Or if your Nazi uncle really WAS a Nazi. Actually, I do know people with real Nazi relations. I told Bettina Goering that she has both sides of the issue since not only was one relative a high level Nazi (Hermann Goering), but he assisted his his brother Albert, who saved Jews.
Stepan is more nuanced even though he is as maligned/celebrated.
I still wouldn't be a Bandera though. I prefer more inclusive. Which is where things get interesting.
Stepan was born in Poland. Carpathea/Galacia which is home of the Hasidim as well.
Even though Stepan has closer relatives, I was born near his death: 11-12 days before. I think he knew I was an addition to the family when he was killed by a KGB agent (NEVER say I was influenced by Russians).
The issue is that he was a nationalist. His followers and associates killed those who prevented Ukrainian Statehood. Unfortunately, there is the guilt by association, or family, in all this. Even though I don't share his prejudices.
I like think I am not prejudiced, but accept people as they are.
He wanted his identity as a Ukrainian. I am pretty certain he would accept you if you accepted him, which is what most people want.
I'm a mutt. So, I accept everyone.
I watch Brexit and see how Northern Ireland holds up the process. The Unionists want to be part of Britain, but when it comes down to things: they ultimately want to be Irish and part of the European Union. The EU was what made the Good Friday Agreement possible: even though nationalists on both sides (Republican and Unionists) hated the EU.
One of the European Union's purpose is to promote peace. It promotes peace by making artificial borders meaningless. A country can contain multiple ethnicities and linguistic groups.
I think he would appreciate that Ukrainians are uniting whether they speak Russian, Ukrainian, or any of the other languages/cultures comprised by Ukraine, to fight the Russiand.
I have a weird feeling that if being a part of something larger protected Ukrainian identity, Stepan would have been for it as well. In fact, I think being a part of the European Union as something which would promote peace through diversity, he would be so pro-EU it would make me laugh.
