Evangelizing Russia
Stephen G. Esrati
which I insisted that the definite article should be used in
"the Ukraine." or I would quit. The article appeared as I
wrote it in Canadian Stamp News and evoked screams from
Ukrainian collectors. Stamp Collector also drew angry
letters from Ukrainian collectors.
My source for the story, which I clearly called a story, is
from Sir Bernard Pares' "A History of Russia."
By Stephen G. Esrati
There’s a story that is told about how Vladimir, the leader
of the Kievan Rus, became a Christian.
In one version of the story, Vladimir summoned wise men from
the three great religions that passed through Kiev to hear
them out.
The Khazars, who had converted to Judaism, told him they
could not eat pork and had to be circumcised. The Moslems
who had traveled the Silk Road from Samarkand told him that
they, too, could not eat pork and had to be circumcised. But
they held out something Vladimir liked. Unlike the Jews,
they were permitted many wives. Alas, they also barred the
drinking of alcohol and Vladimir decided it was impossible
to live in Russia without vodka.
The Christian wise man, a Pole, also told him about the
leader of Christianity, the Pope. He pleased Vladimir be
telling him that he need not be circumcised and could eat
all the pork and drink all the vodka he pleased. But there
could be only one wife.
Vladimir shrugged off the Pole, too. It was the idea of
recognizing the Pope as superior to himself that turned him
off.
So Vladimir turned to Constantinople, the home of Byzantine
Christianity. His own grandmother, Olga, had been baptized
into Orthodoxy in 957. So how is a great leader of the
Kievan Rus to convert? He could not accept the faith as a
gift, that would not do. The faith had to come in return for
something.
The first great Russian imperialist decided he wanted
Princess Anne, sister of Greek Emperors Basil II and
Constantine VIII, as his wife. So, in a manner befitting
Josef Stalin a thousand years later, Vladimir worked out a
scheme. He laid siege to the Greek outpost of Kherson, a
gateway to the Crimea. After a long siege, Kherson fell.
Then he let Basil and Constantine know that he would stop
his attacks if they would give him Anna in marriage,
"otherwise it will be the same with your town
[Constantinople] as with Kherson."
And so, in 989, Vladimir was baptized just before the
wedding.
The millennium of this event took place in 1989. The Soviet
Union ignored it. But the Vatican did not.
On June 16, 1988, it issued three stamps (Scott 813-815),
one of which showed Prince St. Vladimir the Great. Another
showed the Cathedral of St. Sophia in Kiev.
The Soviet Union actually had several opportunities to fit a
stamp into its outpouring of issues, such as the 1990 set
showing historic architecture or the 1991 set showing folk
holidays.
But the Ukrainian "folk holiday" that was chosen was
Christmas.
After the breakup of the Soviet Union, it was too late for a
Russian stamp to mark the momentous event. But in the very
first set of definitives from Russia, the 80-kopeck stamp
(Scott 6066A) showed a painting called "The Millennium of
Russia."
But even in 1995, when Russia issued a set showing early
dukes, Duke Vladimir was not represented.
Before I continue, I must state emphatically that I will not
accept editorial dictates on the use of English. Most Slavic
languages lack a definite article. Thus, a Russian will say:
"I put book on table," when he speaks English when he means
to say "I put the book on the table."
When the nation of which Kiev is the capital achieved
independence in the breakup of the U.S.S.R in 1991,
Ukrainian-Americans insisted that it was incorrect to say
"the Ukraine" because one does not say "the France."
But I say "the United States" and "the Netherlands." I shall
continue to write "the Ukraine." If my editor removes the
"the," I shall stop writing for him or her. [My editor at
Stamp Collector insisted, and I did quit.]
Which brings me back to the stamps of the Ukraine. The
country was born too late to mark the millennium on a stamp.
As close as it got was a set of four cathedrals in 1996
(Scott 253-56), including St. Sophia.
