VOX POPULI: Ukraine and the diaspora - six years after (08/24/97)

UKRAINE'S INDEPENDENCE: THE SIXTH ANNIVERSARY

VOX POPULI: Ukraine and the diaspora - six years after

by Roman Woronowycz

Here it is six years after independence, and what is the state of the relationship between Ukraine and the Ukrainian diaspora in North America? We decided it was time to get away from the politicians and the leaders and the academics and go to the people for the answer. So we traveled to the Ukrainian National Association estate, Soyuzivka, in Kerhonkson, N.Y., and the Ukrainian American Youth Association (SUM-A) estate in Ellenville, N.Y., to get some responses. We also contacted people in other parts of the United States and Canada by phone to get a better geographic distribution. The survey is by no means scientific. It's merely the buzz we heard at the ground level.

Following are some of the answers to the question we put forward: How do you think relations should continue to develop between the Ukrainian diaspora and Ukraine six years after independence? What is the diaspora's responsibility?

Oleksander Olynec, Philadelphia, 67: The responsibility of the diaspora is to support the Ukrainian government no matter what it is or who it is. The main thing is that they maintain independence. Criticism should be limited.

It is up to the Ukrainian people to make the decisions. Let the diaspora talk all it wants, but it should not meddle in the government's affairs. The problem with the diaspora is that if something is not done their way, they will not support it.

Taras Galonzka, South Brunswick, N.J., 42: We should keep on encouraging the U.S. Congress and the government to keep helping them financially. We need to encourage U.S. businesses to invest there, to give people there jobs.

Dr. Ulana Suprun, New York, 34: First of all, I think that Ukraine and the diaspora are one and the same. We are all Ukrainians. There is no difference. We are all in this together. So, I think that the sixth anniversary of independence is ours and theirs.

The Ukrainians not living in Ukraine have the same responsibilities as those who are there: to propagate and create a state that is truly acting in the interest of the Ukrainian people and the Ukrainian nation.

Our responsibilities are to influence the governments of the countries in which we live to support the positive steps the Ukrainian government is taking in the interest of the Ukrainian people. If they are taking steps against the interests of the Ukrainian people, it is our responsibility to point that out as well.

Boris Oleksiuk, Hilton Head, S.C., 42: From my perspective as a second-generation Ukrainian American, the most important thing for [the diaspora] to do is to continue to understand that Ukrainians in Ukraine should determine politics there. I believe my father's generation has realized that it made a mess of politics, that is between the Banderites and the Melnykites, the UFA [Ukrainian Fraternal Association] and the UNA, etc. It is up to those who live there to make it or break it.

I believe that after six years we are just getting used to the fact that independence happened. This quick and bloodless change was a shock. It is up to us to help them without demanding anything from them.

Media contacts, exposure, getting the news out to the West about what goes on there - that is important for us to do. It is important to push the message, to get to the media. Financial help is important, too. But we must remember that we are Americans first, and then part of the Ukrainian diaspora.

Gene Schwartz, South Plainfield, N.J., 43: We should get them money, support them financially. Independence is not an easy thing. It's going to take them a while to get over the hump. For so many years they went through hell.

But it's not just money, Ukraine needs connections overseas, not just monetary help. They need to establish a free market, and get access to international markets. We need to help them get influence in Washington.

Sonia Durbas, Parsippany, N.J., no age given: It's hard to figure out: who handles the money, who routes the money that we send there. We never really know where the money goes. The people in power should know what is happening to the financial assistance that goes to Ukraine. There should be more monitoring of the situation.

Alex Durbas, Parsippany, N.J., 56: Supporting them financially is one thing. The other is that, if we bring them over for training, we must make sure they get their training and then return. Too many stay here.

But then there are the bad things. We must try to make sure they don't take the bad back with them to Ukraine. Like this rap music. And narcotics, which are becoming more predominant in Ukraine.

Bohdan Futala, Santa Monica, Calif., 46: There is a kind of chilling that has occurred between the diaspora and Ukraine, in the sense that the diaspora has had its romantic bubble burst regarding how it perceived Ukraine.

First of all, the diaspora was historically disproportionately from western Ukraine and did not represent the political view and ethnic make-up of Ukraine. And in terms of language, it did not understand that Ukraine is a mostly Russian-speaking country. The diaspora came to realize that there are differences.

There were also those in the diaspora who thought that once Ukraine was free they would return there, but now their country has become the United States. People might not say this, but they have acclimatized themselves; they are functional and comfortable here. These are the older people.

People from our generation, well, their ties are not that strong. The community, the way I see it, is in a complete stay of decay. The older people still feel a responsibility, but the younger ones see no obligation or responsibility to Ukraine or their community here.

Christina Jancew, Clifton, N.J., 26: After six years, somebody should have started up an organization that audits what is going on in Ukraine, to see if all this money that is being dumped into Ukraine is going to where it is supposed to. There are no "zvits" (reports) to tell us that this money went here and that money went there, and to actually check it out. Once people see that the money is going where it should be and for a good cause, people will again give.

Before we support them politically, we must get them to get their act together. But we must also get our act together in the diaspora. We cannot even get SUM-A, Plast and ODUM to work together here.

Andriy Rudnitsky, Toronto, 36: As far as responsibility goes, there is none. If you want to help out, fine; if not, that's fine too. National diaspora organizations have no real responsibility, but I'm not discouraging them.

Ukraine as an independent country is on its own. They have the people and the resources. It is a rich country, but they have to get themselves organized. They have the potential, they are just being dominated by other countries.

I've always said that independence would take 20 years. They have 14 years to go. I'm positive on Ukraine, but it's going to be an excruciating process.

Donna Fedenko-Fedorowycz, Culver City, Calif., 34: I feel that Ukrainians in the diaspora have a responsibility to be informed and stay current on events as they continue to unfold in Ukraine. It's our responsibility to not be passive when we become aware of situations that unfairly misrepresent Ukraine and Ukrainians. It's critical to support programs sponsored in the United States and in Ukraine focusing on education and basic health care with donations of both time and money. Perhaps, above all it is essential to maintain the traditions and culture that may have been taken for granted while we were so immersed in them, especially realizing their importance when, in the not so distant future, those who remember it best will be gone.

Lidia Jurkiw-Gulawsky, Sterling Heights, Mich., 38: That's a very difficult question to answer. The diaspora is still trying to figure out their place, it seems. The thought now is that they must refigure how they are to give financial aid.

But we should continue to help. We need to help Ukraine establish the basics. We need to continue to send qualified people to Ukraine to help it learn how to expand its democracy and how to compete in the global market, to give them knowledge and the experience we have gained.

Do I think we still have a responsibility? I think that our responsibility towards Ukraine is even greater. It's not just in terms of dollars, it includes providing personnel and knowledge.

Dr. Yuriy Bohatiuk, Philadelphia, 38: One should realize that Ukraine is going through growing pains. We must assist them in their time of need. Remnants of communism remain in the government and the economic system. In this interim period Ukraine continues to need our support. After all the years we fought for Ukraine's independence, to turn our backs on it now would be a gigantic mistake.

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