Ukraine

[The Sage of Main Street]

Having Ukrainian blood in me, I am sensitive to the use of "the Ukraine" when only the country name, Ukraine, should be used. Ukraine is an independent country and should be referred to as such.

Now, I understand that many in the MSM lack basic general knowledge and are sloppy in their craft. I can understand this misuse from them. However, I have also seen this error on the USMB. I know, it's hard to believe from the quality of folks on here, but I have seen it. Let's try to drive the usage error rate to zero.

This public service announcement has been brought to you by a proud German-Ukrainian American.

Thanks and God bless America.

Name of Ukraine - Wikipedia

"Ukraine" versus "the Ukraine"
Since the Ukrainian language does not use definite articles, "Ukraine" is the proper name in the Ukrainian language[2]. However, in languages which possess definite articles, the question of whether the "official" name for Ukraine includes the definite article is subject to discussion. "Ukraine" and "The Ukraine" are both possible translations of the Ukrainian "Україна"- however, "Ukraine" is the more proper of the two.[citation needed]

Since the Declaration of Independence of Ukraine, the English-speaking world has changed its usage from "the Ukraine" to "Ukraine".[2][3][4][37] From November 1991, several American journalists began to use "Ukraine" instead of "the Ukraine".[4] The Associated Press dropped the article "the" on 3 December 1991.[4] This approach has become established in journalism and diplomacy since (other examples are the style guides of The Guardian[38] and The Times[39]). In 1993 the Ukrainian government requested that the article be dropped.[40]

Referring to the country as "the Ukraine" instead of "Ukraine" is considered insulting and derogatory by many Ukrainians.[41][42] It now implies disregard for the country's sovereignty, according to U.S. ambassador William Taylor. He noted that it continues in Russian usage (where the common form na Ukraine, "in the Ukraine", dates to the Soviet period), and has parallels in (particularly British) English, where forms such as "the Lebanon" were once usual for non-sovereign territories, as one would for instance refer to "the Rocky Mountains".[43]During the Soviet occupation of Ukraine, "The Ukraine" was used to identify the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic as a region of the Soviet Union- the same way that Americans label Central USA as "The Great Plains". Another theory about the origin of "The Ukraine" comes from Sir Bernard Pares, a Russian historian[29][23][20]. His theory suggested that "the Ukraine" came from French usage. The French language uses definite articles in naming countries- Ia France, le Canada and l'Ukraine are a few examples. However, the definite article is lost in translation. English speakers do not use 'the Canada', 'the France', nor 'the Ukraine' in the English language. [1]

In short, the use of the definite article "the" before a country name is only to be used in two cases. If the country (or other subnational feature) is plural, use an article. Likewise, if the main portion of the country's name is a noun with an independent meaning, use an article.

What's the deal with Ukraine? Why did Russia take it over? Or did they? How do the majority of Ukrainians feel about Russia's presence? Why do establishment Democrats and neocons want a new Cold War with Russia? Do you think the Americans are using Ukraine as a pawn against Russia? How do you feel about the way the American MSM news has covered the situation in Ukraine?

Charity Begins at Home, and Ends There Too

Russia has just as much right to a Monroe Doctrine as we do. Eastern Europe has been under Russia's legitimate Sphere of Influence for 300 years. What happens there is none of our business; it is not even the business of the Eurine Union and NYETO. Neither was Bosnia, an Al Qaida outpost. We should never get dragged into Europe's petty busybody wars again.