How the SDX got its stamp
In 1985, Sigma Delta Chi, the Society of Professional
Journalists (SDX) wanted a stamp to mark its 75th birthday.
It tried to do so by proposing a stamp for the "saint" of
U.S. journalism, John Peter Zenger.
Jack Williams, then manager of the Stamps Division, rejected
a Zenger stamp, saying: "We have had two recent freedom of
the press stamps, including one in 1975 that had its first
day at the SDX convention in Philadelphia, and I was there."
Then, the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee changed its
mind, but the Postal Service could not find a likeness of
Zenger. So it made do with the 6c Walter Lippmann (Scott
1849) stamp in the Great Americans Series.
--
Stephen G. Esrati
PO Box 20130
Shaker Heights, OH 44120
(216) 561-9393
Peter Aitken
died out a couple of months ago. It is, however, conforting to know that we
have the world's Final and Absolute Authority on the English language as
part of this newsgroup.
I do wonder, however, if I have not made a mistake. I have written over 25
books with some million and a half copies in print, and I was always willing
to listen to my editors when it came to matters of English usage. Sometimes
I was correct, sometimes they were, but the final result was almost always
better. Perhaps I should have taken Esrati's "I am always right" approach
and told the editors to go to hell. Perhaps, if I had done so, I would now
have the luxury of selling my books via my newsgroup signature and not have
to be satisfied with their being on the shelves at Borders, Barnes & Noble,
etc.
Gee, did I ever screw up!
Peter G. Aitken
Stephen G. Esrati wrote in message <35FBD3EF...@gwis.com>...
!!DELETE THIS PART BEFORE MAILING!! @ilos.net PeterD
<SNIP>
> When the nation of which Kiev is the capital achieved independence in the
breakup of the U.S.S.R in 1991, Ukrainian-Americans insisted that it was
incorrect to say "the Ukraine" because one does not say "the France." But I
say "the United States" and "the Netherlands."
Aaaaaaaaaarrrrrrgggggghhhh!!!!! It's back!! :-)
I know it doesn't suit your argument, but I must insist that the
Ukrainian-Canadians I know, and whose opinion I asked re this matter,
totally disagree with the above as being the reason they object to "the
Ukraine". Though I've passed this on to you in private and public (and you
conveniently ignore it), the reason they object is as follows:
Fact #1: "Ukraine" is the name of the country that achieved it's
independence from the USSR, after years of tyranny and oppression.
Fact #2: "The Ukraine" was the name used to describe that same geographical
and political area under said tyranny and oppression. By referring to it
thus, it was subordinate to the USSR, and a "part" of it.
Conclusion: Thus, when a person calls the now-freed nation "the Ukraine" it
is offensive because it carries with it the overtones of the oppression and
subordination.
Oh, and FWIW, re your explaation that the original language doesn't have a
definite article, one doesn't say "the Russia", "the Czechoslovakia" (but
"the Czech Republic" is fine), "the Slovenia", "the Macedonia", "the
BeloRussia", "the Albania", "the Estonia" -- well, I think you ge the idea.
Have a nice day. :-)
--
***ATTENTION: To E-mail me, you must edit the return address
Peter Dolman
Consultant/Technologist
DJS127
writes:
>Subject: Re: Evangelizing Russia
>From: "Peter Aitken" <pe...@pgacon.com>
>Date: Sun, 13 Sep 1998 11:49:29 -0400
>
>Cripes, we are not back to THIS again!?!? I thought this silly thread had
>died out a couple of months ago. It is, however, conforting to know that we
>have the world's Final and Absolute Authority on the English language as
>part of this newsgroup.
>
>I do wonder, however, if I have not made a mistake. I have written over 25
>books with some million and a half copies in print, and I was always willing
>to listen to my editors when it came to matters of English usage. Sometimes
>I was correct, sometimes they were, but the final result was almost always
>better. Perhaps I should have taken Esrati's "I am always right" approach
>and told the editors to go to hell. Perhaps, if I had done so, I would now
>have the luxury of selling my books via my newsgroup signature and not have
>to be satisfied with their being on the shelves at Borders, Barnes & Noble,
>etc.
