FACES AND PLACES: Predictions, dreams, fears (01/07/01)

FACES AND PLACES

by Myron B. Kuropas

Predictions, dreams, fears

Time to reflect, gentle reader, on what the next year will bring. In keeping with the spirit of the moment, I offer the following predictions, dreams and fears for your reflection, response and expansion.

Predictions

1. During his visit to Ukraine in June, Pope John Paul II will announce a date for the beatification of Servant of God Andrey Sheptytsky. No other 20th century prelate did more to openly condemn the godless, tyrannical oppressors of mankind. In the words of my colleague, The Ukrainian Weekly columnist Andrew Fedynsky: "Like Raoul Wallenberg and Oskar Schindler, he confronted evil head on - in his case, in both its Communist and Nationalist Socialist forms."

2. The installation of Bishop Stephen Soroka as America's new Ukrainian Catholic metropolitan will herald the beginning of the long process of renewal for the Church in the United States. His youth, vigor and spiritual enthusiasm will win over many converts and energize the faithful.

3. Bishop Lubomyr Husar will become the Ukrainian Catholic metropolitan of Lviv. A religious leader who spent his formative years in the United States (he even worked at Soyuzivka for a time), this brilliant and energetic churchman will surround himself with the best and the brightest in our Church and steer Ukraine towards an unprecedented spiritual renaissance.

4. Bishop Michael Wiwchar will leave his post in Chicago to breathe new life into the eparchy of Saskatoon where the bishop's chair has remained empty for some time. Born in Canada, Bishop Wiwchar brought a unique blend of spiritually refreshing styles to the Chicago diocese. His successor would be wise to continue the annual conferences aimed at greater lay involvement in Church affairs. He will not leave until his replacement is named. Given the fact that the new metropolitan is a Canadian, Chicago's new bishop will be an American. This on good authority.

5. In his inauguration speech, President George W. Bush will reiterate his campaign theme of "no one left behind," emphasizing "new inclusiveness," "greater understanding" and "more individual responsibility."

6. The ill-advised meeting between George W. Bush and Jesse Jackson will not go well for the new president. It will, however, further legitimize the Jackson-promulgated delusion that black failure is due solely to institutional racism.

7. In keeping with his pledge to include Democrats in his administration, President Bush will appoint Julian Kulas as the new ambassador to Ukraine.

8. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton will announce the formation of an "exploratory committee" to determine the feasibility of a run for the White House in 2004. The liberal media and other "anointed spokesperson," will spend weeks pondering her decision and conclude that it's time a woman was elected president in America, and, given the political divisiveness" of the last election, her candidacy would begin the healing process.

9. Congress will quickly pass the Born-Alive Infant Protection Act, banning partial-birth abortion, and President Bush will sign it into law.

10. Congress will also pass bills eliminating the marriage tax penalty and death taxes. Mr. Bush will sign them into law.

11. The new secretary of education will support the concept of limited school vouchers for all students forced to attend inferior schools.

12. Sen. Joseph Lieberman will rue the day he was gored into recalibrating his moral compass and attempt to return to positions once dictated by his religious grounding. Much time will pass before he is viewed once again as the "mensch" of the U.S. Senate.

13. Viktor Yuschenko, Ukraine's prime minister, will survive a potentially deadly "accident." The police investigation will be inconclusive.

14. Askold Lozynskyj will open a law office in Ukraine and try to convince Bohdan Futey to join his firm.

Dreams

1. After openly admitting his less than honorable behavior during Soviet times, Patriarch Filaret will offer to meet with Ukrainian Orthodox bishops in North America in an effort to heal the rift that exists within the Church. Both sides will bend and a compromise will be reached.

2. Fearing impeachment, or worse, President Leonid Kuchma will ask for asylum in Belarus.

3. Viktor Yuschenko will become Ukraine's new president.

4. Black Americans will finally eschew the "plantation politics" peddled by Messrs. Jackson, Al Sharpton and Kweisi Nfiume, and come to appreciate the wisdom offered by such blacks as Walter William, Thomas Sowell, Larry Elder, Ward Connerly, Shelby Steele and Alan Keyes.

5. Jewish leaders in North America will cease harassing the Ukrainian Canadian community with canards related to the Galicia Division.

7. Responding to public pressure, Hollywood will come to understand that its violent, lewd, garbage-mouthed, adolescent films are polluting the climate of the nation and return to offering more morally mature cinema.

8. Ukraine will experience a gradual spiritual awakening under the leadership of younger, morally grounded local leaders.

9. Mr. Lazarenko will be returned to Ukraine to face trial.

10. A new brand of OUN nationalism, one based on civic integration rather than integral exclusiveness, will emerge in Ukraine.

11. The Ukrainian Weekly and Svoboda will become financially self-sufficient and subscriptions will double.

12. The UNA will move its headquarters from Parsippany to Soyuzivka; monies gained from the sale of the Parsippany building will be used to build a new, state-of-the-art structure on the grounds of the UNA resort. Included will be an additional 50 resort units with air conditioning and other amenities

Fears

1. See predictions No. 8 and No. 13 above.

2. Seeking media approval, moderate Republicans will join Democrats in opposing conservative initiatives proposed by President Bush.

3. Russian president Vladimir Putin will continue to put Russia's Humpty Dumpty empire back together again.

There you have it, my list for 2001. Comments, and additional predictions, dreams and fears are appreciated.

Myron Kuropas' e-mail address is [email protected]

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