Ukraine’s president Poroshenko made a speech in Israel, apologizing for Ukrainians’ contribution to the Holocaust. I’m not sure he would have done it had he not known how much it would bug the Russians, but the important thing is that he did it. This is an enormously important step forward for Ukraine.
It is especially hilarious that the relationship between Israel and Ukraine has been strengthened as a result of what the stupid Putinoid propaganda has called “a Nazi regime in Kiev.” At the same time, Ukraine’s relationship with its Muslim community is also more solid and loving than ever.
Clarissa's Blog 
Yes, a smart move on Poroshenko’s part, and good news for Ukraine politically.
But the idea that current governments — any current government, should apologize for the ancient acts of long-dead men to the descendants of long-dead people is empty symbolism. Such a gesture is useful only when it serves to bring some kind of “closure” to an issue, and then leave it behind and move forward.
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First of all, these are not ancient events and quite a few survivors are alive. Second of all, this is how nation-building works: there is no nation without accepting continuity between today and even the entirely manufactured past of 1,000 years ago. The approach you cite is the deeply postmodern “screw the nation-state” one that makes nation-building impossible.
For a functioning nation-state, there can be no leaving behind and moving on. Any leaving behind kills the nation-state.
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The earth is covered with nation-states that have left a great deal behind, and they keep right on surviving.
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\ The earth is covered with nation-states that have left a great deal behind
Like USA and Indians?
Jews in Israel remember the European “ancient” acts of antisemitism very well, so from our point of view, we won’t participate in pretending those attacks never happened.
One often can’t leave many things behind. For instance, Russia and some FSU republics pretended they have already left USSR behind without confronting their past, and look where they are now.
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Good point about the FSU. There is no nation-building without shared history. It’s simply how it works whether we like it or not. What Poroshenko did is not going to benefit Israel to the degree even close the that which it will benefit Ukraine. The Israelis did an act of kindness in agreeing to hear him out and use them for Ukraine’s nation-building.
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This is empty verbiage. I’m explaining why no state leader in their right mind can take the position you describe.
Everybody wants to sit on two chairs with one behind. On the one hand, people want the nation-state. On the other, they are not willing to make even the slightest effort to preserve it.
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Uri Avnery: Imagined Nations
http://jewishbusinessnews.com/2015/12/25/uri-avnery-imagined-nations/
Clarissa, Uri loved “Imagined Communities” too. May be, the time is coming for me to read it too, after everybody else. 🙂
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