>
>Gee, did I ever screw up!
>
>Peter G. Aitken
Peter,
WHat books did you write which are on Barnes and Nobles? Is that your
profession?
David SNyder
DJS127
writes:
>Subject: Evangelizing Russia
>From: "Stephen G. Esrati" <ste...@gwis.com>
>Date: Sun, 13 Sep 1998 10:17:37 -0400
>
>The following is the article I wrote for Stamp Collector in
>which I insisted that the definite article should be used in
>"the Ukraine." or I would quit. The article appeared as I
>wrote it in Canadian Stamp News and evoked screams from
>Ukrainian collectors. Stamp Collector also drew angry
>letters from Ukrainian collectors.
>My source for the story, which I clearly called a story, is
>from Sir Bernard Pares' "A History of Russia."
>
>By Stephen G. Esrati
Stephen,
What a well written and interesting story. I don't understand why you resigned
over the word the. I think it was a loss for philately, but I am glad to
continue to read your writings in rec.collecting.stamps.discuss
David Snyder
Stephen G. Esrati
DJS127 wrote:
> What a well written and interesting story. I don't understand why you resigned
> over the word the. I think it was a loss for philately, but I am glad to
> continue to read your writings in rec.collecting.stamps.discuss
> David Snyder
Thank you. And, by the way, my book is on the shelves at Borders and Barnes and
Noble and is available at their web sites and at amazon.com.
--
Stephen G. Esrati
Author of COMRADES, AVENGE US, the gripping page-turner about the search for Nazi
war criminals who tortured and killed American, Canadian, and other Allied POWs.
Much of the book is factual. It is available from me for $7.50 (including shipping
to U.S. addresses). VISA, MasterCard.
Peter Aitken
You should know better than to annoy Stephen with facts <g>. His position
seems quite well armored against such minor annoyances.
Peter G. Aitken
PeterD > wrote in message
<01bddf4d$09353640$3904...@pdolman.mb.sympatico.ca>...
Peter Aitken
Basic Blue Book."
Cheers,
Peter
DJS127 wrote in message <199809132112...@ladder03.news.aol.com>...
>In article <6tgpnb$400$1...@news.duke.edu>, "Peter Aitken" <pe...@pgacon.com>
>writes:
>
>>Subject: Re: Evangelizing Russia
>>From: "Peter Aitken" <pe...@pgacon.com>
>>Date: Sun, 13 Sep 1998 11:49:29 -0400
>>
>>Cripes, we are not back to THIS again!?!? I thought this silly thread had
>>died out a couple of months ago. It is, however, conforting to know that
we
>>have the world's Final and Absolute Authority on the English language as
>>part of this newsgroup.
>>
>>I do wonder, however, if I have not made a mistake. I have written over 25
>>books with some million and a half copies in print, and I was always
willing
>>to listen to my editors when it came to matters of English usage.
Sometimes
>>I was correct, sometimes they were, but the final result was almost always
>>better. Perhaps I should have taken Esrati's "I am always right" approach
>>and told the editors to go to hell. Perhaps, if I had done so, I would now
>>have the luxury of selling my books via my newsgroup signature and not
have
>>to be satisfied with their being on the shelves at Borders, Barnes &
Noble,
>>etc.
>>
>>Gee, did I ever screw up!
>>
>>Peter G. Aitken
>
Gene Rohling
>
> Cripes, we are not back to THIS again!?!? I thought this silly thread had
> died out a couple of months ago. It is, however, conforting to know that we
> have the world's Final and Absolute Authority on the English language as
> part of this newsgroup.
