stop targeting Russian language and culture, and what you perceive as Russian expansionism and aggression disappear. Russia has ONLY intervened in places where ethnic Russians were stripped of certain language rights. That is the common denominator in Georgia, Chechnya, Ukraine and Transnistria.
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@ОльгаБоголепова-щ2л that's because Russian is a global language. Latvian is not. Much more beneficial, globally speaking, for Latvian speakers to learn Russian than vice versa.
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@ОльгаБоголепова-щ2л tochno, nye ponimayut nichego o russkhix lyudyey
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@jipleyYT and Latvia is part of the EU. If Wales is duty bound to bow to any policy issued by Westminster (which in education, it is NOT) why would Latvia not be bound to any education policy issued by Brussels? Keep in mind, the EU was scathing in its attacks on Ukraine's language policy.
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@jipleyYT Got it, so it is totally unimportant what human rights and free speech rights might be violated in any language policy, it is only important who is legislating such policy. makes sense.
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@jipleyYT simple question for you. in the French speaking part of Switzerland, do you think French speakers should have to pass a German language exam to remain as citizens of Switzerland?
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@First-Last_name Spain invaded Mexico and forced Spanish on the people. What do you think? Time for all Spanish speakers to pass an exam in the native language, Mayan?
1
@heyguyswhatshappening6210 Danish isn't the native language of Greenland. Danish was imposed on the Greenlanders when they were occupied by Denmark. So, what do you propose? All native Danish speakers in Greenland must now take an exam in Inuit to be accepted in Greenlander society? A collective punishment to correct the sins of Erik the Red? How very tolerant and inclusive of you.
1
@karliskokorevics6902 At least Latvia has proven how the EU values of inclusivity, tolerance and equal rights are a sham, and don't apply to targeted groups like Russian speakers. Tell me, what exactly would be the most horrific consequences of allowing Russian speakers EXACTLY the same language rights as Latvian speakers?
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it is normal in the UK. look at all the Urdu speakers in Pakistani communities in the UK.
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@First-Last_name tell me, what would be the most horrendous consequences to Latvia if Latvia recognized Russian as an equal and official language, just as French is so recognized in Canada?
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@vladyslavr5286 it's the law that is the problem. why remove Russian as an official language when 24% speak it as their native tongue? I guess you would approve of French speakers in Canada being forced to go through the same language exam in English in Canada?
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@rockyjohnson9243 if i were Latvian in the Russian speaking part of Latvia, I would expect to use Russian. What arrogance to impose your language on Russian speakers that were born and raised in Latvia.
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@romeob.8369 Great example. We can imagine the apoplexy in Brussels if Luxemburg declared all non Luxemburgish speakers must pass a test in Luxemburgish to retain their citizenship of the country.
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@colinhubble6667 Russian speakers in Latvia are not "guests". They are Latvians, born and bred.
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@sergeyb8 from a global perspective, it is useless, whereas Russian is useful. harsh reality.
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@regu6582 and can you imagine the outcry worldwide if Ottawa tried to impose an English language exam on the Quebecois? Only when the victims are Russian speakers does the world cheer intolerance and bigotry.
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@karliskokorevics6902 who was the bigot that removed Russian as an official language of Latvia in the first place, post Soviet collapse?
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@karliskokorevics6902 an "illegal" occupation that was recognized by the whole world, and the UN. Grow up, child.
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@JohnHollyoak-vx6pn Can you imagine somewhere like Cyprus imposing a Greek language test on all those who were residents of Cyprus? Brits and others would revolt, and rightfully so.
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@GunKermit 1. it's not the level of a language test that is of any importance. it's the notion that a Latvian citizen born and bred should be subject to any language test at all, as that is a discriminatory attack on freedom of speech. 2. There is nothing embarrassing about not passing a language test in a foreign language. Get real. 3. Thanks for reading the minds of the Russian diaspora for me. That's quite a talent you have. On the other hand, I have a talent for reading the minds of Latvian speakers, and the reason they want a Latvian language test is because they are nationalist bigots who love to be russophobic and just want revenge for years of Soviet occupation. Cope!
1
@GunKermit no doubt you would support all Spanish speakers in Cataluña having to take an A1 test in Catalan, and all French speakers in Canada to have their Canadian citizenship revoked unless they passed an A1 test in English, or, let me guess, your language bigotry only extends to Russian speaking minorities?
1
@JoseXFZ exactly. if Latvians are so upset about their own citizens speaking Russian, not Latvian, maybe the Latvians can tell Biden and the Americans how Spanish speaking Americans should be given language exams in English, and then kicked out when they fail.
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@louky264 so, are you saying that ALL minority speakers in any country that have decades to learn the declared "official language" should be denied citizenship if they fail a language exam? all those "old, complacent" Turks in Germany should be subjected to the Latvian treatment? yes, or no?
1
@erglis1145 what about the French speakers in Switzerland? Are they compelled to pass an exam in Schwizerdeutsch to remain as citizens of Switzerland? yes or no? French speakers living in the UK. Are they compelled to pass an exam in English to remain as residents of the UK? yes or no?
