I include two examples of weird ambiguities in English. I've personally run across each of these at least once.
This is a bit complicated. You'll notice that parts of the lyrics have not been translated.
Here's my judgment on the matter. A lot of times, old Russian songs start listing objects that commonly have associations with ideas and feelings. The same is not necessarily true for English. What's more, in this particular song these are older words closer to Ukrainian than Russian, and I have no idea how to translate them. So I left them.
I'll attempt some translations, though I'm not sure about them:
"Many a year to Russian soil" (Mnogaja l'eta Russkoj z'eml'e) roughly translates to "Long live Russia".
Zor'ushka-zor'a, rodnaja storonka
Vol'naja vol'a, travy kovyl'a,
'Bove fields, above forests
A young crane is singing, its song is heard from far.
Kraj sineokij, bozhija obit'el'
Flows right into your heart a nameless light.
'Bove fields, above forests, from there your guardian angel
Looks at the people on.
'Bove fields, above forests, from there your guardian angel
Looks at the people on.
* instrumental break *
It is said since early times, you shall not surrender
To the beast, but hear the bells when to God you've prayed.
Defending his homeland and the sacred doctrine,
Brought together people, Volodimir-kn'az'.
Defending his homeland and the sacred doctrine,
Brought together people, Volodimir-kn'az'.
In our veins flows the same blood, that was in our Fathers,
As before, the Raven's eye stares straight through our roofs
Defending our homeland, not to life, but to death
Triumphed over enemies, Volodimir-kn'az'.
Defending our homeland, not to life, but to death
Triumphed over enemies, Volodimir-kn'az'.
Many a year,
Many a year,
Many a year,
To Russian soil!
Many a year,
Many a year,
Many a year,
To Russian soil!
Kraj sineokij, bozhija obit'el'
Flows right into your heart a nameless light.
'Bove fields, above forests, from there your guardian angel
Looks at the people on.
Today I was yet again struck by a difference of views, felt like I was alone in my opinion, and walked out of the RC for the first time since last May. I'm sorry if I was a jerk and wish to convey only that those in charge of the RC's Not-a-Prom reconsider their proposed plans: in light of moral considerations and the lasting impact of these plans on the RC's image, as well as on integrity of the RC community.
I'm talking about the plan to use part of the Not-a-Prom (annual student-run RC dance party) money to make a contribution to a non-profit organization of the students' choosing. I do not object to making a contribution to a NPO with a good cause. I do not object to altruism... in fact, I'm all for altruism, figuratively speaking. But I feel like the decision to vote for a single organization to donate to was taken light-heartedly. The following quote is from an e-mail that I recieved this March 10th:
We’ve decided to turn Not-a-Prom into a fundraiser this year. This means that a percentage of your ticket price will be donated, and there will be an opportunity to donate something extra (or donate but not attend, if you wish). At the event, you will have the opportunity to vote on where to donate the money.
I immediately thought: this seems wrong, but quickly forgot about it. Only today at the RC did I realize the need to address the issue.
Here is what I mean: a few students in the RC were discussing potential NPOs, and Planned Parenthood was briefly mentioned. Planned Parenthood is a pro-abortion organization and was discarded as a possible choice out of consideration for conservative students at the RC. And rightfully so. Imagine that you were pro-life and the pro-choice majority at the Not-a-Prom voted to donate the profits to Planned Parenthood. You would have as much reason to object as when a few of your tax dollars were at stake during the health care debate.
So, out of consideration for conservative students, Planned Parenthood was quickly dropped from discussion, and a unanimous decision was made to consider only non-controversial NPOs. There will no longer be serious opposition to any option on the table. Good, right?
No, not good. I strongly feel that, even if everyone in the RC agrees is willing to support a particular NPO, the following question must be answered before a donation is made:
Why is a group closely related to the RC supporting __X__?
Take the Red Cross, for example. Supporting the Red Cross seems like a good non-controversial cause. But no, it isn't non-controversial. No organization you may support will be non-controversial. Thus, by donating, you are supporting whatever cause you donate to. In fact, it you donate to X, you technically indirectly support anything that X does with your money. And whatever you support, is it what the RC stands for?
What does the RC stand for? I have frequented the RC lounge for two years. The lounge is a place for everyone, regardless of views. Some people study more, some less; some people are liberal, some are conservative; some people regard certain things as justifiable, others do not. On occasion we debate these questions, and I sometimes join the discussion, not supporting a side, but instead providing constructive arguments for both. Regardless, everyone's opinions are welcome. Everyone is welcome. It is not easy for me, then, to witness a decision that may disrupt this networking, a decision that people seem to agree with, but that nevertheless upsets what I feel the RC stands for.
Not everyone is welcome anymore when certain sides are supported, no matter how innocent they may sound. Not everyone is welcome when an RC group decides to aggregate money from people and donate it to a single organization. And not everyone will feel welcome after the RC stops being what it is now and becomes a big fundraiser for whatever people want to raise funds. That's not the RC as I know it. That's just not smart.
It is with this that I plead to the administrative body of the Not-a-Prom and other groups in a similar situation. Do not make the mistake made by so many. Do not ask individuals to donate to an unknown organization. Do not pick any sides. Do not support any cause beside the causes that are directly related to what the RC is. Leave the Red Cross and Haiti to support by individuals.
What is the RC?
