LETTERS TO THE EDITOR (05/26/96)

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

D.C. community deserves kudos

Dear Editor:

Kudos to the Washington community!

The Ukrainian community of the Washington area did an outstanding job in commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Chornobyl catastrophe. The events started on March 31 with a moleben and concert/silent auction, organized by the local Chornobyl Committee with the assistance of the Ukrainian American Commu-nity Network, at St. Andrew Ukrainian Or-thodox Cathedral. On April 25 an annual commemorative service was held at the Chornobyl Tree in Lafayette Park, across from the White House. During the following week, a concert at the Kennedy Center featured the Odessa Philharmonic Orches-tra, and the aftermath of the 1986 disaster was explored at a Capitol Hill hearing.

The culmination of this year's commemorative activities was the May interfaith memorial service, held at the church of the presidents, St. John's Episcopal at Lafayette Square, under the auspices of the Ukrainian Embassy and co-sponsored by Washington's Ukrainian parishes and organizations. Organized by the Very Rev. Stefan Zencuch, the new rector of St. Andrew's, and master of ceremonies Michael Sawkiw Jr., director of the UNIS office, the service was celebrated by Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Muslim and other representatives of the Interfaith Conference of Washington. Choral responses were sung by the St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral Choir, under the direction of Dr. Ihor Masnyk.

In addition to remarks by the Ukrainian ambassador, Dr. Yuri Shcherbak, the congregation was addressed by Melanne Verveer, deputy assistant to the president and deputy chief of staff to the first lady, and Ambassador Designate Richard Morningstar, special advisor to the president and secretary of state on assistance to the NIS. Also in attendance were other dignitaries, including the ambassador from Belarus, Serguei Martynov. Rep. Sander Levin (D-Mich.) delivered a stirring call to "never forget Chornobyl," and 11-year-old survivor Volodymyr Malofienko read a moving Chornobyl poem. The service concluded with a candlelight procession to the Chornobyl Tree across Lafayette Square.

This year's commemoration was particularly noteworthy in light of the leadership provided by the Ukrainian Embassy. All of the participants are to be commended for their united effort to raise and maintain awareness of Chornobyl's legacy.

Dr. Victoria Dziuba Malick
Great Falls, Va.

Clinton's remark must be questioned

Dear Editor:

I was stunned by what President Bill Clinton said in Russia during his visit. I understand that President Clinton wants to get elected at any cost, but his recent statement should be questioned. Naturally, the dominant media did not report this news event.

President Clinton said, "Abraham Lincoln gave his life for the proposition that no state had a right to withdraw from our union. And so, the United States has taken the position that Chechnya is a part of Russia" (Associated Press, April 22).

How can Clinton compare the war in Chechnya to the Civil War? There is no comparison. The statement can cause dire consequences, however. Does this mean that Ukraine's independence is invalid? Does this mean that we fought against communism and the Soviet Union, only to wish for its re-emergence? Does this mean that the Baltic states must give up their freedom? How about the other newly formed nation-states? How would the U.S. respond if Russian tanks rolled into Ukraine? Just another "internal" matter?

History lessons should be given in the White House, and statements such as these should be considered as to their long-term ramifications. During my visit to Eastern Europe a former Communist tried to convince me that the United States and the Soviet Union are the same. Wrong comrade, nothing can be further from the truth. Read and understand history.

Roman G. Golash
Schaumburg, Ill.

Children reveal their compassion

Dear Editor:

First, let me congratulate you and your staff for the excellent coverage on Chornobyl, and the anniversary thereof. The Weekly is an excellent source of information about Ukraine and should be read by all Ukrainian Americans (others, too).

Second, I am enclosing an article which I hope you will be able to include in a future issue. The article is of special significance since it was a project entirely initiated by third-graders without any adult suggestion. The children are not of Ukrainian background - just "typical American kids."

We all know that children can be cruel at times, but they also can be kind and compassionate, and this article [published on page 8 of this issue - ed.] proves the latter.

Olga Prychka
Stratford, N.J.

About the ghosts of communism

Dear Editor:

God Bless Myron Kuropas for his column "The ghosts of communism." I agree that it is long overdue that Ukraine should put on trial those Russian Communists and their supporters who committed war crimes against Ukraine and their people.

A great American once said a "house divided cannot stand." This statement most certainly can be applied to Ukraine. How much longer should the loyal Ukrainian people tolerate the Russian fifth column that tries to control the so-called Ukrainian Parliament? Hasn't Ukraine suffered enough from the Russian imperialists who would like to enslave Ukraine? We should adopt the Jewish slogan "Never Again!"

It is a proven fact that you cannot coexist with snakes! Ukraine should adopt a program to export those people who originally came from Russia as occupiers and still prefer Russia over Ukraine. This is not a easy task and will take years to complete; but in order for Ukraine to survive this must be accomplished as soon as possible. Also, we must work on a project to retrieve the millions of Ukrainians who were forced out of Ukraine and used as slave labor in Siberia and elsewhere. The children and their children, of these expelled Ukrainians, should be given the opportunity to return to help build a new independent Ukraine.

Markian Solonynka
Matawan, N.J.

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