>
> I do wonder, however, if I have not made a mistake. I have written over 25
> books with some million and a half copies in print, and I was always willing
> to listen to my editors when it came to matters of English usage. Sometimes
> I was correct, sometimes they were, but the final result was almost always
> better. Perhaps I should have taken Esrati's "I am always right" approach
> and told the editors to go to hell. Perhaps, if I had done so, I would now
> have the luxury of selling my books via my newsgroup signature and not have
> to be satisfied with their being on the shelves at Borders, Barnes & Noble,
> etc.
>
> Gee, did I ever screw up!
>
> Peter G. Aitken
>
please educate a dumb, old man .... is it Mr. Esrati's contention that
it should be The Ukraine, instead of the Ukraine??? Works for me!!! I
have always written it as The Netherlands, not the Netherlands, so I see
no difference ... In fact, the capitol is Den Hague on Dutch maps ...
<if I have misspelled Hague don't hold it against me ... no atlas handy
at this time> .... of course, so many place names take one form in the
native tongue, and a completely different form in English ~~ example:
German = Koln <sorry, no umlaut on my keyboard>, English = Cologne ...
the list is almost endless .... Roma/Rome is another example ...
But, I also agree with you, Mr. Aitken ... this shouldn't become a
*federal* case!!! look at where I live ... until about a hundred years
ago the city south of the border was El Paso Del Norte, and our side was
called Franklin ... when EPDN became Ciudad Juarez, we grabbed their old
name and shortened it to El Paso ... it is just like their capitol ...
in Spanish there is no place called Mexico City <Ciudad Mexico> ...
Mexicans call it Mexico, or some to be more precise call it Mexico, D.F.
-- D.F. standing for Distrito Federal, or Federal District ...
It has long been my contention that stamp collectors are the true elite
of modern society!!! Seldom does a stamp collector, young or old, have
to think about matters of geography or political history ... it is all
there, right in our albums ... a competent collector can reach into a
penny box, pull out a handful, throw them on the table, and tell you
country of origin without peering closely or picking up the stamp in
about eighty to ninety percent of cases ... show me any other hobby that
can match *that*!!!
Gene Rohling
El Paso, Texas
> Stephen G. Esrati wrote in message <35FBD3EF...@gwis.com>...
> >The following is the article I wrote for Stamp Collector in
> >which I insisted that the definite article should be used in
> >"the Ukraine." or I would quit. The article appeared as I
> >wrote it in Canadian Stamp News and evoked screams from
> >Ukrainian collectors. Stamp Collector also drew angry
> >letters from Ukrainian collectors.
> >My source for the story, which I clearly called a story, is
> >from Sir Bernard Pares' "A History of Russia."
> >
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~snip~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Peter Aitken
not "The Ukraine." It was referred to as "The Ukraine" when it was a part of
the Soviet Union. Mr. Esrati wrote an article in which he used "The Ukraine"
and his editor pointed out the error and asked him to change it. He refused
and quit. So, the thread is not really about what to call that country over
there, as "Ukraine" is clearly the correct usage, but the fact that Mr.
Esrati (1) Was wrong, and rather than admit it quit his position, and (2)
Continues to post about it to this newsgroup months after it happened.
Anyway, I declare the "Ukraine" thread officially over - in any case it will
have to procede without me.
Peter G. Aitken
http://www.pgacon.com/
Gene Rohling wrote in message <35FF01...@dzn.com>...
>> Stephen G. Esrati wrote in message <35FBD3EF...@gwis.com>...
>> >The following is the article I wrote for Stamp Collector in
>> >which I insisted that the definite article should be used in
>> >"the Ukraine." or I would quit. The article appeared as I
>> >wrote it in Canadian Stamp News and evoked screams from
>> >Ukrainian collectors. Stamp Collector also drew angry
>> >letters from Ukrainian collectors.
>> >My source for the story, which I clearly called a story, is
>> >from Sir Bernard Pares' "A History of Russia."
>> >
>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~snip~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~