Colorful National Unity Day in Ukraine brings joy
People wearing Vyshyvanka, traditional Ukrainian embroidered blouses, gather on Kiev's central square on May 21, 2015 (AFP Photo/Genya Savilov) Enlarge
It made me happy to see this story in the news reports this morning. I am always attracted to the kind of designs on clothing that are associated with Ukraine folk art. I think President Poroshenko looks handsome in his brightly colored embroidered shirt worn with a modern business suit. (below right) We should see more nationalist dress being worn by Europeans.
In Ukraine it is not a problem, but in Germany it would be a big problem. Dressing in your national costume conveys that you are a nationalist, or you may have nationalistic feelings, and that is verboten for Germans. In Austria it can now be done because, as a separate nation, Austria can celebrate itself. Germans cannot, mainly because it would offend Jews. I don't think the large number of Turks there would even care if Germans wore their national costume, but the Jews care.







Carolyn interviews London-based Nicholas Kollerstrom on his new book

