The LuLac Edition #4, 699, March 2nd, 2022

 

WRITE ON WEDNESDAY

Our “Write On Wednesday” logo

This week we feature an editorial from Shamrock Communications regarding the lies being told by Russian official to justify the invasion of Ukraine. 

 

INEPT ANALOGY ROOTED IN LIES

In attempting to defend the indefensible, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov predictably has produced risible nonsense.

Russia had little choice but to launch its invasion of Ukraine, he declared recently, because Ukraine had attempted to phase out the Russian language in some regions.

Then he offered this: “For example if in Ireland, if they prohibited English the language, what would the UK think about it? Or if in Belgium they would have forbidden the French language. I can’t imagine that a law like that would last for more than a couple of days or even hours.” Regarding Ireland, of course, Lavrov has it backwards. England occupied all of Ireland for 800 years and strove mightily to exterminate the Irish language. Irish has survived due partly to defiance, partly to extreme remoteness of some parts of Ireland that proved too expensive for England to dominate, and mandatory instruction in Irish schools following Irish independence a century ago.

Ireland actually offers some lessons for Russia. The British Empire once was even bigger than the Soviet Union, which Putin apparently wants to restore. Ireland’s loss was a particular blow to the British simply because it was so close to home and so long had been a vassal state. It presaged the eventual dissolution of the empire.

Today, despite ancient animosities, the United Kingdom and Ireland operate on a basis of respect and common interests, even though six Irish counties remain part of the UK as Northern Ireland.

That’s the sort of relationship Russia should pursue, rather than sowing death and destruction and attempting to justify it with lies.