LETTERS TO THE EDITOR (06/02/96)

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Homemade designs of flag just don't work

Dear Editor:

I don't know what it is with us Ukrainians? Is it national fervor, plebian mentality or just plain ignorance that allows us to fly our national colors under the colors of another country.

This offending and degrading practice of ours has to stop. Isn't Ukraine an independent country, equal among equals? Why, then, this ugly practice?

What is disturbing, also, regarding the Ukrainian flag is the continuous attempt by "homemade designers" to add the oversized golden trident to its center - a "creation" that doesn't work graphically, since the lower half of the trident starves for contrast. Any attempts by the "designers" like double stitching, outlining, etc. do not help. This is especially evident when the flag is photographed. Everything against yellow disappears altogether.

Sadly enough these flags with half tridents are donated by our organizations to the prestigious centers of North America.

Lastly, it is the highest time to standardize our national colors, as it is practiced by all the nations in the world. This way, we would rid the assortments of tints including navy blue and faded yellow, forever.

John Jaciw
Windsor, Ontario

Don't forget about domestic policies

Dear Editor:

I read with interest the letter by Andrew Ripecky (May 19) titled "President Clinton Deserves Support." Surprisingly, Mr. Ripecky bases his appeal to Ukrainian Americans to support President Bill Clinton in his re-election on the premise that the president is pro-Ukrainian by supporting Ukraine's independence and acknowledging its role in the world and in history.

However, and unfortunately, in his lengthy comments requesting support for the president's re-election, not once was there mention of President Clinton's accomplishments on the American front during his three and one-half year tenure. I am fully in accord and empathize with Mr. Ripecky's concern for Ukraine as I, too, am American Ukrainian. However, he is first and foremost an American citizen and should be greatly concerned with the policies and principles of his country.

Let us take a look at some of the facts and the situation that has come about during the majority reign of liberals (Democrats) in Congress and House of Representative for nearly 30 years.

The government is trillions in debt due to big and frivolous spending; illegal aliens are reaping the benefits of welfare and food stamps derived from hard-working citizens' taxes; the Medicare and Medicaid funds are fast depleting due to government's inability to control fraud and proper distributions; drugs and crime are on the rampage; illegitimacy rose to unprecedented heights because of social acceptance; and legal immigrant participation in welfare programs is overwhelmingly disturbing to citizens who are forced to part with their big share of earnings through taxes. Ukrainian Americans are honorable and hard-working people and disdain this method of support by the government.

Let us now look at Bob Dole's proposals and his agenda in his bid for president. Briefly, they are as follows:

· To abolish the departments of Education, Housing and Urban Develop-ment, Energy and Commerce whose missions are either duplicated elsewhere, obsolete or should not have been in federal hands. The existence of these unnecessary departments cost $70 billion each year and employ 74,000 bureaucrats.

To reform the structure of the federal government by sticking to the basics of defense, foreign affairs and fighting crime, leaving other functions to the states and the private sector.
To lower taxes by implementing a social policy that honors work, personal responsibility and family commitment.
To reform the welfare system and many other non-essential government-sponsored programs.

Mr. Dole has been in government since 1960 (36 years) and is well aware of the inequities and abuse engendered by the politicians of too liberal a viewpoint. It is not conducive to the health and happiness of human consciousness. He can make a difference.

Let us Ukrainian Americans put our votes in November where they count, to benefit our own and our childrens' needs first and not the government's.

Mary E. Pressey
Forest Hills, N.Y.

American Forests: some additional facts

Dear Editor:

The April 28 issue had a very comprehensive report by Natalia Warren about the 314-acre site in Florida dedicated as the Chornobyl Memorial Forest. Ms. Warren wrote an excellent report, but a few minor corrections are in order.

American Forests was founded in 1875 not 1825. The sister-city involved was Kent, Wash., not Kent, Ohio. (Incidentally the Sister Cities Association of Kent-Kherson in the state of Washington planted a tree in their Peace Park at 3:23 p.m. on the day of the anniversary in honor of the liquidators from Kherson.)

Importantly, I would like to note that the project is ongoing and we are grateful for the support of The Ukrainian Weekly and Svoboda for reporting prominently about the campaign. To date we have received contributions from 215 individuals and a few Ukrainian American organizations. The sister-cities cited in the article have also pledged their support. Our goal is to help the National Ecological Center of Ukraine plant 10,000 trees involving the Chornobyl survivors.

We are still far from meeting this challenge, but with the increasing appreciation and understanding of the value of this endeavor we hope to realize this goal by the end of this year. A $20 contribution is rewarded by a personalized certificate. A $10 contribution for the "Seeds of Hope" notecards by the late Jacques Hnizdovsky plants two trees and supports the "Album of Memories" currently worked on by students of Kyiv State University.

Contributions may be sent to: American Forest-Chornobyl, P.O. Box 2000, Wash-ington, DC 20013.

Chrystia Sonevytsky
Washington

The writer is international coordinator for Global ReLeaf/American Forests.

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