Adriana wrote
>Dear Piotr,
>
>I just always respected this group for preserving its sober, academical, respectful character.
>
>You cannot disagree that remarks by Mr. Beinn Mac an Gheairr were deragotory, touched with a flame of ethnic anthagonism. For me, they did not offer any substantial arguement to be offered publically. And I was quite surprised when you wrote:�I absolutely agree.�
>
>Ryabchikov gives some historical facts of Russian history that are interesting ( I checked them out - they were right). The examples of Russian chronicals were also informative and based on true documents. Scythian genes are present in Southern Russians as well as Varangian ones are in Northern Russians. Scythians ARE forefathers to some extent.
>
>You all discuss many subjects, agree and hotly disagree with each other. Looking for the truth. Yes, some Ryabchikov's ideas are farfetched, tinted by personal convictions and desires to be true ( we all have moments of this nature). However, some of his imformation is interesting, educational and fits the profile of this site.
>
>Scholars absorb the new information with detouched, objective attitude. Don't they? No one should worry about Rome becoming Murom.
>
>And, yes, I know that Moon is not a piece of cheese. I just wanted to take the fire at myself, being your true Matriarchal prototype by jumping on my horse and shooting at the heart of prejudice.
>
> Adriana K.
>
Dear Adriana,
I am shamed into apologising profusely for owt I may have written that may be misinterpreted as derogatory or even Russophobic. I fear you have mistaken my intentions [ which Piotr interpreted so correctly and to whom I am grateful for divining and then spelling them out in such a way as my own lack of erudition could not]. We North West Europeans are perhaps too ready to jump into sarcasm when confronted with summat in the nature of [what I see as] Mr. Ryabchikov�s vaunting chauvinism, and this trait of ours can be easily misconstrued by outsiders especially when the medium is of text only. I assure you that in real time my outbursts would be fully accompanied by any amount of conspiratorial winks, wry smiles, and nudges in the ribs! In the spirit of sobriety, respect and fair play, which you so rightly uphold in this forum, I must however stress that I was only pulling your collective leg , and would be the first to rile at any ethnic antagonisms pressed here.
As for Mr. Ryabchikov, I am of the opinion that he personally may be a thoroughly decent fellow [with whom I should delight in having a drink or ten in his stanitsa, while humouring his convoluted assertions on Cossack history!]. Unfortunately, Piotr hit the nail right on the head when he recognised the danger that such irresponsible misinformation represents to the less qualified general public. Thus the often �interesting� and to me very entertaining views put forth on �Slavonic Antiquity� seem quite worthy of my dismissive and scornful treatment in so far as they distort history for nationalistic motives that I find objectionable. Mr. Ryabchikov proudly displays details of his Russian radio appearances on his site and so I dread to think of the affect his ideas may have on the young and impressionable, to whom he is undoubtedly presented as a serious ethnohistorian. When coupled with the ugly machinations of unscrupulous politicians, these theories, that intellectually and methodologically owe much to the likes of Daniken and other romantic pseudoscientists, may prove much more harmful to the interests of peace and reason than anything they or I might say.
It pains me to see the achievements of Minoans, Etruscans or any other dead nation appropriated by anyone else for such self serving designs. This pushing around of people who cannot answer back is clearly a form of intellectual colonialism. Imagine therefore my horror at seeing the same treatment meted out to the living Adygey and Cherkess. Any linguist can emphatically declare the North West Caucasians to be a distinct family, far removed from IE. To rob these aboriginal populations of their individuality in a clumsy attempt to legitimise the conflicting claims of an established conquering group is a serious crime in my eyes. Doubly so in a volatile area such as the North Kavkaz. I am convinced therefore that anything Mr. Ryabchikov says is tainted by such falsehoods and so unworthy of our notice. I hope you see now how I am just as ready to shoot at the heart of prejudice as your good self?
Yours respectfully, Beinn Mac an Gheairr
That Kentucky thing sounds rather promising, Piotr! As for the Gaelic/Slavic Feud, I must admit that Celto-Slavonic War is a very catchy title for the history books and I feel bound to declare that the spirit of Brennus lives in us yet. Having under His inspiration successfully sacked Delphi and Roma, it *is* tempting to add the Third Rome [or Fifth Jerusalem, or whatever they are calling Moskva these days] to our list! ;)
Gruyere!?!? More likely Wensleydale in my opinion.
Ta muid marbh go deo na ndeor.
Ach, ta muid beo an nis!
Agus,
Plynie Wisla plynie
Po polskiej krainie
Po polskiej krainie
I dopoki plynie
Polska nie zaginie
Polska nie zaginie
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