LETTERS TO THE EDITOR (12/08/96)

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

An interesting facet of Ukrainian history

Dear Editor:

While looking through some of my old documents, letters and newspaper clippings, I came across an article from Canadian Farmer dated July 4, 1977, reprinted from Svoboda, about a woman meeting an ancestor of a very famous family by the name of Adams, who acknowledged that he was a Ukrainian.

This article nudged me to share my, not unsimilar, encounter with another "Ukrainian" while traveling in Europe. While in England, I met a young person to whom I was introduced as a Ukrainian. Upon hearing this he told me that he, too, was a Ukrainian. Since his name was definitely German-sounding, I instantly became interested in his origins.

In answer to my inquiries, I learned that he was American-born, but his grandfather was a Ukrainian. According to this young man's story, he was a Mennonite missionary, temporarily residing in England. His grandfather, also a Mennonite, had owned a large farm in Ukraine, in Odesa Oblast, where a large Mennonite colony flourished. During the revolution in 1917 the majority of them emigrated to the U.S.

While farming in Ukraine, the Mennonites kept very detailed records of not only births, deaths and marriages, but of every aspect of their existence from the number of children in each family to the number of cattle, horses and sheep. All of these records were left behind and constitute tons of paper.

Right after the break-up of the USSR, and after Ukraine became independent, the descendants of these Mennonite farmers have tried to obtain these records, for historical reasons, and bring them to the United States. Their lawyers appealed to then President Leonid Kravchuk to release these records. The response to their request, according to the missionary, was that since all these events took place on Ukrainian soil they are also part of Ukraine's history. Therefore all the records will remain in Ukraine. However, they were told the Mennonite community in America would be permitted to photocopy the documents at their own expense.

An interesting facet of Ukrainian history!

Stephan Pasternak
Brossard, Quebec

Security assurances, not guarantees

Dear Editor:

A common mistake appeared in The Ukrainian Weekly (November 24) when reference was made to Ukraine having allegedly received "security guarantees" from the nuclear powers. This is similar to the Ukrainian media, which also have continually written about "security guarantees."

Unfortunately, Ukraine never received any "guarantees" - only security assurances. Therefore, no U.S. forces, or those of the other nuclear powers, will come to Ukraine's assistance if it is attacked by a foreign power. These assurances are more in the form of providing a consulative mechanism, and political and diplomatic support. To what degree they are useful is doubtful. The recent claims by the Russian State Duma vis-à-vis Ukrainian territory were not answered by the nuclear powers (France and the U.K. in particular).

Taras Kuzio
Birmingham, England

The writer is senior research fellow, Council of Advisers to the Ukrainian Parliament, and research fellow, Center for Russian and East European Studies, University of Birmingham, England.

Another response about bandurists

Dear Editor:

I am writing a personal response to a letter by R.L. Chomiak that appeared in The Weekly on September 8. Mr. Chomiak asked: Where are Detroit's Banduristy, what are they doing, and why don't they want my money?

The tongue-in-cheek "Searching for the Ukrainian Banduristy" recently received an answer from the Friends of the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus. As member and business manager of the chorus, I felt the response was as official and directionally proper as they come.

What wasn't expressed in the response is the passion, commitment, planning and love each member has for the bandura, Ukrainian culture and our people.

For some of us, like Julian Kytasty, the Ukrainian song is a vocation, but for the majority it is an avocation with a desire for the former. The bandura expresses a melancholia and bravado as few instruments can. The "khloptsi" in the choir convey an ardent passion that brings audiences to tears and to joy. The standing ovations continually reinforce our work. It is just plain terrific when you, the Ukrainian public, are there for us. When our passion for "kobzarstvo" is supplemented by your enthusiasm, it makes our efforts worthwhile.

Back to Mr. Chomiak for a while. I've interpreted his letter as that of an individual who has a genuine interest in the chorus. (I am now putting on my 9-to-5 hat.) As a customer advocate responsible for vehicle quality in the automotive field, I indeed recognize the Ukrainian community's need to know about the quality of the Bandurist Chorus. Mr. Chomiak and our community, as customers, need to know that the chorus has always practiced an unwavering commitment to the Ukrainian diaspora.

The administration of the last four years and the influx of younger professionals has given the present leadership the necessary skills and tools to work toward the future. We are not only performers and entertainers, we are also leaders. Some of us give up our summer vacations to become teachers. Kobzarska Sich, ODUM bandura camp, annual holiday period workshops and springtime women's vocal workshops are a result of chorus members' commitment to the Ukrainian community, our customers.

The community outreach program is being accomplished through individual and group effort. Our conductor and musical director, Oleh Mahlay, visited Ukrainian schools in the New York area. Recently Tolya Murha visited a Minneapolis school. Marko Farion, Victor Mishalow and Mykhailo Andrec conduct weekly classes. This past summer the chorus conducted an open rehearsal during ODUM bandura camp in London, Ontario. Students, parents and community members attended. Labor Day brought the choir back to London for ODUM "zustrich." Many of the chorus members are ODUM members who wanted to contribute something back to that youth organization. It was suggested that we could do the same for other organizations.

With a recent donation from Chrysler Corp., the Bandurist Chorus has computerized. Our audio and video production capabilities will serve our public in a more timely fashion. CD publication will give Ukrainian schools a needed written, pictorial and oral history of the bandura and the chorus. A homepage is available through the Internet and a second will be on line shortly. Thanks to the talent and enthusiasm of Andrij Birko, Ivan Kernisky and Andrij Bebko, the choir has entered the communications arena of the 21st century. Mychailo Bycko, a fan and journalism student, has formulated a press package.

So, Mr. Chomiak, we are alive and growing.

There is a new face and a regenerated direction for the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus. We need to know how best to serve our community, and the community needs to know that their support is essential. Yes, Mr. Chomiak, we want your feedback and the feedback of other concerned fans. The postal glitch that some had experienced can be explained. However, my concern is that the public perception of the Friends of the Bandurist Chorus is that of an old-fashioned Ukrainian diaspora organization. As the choir began a restructuring after the 1991 Ukraine tour, the Friends organization experienced an influx of new blood. It is imperative that our primary funding organization is functioning at a level that instills public confidence.

Communication is paramount to public perception, organizational stability and longevity. The choir communicates through performances, community outreach, recordings and other venues. Friends of the Bandurist Chorus have been effectively communicating since 1955. As the Ukrainian public becomes more sophisticated, the need for our two organizations - the chorus and the Friends - to become more customer-sensitive is imperative. We are changing in order to better serve our fans and customers.

Please write to Arnold Birko (president of the chorus), 17233 Vacri Lane Livonia, MI 48152; or Wolodymyr Murha (business manager), 15356 Ellen Drive, Livonia, MI 48154.

Wolodymyr Murha
Livonia, Mich.