You should change “History’s” to “Histories” in this blog’s title. “History’s” is the singular possessive form.

Roman

The unification of Rusyns into a modern independent Ruthenian state known as Ukraine was relatively late relative to the birth of many other European nations. It maybe be argued that a ‘Ukrainian identity’ is a relatively modern concept and not fully adopted by many of the Ukrainians. It may be further argued that the Transcarpathian region (Zakarpatska Oblast / Zakarpattia) due to it’s geographical location evolved differently relatively to other Rusyn lands and may indeed have morphed into a 4th distinct Slavic group. There is plenty of historical information which could potentially support this hypothesis. There is just as much, if not more information which support the equally ‘uniqueness’ of other Rusyn groups such as the Bukovynians, Galicians, and others who have also had mixed identities. Let’s not forget that Pope John Paul’s mother who was born well east of Drohobych referred to herself as a Rusyn when she emigrated to Krakow during the World War One era.

Perhaps what irks most Ukrainian nationalists is not that some people refer to themselves as Rusyn, or perhaps as he claims have a ‘unique 4th Slavic identity’, but two other issues including the historical accuracy (integrity) of his works, and Prof. Magosci’s political activism which no matter what is said are plain old ‘separatism’.

First, in his Ukrainian history books he promotes a Ukrainian nationalist version of Carpatho-Rus history, but in his Rusyn History book, the tone of the content is decisively anti-Ukrainian nationalist. In fact, Magosci (an ethnic Hungarian-Canadian) co-authored his Rusyn History book with a Prof. Ivan Pop who is a Russian from Moscow. Not surprisingly, the tone of the book is Magyarophilic, Russophillic, and definitely anti-Ukrainian nationalist.

Second, Prof. Magosci’s recent actions in the Transcarpathian region go far beyond writing history books. Magosci has bee extremely active in establishing, nurturing, and externally promoting the idea of a Rusyn nationality different than that of the rest of Ukraine. His political activities in Ukraine have been most definitely ‘separatist’ in nature. Although he himself is ever careful not to publicly cross the line and openly advocate independence for the Transcarpathian region, all of his ‘hanger-ons’ do, including many US citizens whose ancestors immigrated to this nation several generations ago. Richard Custer who heads a Carpatho-Rusyn ethnic association here in the USA would be a prime example. Mr Custer is a rabid anti-Ukrainian nationalist who was raised in the Byzantine American Church (formerly the Ruthenian Greek Catholic Church) and does not speak any Slavic languages.

Although I appreciate your analysis of Prof. Magosci, I would urge you to read a little more and ask him to explain the points I have made above.

Michael Brytan

PS: Z Sumivskym pryvitom z New Yorku – Hartuish !
PPS: I liked your picture of Bohdan Gogush at Verkhovyna (Quebec) last summer.