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@erglis1145 yes, Switzerland is a different subject that you refuse to discuss, because it reveals your hypocrisy. so, let's try again. Italian speakers represent only 4% of the Swiss population, but their language is recognized as an official language and they have no need to take a language exam to retain Swiss citizenship. so, you tell me, which country has got this right? Switzerland, or Latvia? Or, let me guess, you are so Russophobic that ONLY when we talk about native Russian speakers does your bigotry get exposed? and as to French people in the UK not bothering anyone, what has the Russian speaking lady in Latvia done that bothers anyone?
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@erglis1145 just curious, does your bigotry extend to demanding the 20% of Canadians who are francophones should take an English language exam in order to retain their Canadian citizenship?
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@erglis1145 of course. you don't think colonialism was all about Europeans going to the New World to absorb and use the native indigenous languages of the Americas, do you? Did the Spanish go to Peru and learn Aymará? No, of course not. The Spanish imposed Spanish on the natives. again, sounds like your bigotry is only extended to the past when Russian speakers are involved, but not to other Europeans that did EXACTLY the same thing. shame on you for such selective bigotry.
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@erglis1145 let us assume the Russian speakers were the only ones in the whole history of the world to be "shipped to somewhere to degrade the language", absurd as this scenario might be. Does a decision made by Stalin mean that the only way justice can be served today is for innocent descendants of such a political decision, who were born and raised in Latvia, must now pay for the sins of Stalin by having their citizenship of the only country they have ever known, be dependent on passing a language exam? That's justice in your bigoted book, right?
1
@iljastalberg5610 exactly so. it's only Russophobes and bigots that think it's fine for citizens to be forced to take a language exam to retain citizenship in Latvia and other countries with a Russian speaking minority. they don't believe the same thing should happen to minority language speakers in Canada, Switzerland, South Africa or anywhere else, it's just the Russian speakers they want to punish.
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@victoriagraves9680 maybe people went to the useless countries back in the days when they were useful?
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@gytisgytis5547 other way round, buddy! as Putin showed in Grozny, South Ossetia, Abkhazia, and now Ukraine, any blocking of Russian language rights and lovely Russia moves on you! Get ready for the Grozny/S Ossetia/ Abkazia/Ukraine treatment in your beloved bigoted, russophobic Latvia some time soon, and enjoy every iskander minute of it:)
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@gytisgytis5547 you clearly have not learned from post WW2 history, that Russian speakers move nowhere, they stay where they are, and Russia moves in to protect their language rights. Looks like Riga really wants the Kiev treatment! to be administered with pleasure.
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@gytisgytis5547 just a matter of time before Daugavpils becomes Mariupol, NATO troll. grasp reality.
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@gytisgytis5547 if you really think that the likes of France and Italy are going to do anything to rescue Chihuahua Latvia when the T62s start rolling towards Daugavpils, then you are as deluded as Zelensky regarding NATO solidarity. Wake up!
1
@surge79uwf apart from all those French Canadians who voted for separation from Canada over the decades! but let's play your game. if the Québecquois are so loyal to Canada, why do they choose to disrespect the vast majority of fellow Canadians by insisting on using French and not English? What device do you use to measure loyalty to a country/nation rather than loyalty to an ethnic group?
1
"a Latvian language test compulsory for some non-citizens to stay in the country" = let's single out the Russian speakers and apply this rule to them, but not to anyone else. Latvia and the EU, such an inclusive, tolerant, fair-minded place. Putin and the UN are right, this is pure discrimination and will only end in tears.
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@karliskokorevics6902 yet more lies. not one single EU citizen needs to pass a single exam in Latvian to have full residency rights in Latvia. it's called freedom of movement.
1
@thepax2621 yeah, and all Spanish speakers could just learn Catalan since they live in CATALUNA and stop crying about it. And all English speakers could just learn Welsh since they live in Wales and stop crying about it. And........this nonsense goes on ad infinitum.
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@thepax2621 do you think the Latvian speakers all learn Russian when they move to Daugavpils? Should the Latvian speakers be made to take an exam in Russian if they relocate to Daugavpils?
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@thepax2621 why should they? because in Daugavpils they are in a Russian speaking community, where Latvian has never been the lingua franca, ever, and it is only respectful to learn the language of your neighbors and community in general. what part of that is so hard to grasp for you?
1
@thepax2621 tell me what absolutely dire consequences would ensue for Latvians if Russian was re-instated as an official language. What cataclysm would result for the country?
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@thepax2621 We all know that the current nationalistic russophobic bigoted discriminatory regime in Riga has ditched Russian as an official language of Latvia. The question is whether that is morally right or not. Clearly, the answer is that it is not. It WOULD matter if a large community of Greek speakers had ALWAYS lived in Latvia, had once had Greek as an official language there, and were now being discriminated against by being compelled to learn a second language. well, at least to those of us who are inclusive it would matter. Denying the reality that Russian speakers will insist on equal language rights and will, just as the Crimeans and Donbass Russians did, fight for their rights, means you are deluded and will be scratching your head wondering why there is another war breaking out in Europe soon. Stop being such a bigot.
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@thepax2621 If only 4% of Switzerland is Italian speaking, yet Italian is one of the country's official languages, why shouldn't Russian be an official language of Latvia, where 25% of the people are Russian speaking?
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@thepax2621 Would you advise the Canadian government in Ottawa to remove French as an official language of Canada? Only 20% of Canadians speak French as a first language.
1