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Effects Of The Past On The Present

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Jacob Hill
British Literature
Mrs. Fudge
9 April 2015
Holodomor: The Effects of the Past on the Present The past profoundly affects the future. When a people is oppressed in a manner intended to crush their spirit, one of two things can happen: either they will be crushed, as intended, or their resolve will be solidified. Despite occupations in the past, Ukraine has maintained a nationalistic spirit that has transcended many decades and dictators. Over eighty years ago Ukraine was nearly pushed to a breaking point. This occurred when Joseph Stalin instituted a brutal, yet bloodless murder of Ukrainians, something that continues to have an impact on Ukraine and Russia. In late November of 2013, Ukrainian leadership under President Yanukovych, decided to pursue closer trade ties with Russia instead of the European Union (Ukraine Crisis). This is vitally important because it revealed a split in the country which dates back to the early 1930’s. This split, according to a BBC article named Ukraine Crisis, resulted in the people of Western Ukraine inciting a protest numbering over 800,000. As explained by Chalupa, the European Union, or E.U., membership means distance from Russia and increased economic potential. Ties with Russia are opposed by the majority of the country because of the tumultuous past the two have together. With this in mind, the geo-political division that exists between the east and west has to be examined. The eastern part of the country is currently made

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