LETTERS TO THE EDITOR (01/13/02)

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Moral rejuvenation is what's needed

Dear Editor:

Myron Kuropas addresses two extremely important points in his "Christmas year 'round?" (December 23) column that are fairly obvious to anyone who has spent time in Ukraine and/or any of the other former Soviet republics, but for some reason have escaped any systematic analysis or study.

The two related points are that (i) Soviet reality infected its populace with an unparalleled moral debasement, and (ii) a singular peculiarity of Soviet life was that it became routine for people to say one thing, think a second and do a third. These two issues prompt two reflections.

First, when one reads something like Maria (Marichka) Sawchin Pyskir's extraordinary memoirs of life in the UPA, the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, and then compares the idealism, dedication to and love for the people of Ukraine on the part of many members of the UPA with the utter cynicism and total disregard for the welfare of Ukraine's people among some of Ukraine's present leadership, the contrast is stunning.

Second, anyone - and this probably includes most people in Western governments and agencies who are working to advance reform in the "newly emerging states" - who thinks that economic or political reform can be instituted in a post-Soviet state without a concomitant moral rejuvenation are whistling in the wind.

Bohdan Vitvitsky
Summit, N.J.

How we can help "their Ukraine"

Dear Editor:

Ukraine has been independent for a decade. Dr. Myron B. Kuropas asked in his article "Ukraine's Cultural Divide," why is "their Ukraine" not "our Ukraine?

Recently I visited Donetsk, Ukraine, with a delegation from the Pittsburgh Community Connections Program, partially sponsored by the U.S. State Department. As this is Ukraine's most prosperous, most Russianized, most eastern center, we were to investigate grassroots concepts encouraging Western ideals. I found "their Ukraine" is mostly unaware, yet curious about "our Ukraine."

When we visited the central library in Donetsk I donated several English-language 'how to books' on traditional Ukrainian crafts. They took us to a room as big as a church filled with books donated from Canadian libraries on Ukrainian subjects. These once poorly circulated books now have a 100 percent yearly borrowing history. As we gave Yevshan's "Ukrainian-English Learning Cassettes" to the curriculum director for the region's educational system, Catherine Pryhodchenko, she said, "Even if we don't learn English we will improve our Ukrainian."

The Society of Vasyl Stus in Donetsk reverently showed the KGB and trial transcripts they had obtained of the case against this Soviet-era dissident.. As we presented them with an English copy of selected works and a biography of Stus by Lassowsky they were surprised. When we gave them a sampling of buttons from the 1970s to independence, with messages ranging from "Kiss me I'm Ukrainian" to "Free Moroz," they were amazed that we promoted Ukraine's plight and openly claim Ukrainian lineage. They wanted more information on the flyers, publications, demonstrations, marches, meetings, lectures, symposiums and concerts the West was involved in. Only at the Mariupol Institute of Humanities of Donetsk State University did Dr. Konstantine Balabanov know to thank us for the U.S. Congressional probe documenting the Terror-Famine of 1932-1933.

"Their Ukraine" is indeed curious about "our Ukraine." As Andrew Fedynsky suggested in his article "The Ukrainian Smithsonian" we shouldn't just pitch those flyers, posters, periodicals and books when we want space, we should give them to where they will do good. Finger-waving will not promote "our Ukraine," but sharing with the "Ukrainian Smithsonians" in "their Ukraine" may. Our old job as Ukraine's State Department in exile and charitable activities of sending used goods need to continue - but with a new twist.

For those interested, books and periodicals may be sent to: Olena Bashun, c/o Donetsk Central Library, 84 vul. Artema, Donetsk region, 34005 Ukraine. Ukrainian dissident movement memorabilia may be sent to: Donetsk Society of Vasyl Stus, c/o Oleh M. Fyodorov, Academic Ukrainian Technological Academy, 14 Belhorodska St., Horlivka, Donetsk region, 84639 Ukraine.

Don't just think about it, do it. Do it for Ukraine.

Michael Jula
Carnegie, Pa.

A simple request to our performers

Dear Editor:

For many a year now, I have been keeping up to date in reading the column "Preview of Events."

My patience is drained when I read announcements of performances by Ukrainian well-known violinists, pianists or other instrumental players who continuously perform the music of Haydn, Schubert and other composers, but rarely render Leontovych, Lysenko and other Ukrainian composers who have written Ukrainian music to which the listening public has rarely been introduced. I could listen to Haydn, Schubert and others at any time, either on records or cassettes.

The concert needn't be entirely Ukrainian but to insert a theme of Ukrainian music would open the door to Ukrainian music.

Do I dare bring this up to our Ukrainian musicians? Or is this an illustration of the old saying "the foreign is better than our own."

I prefer to recall the words of Taras Shevchenko: "Learn what others have to offer, but do not forsake your own."

Wasyll Gina
New Haven, Conn.

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