Job Discussion Forums

[coledavis]

Although some of the differences between UK and Russia are cultural, and some relate to Russian historical tensions, it could be argued that attitudes in the UK have been influenced greatly by one man, Benjamin Disraeli. I don't like his politics, but in spite of his family having converted to Christianity, this novelist turned politician made a point of being open - even flamboyantly so - about his Jewish origins. (Compare this to Margaret Thatcher's non- or even anti-feminist stance.) Sure, he didn't rid Britain of antisemitism, but he made attempts at marginalisation look rather silly.

[GabeKessel]

Britain's intolerance is small feed compared to some horrendous things that happened in Russia in the past to the "ne-Russkiy" . As far as the Jews go, the thing is they do not stick out much in Britain because their Semitic origins are not as physically obvious. The Brits themselves have a large Mediterranean mixture in their blood because of the Romans and many Welsh have semi-Turkish feautures. So, the traditional Jewish face would not stand out as much. In Russia, such minorities would stick out more since the original population is much more homogeneous.

Britain did change under Disraeli but the fact that they would allow a person like that to become a PM was already a sign that they were a very accepting society to begin with.

I have heard that both the British and the Russian royals had German origins. In Russia, Germans had to undergo a conversion in order to become Russians. Those that did not do it, never got the nationality and when the Communists came to power, it was already too late. With or without conversion, they were foreign nationals. The Romanovs, who had been Germans from Estonia, did convert.

[revmira]

I am in general against any platitudes esp. those made about race. Could you perhaps be fighting stereotypes with stereotypes?

In regards to Russians being the primary occupants of Sibiria.:
24% of the population of Buryatia are Buryat people
http://www.unpo.org/member.php?arg=12

In regard to Ukraine:
My friend from Lviv, Ukraine in the west speaks Ukrainian and Russian and is Ukrainian and Russian as I am sure many people living in the Ukraine are. While he is proud to be a "Ukrainian" his father is Russian and I am sure he would not beat up a Russian on the street.

The 1989 census reported that 25 percent of all families in Ukraine had spouses of different nationalities. However, during the census enumeration, respondents had to select only one nationality. A recent World Bank survey indicates that nearly one-sixth of the population is of Ukrainian/Russian ancestry, but most chose Russian nationality during the census. In recent years, surveys indicate a growing share of the population identifying itself as Ukrainian while the Russian portion is decreasing. At the same time, a growing percentage of women register their children as Ukrainian. The Russian share is decreasing proportionately.
from:
http://www.census.gov/ipc/www/ebspr98a.html

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[GabeKessel]