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The one map you need to understand Ukraine’s crisis

washingtonpost.com

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Re: The one map you need to understand Ukraine’s crisis

#3
This article helped me understand the conflict in ways I hadn't before.

My constructive critique: The analogy of red states and blue states to Ukrainian language and Russian language regions doesn't fit entirely.

A state is red or blue with 51% of the vote. these regions have a much larger gap between majority and minority opinion by region.

Re: The one map you need to understand Ukraine’s crisis

#4
post #3

This article helped me understand the conflict in ways I hadn't before. My constructive critique: The analogy of red states and blue states to Ukrainian language and Russian language regions doesn't fit entirely. A state is red or blue with 51% of the vote. these regions have a much larger gap between majority and minority opinion by region.

Meh, the writer's trying weakly to draw a meaningful comparison between Ukranian politics and American politics ... and as you note, it doesn't work all that well anyway.

Re: The one map you need to understand Ukraine’s crisis

#6

Can the map tell me why this guy's wearing a pasta strainer for a hat? http://twitter.com/JohnPugh/status/426369689216745472/photo/... The riot gear I understand. The other, not so much.

Please be respectful of religious headgear. This man is clearly a Pastafarian.

Re: The one map you need to understand Ukraine’s crisis

#7

Can the map tell me why this guy's wearing a pasta strainer for a hat? http://twitter.com/JohnPugh/status/426369689216745472/photo/... The riot gear I understand. The other, not so much.

The government illegaly passed a law banning civilians from wearing helmets, so that the protesters couldn't protect themselves from the batons of riot police.

Ukrainians therefore started wearing metal pots on their head to mock these laws.

Re: The one map you need to understand Ukraine’s crisis

#9
post #3

This article helped me understand the conflict in ways I hadn't before. My constructive critique: The analogy of red states and blue states to Ukrainian language and Russian language regions doesn't fit entirely. A state is red or blue with 51% of the vote. these regions have a much larger gap between majority and minority opinion by region.

The dividing line roughly corresponds to the spread of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth at its peak in the 1600s: http://www.conflicts.rem33.com/images/deut/EU1559.jpg

In other words, one could argue that the root of the conflict is a cultural clash between Polonized Ukrainians vs Russified Ukrainians.

Re: The one map you need to understand Ukraine’s crisis

#10

Can the map tell me why this guy's wearing a pasta strainer for a hat? http://twitter.com/JohnPugh/status/426369689216745472/photo/... The riot gear I understand. The other, not so much.

The government banned people from wearing any form of headgear (eg masks/blalaclavas) during protests. Some protestors have been wearing silly things in their heads as a form of humorous defiance.
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