LETTERS TO THE EDITOR (02/24/02)

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

UNA should help students in Ukraine

Dear Editor:

I am a member of the Orphan Aid Society, which was organized in 1992 by Maria Jowyk in New York with the purpose of aiding Ukrainian orphans in Ukraine. The work of the organization is hard, but it is also rewarding, considering the beneficial results for helpless orphans. Our Orphan Aid Society provides help to over 1,000 children from age 3 to 18.

This is the reason I would like to appeal to the Ukrainian National Association for essential participation in bringing help to those many needy children.

These children are talented and deserve assistance in their continued education in Ukrainian institutions of higher learning, which they are not able to attend because of financial demands.

The UNA finances stipends for Ukrainian students in the United States and Canada, although there are possibilities in these countries for other sources of support, like grants, scholarships, loans, etc. Unfortunately, Ukraine does not provide this kind of assistance to its native students.

It is our sacred duty to help talented Ukrainian students in our old country to continue their education in order that in the future they become promising leaders of a new democratic crop, patriotic and idealistic, in the service of their reborn country. Ukraine needs enlightened, selfless and intellectual democratic leadership. Only well-educated patriotic youth can provide it.

The present Ukrainian government is uncaring and negligent in providing patriotic education for its citizens. Who else, if not Ukrainians abroad, can help talented students in Ukraine advance in their higher education? We appeal to the leaders of the Ukrainian National Association to provide stipends for worthy students in Ukraine.

Myron Lucyshyn
Phoenix, Arizona

EDITOR'S NOTE: As noted in last week's editorial, the Ukrainian National Association does offer grants to help disadvantaged youths in Ukraine further their studies on the university level.

"Ukrainian Madonna": a sacrilegious abuse

Dear Editor:

In the January 20 issue of The Ukrainian Weekly you dedicated two pages to a promotion of two female pop singers. The young ladies are striving for success described by one of them as: "to become world-renowned and tour internationally, to have an Oscar in [her] pocket, as well as a large Swiss bank account."

Obviously, they do not realize what arduous goals they set for themselves. Even the sexually provocative promo photo published in the paper will not help much. Western society is saturated with sexual pictures, and pop music originated in the West long ago. The Ukrainian imitation of this phenomenon started only as late as "1992, when Western styles and attitudes became all the rage in a Ukraine finally freed of Soviet society constraints," as stated by one of the singers. Hence, the Western public has ample choice of regional acts.

As a parallel, in the past servant-maids liked to imitate the obsolete fashions of the mistresses they served. Similarly, Ukraine, finally freed from centuries of servitude, adopted not so much the positive moral values of Western democracies and cultures, but picked up much of the moral and cultural trash available in the West. Ukrainian pop music can hardly astonish Western audiences. Neither is the Ukrainian diaspora looking for Ukrainian second-hand mimicry of questionable Western values. It craves for and appreciates an authentic Ukrainian culture as it was presented more than a decade ago by the musical ensemble Vatra or lately by the Zankovetska Theater.

Nevertheless, let the young ladies of your article dream of "conquering the European continent, then North America and Hollywood and the silver screen, followed by the world ... [and] the Swiss bank account should take care of itself" - as one of them concluded. These are their own aspirations, which eventually and unavoidably, will lead to their disillusionment.

What strikes one most in this promotional interview, is the imitation of Western materialistic disrespect of religious values by one of these pop singers, who calls herself "the Ukrainian Madonna." The title "Madonna" is generally applied with deep devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God. "The Ukrainian Madonna" can be referred to the Most Holy God-Bearer Virgin Mary venerated in Zarvanytsia by hundreds of thousands of worshippers - but not to a pin-up girl.

Although the aspiring Ukrainian singer was referring to the American performer Madonna, it still shows great disrespect to the religious term "Madonna." The act of one does not justify the other. We have very little influence on the blasphemous adoption of the divine titled by a Western woman of questionable moral standards. But the readers of The Ukrainian Weekly generally still cherish religious values and traditions. Therefore, I was amazed and offended by the sacrilegious abuse of the holy title of "Madonna," which undermines the seriousness of your paper.

The Very Rev. Ihor Monczak, Th.D.
Montreal

A merger: what are fraternals waiting for?

Dear Editor:

I was not surprised, but saddened to read the front-page article in the January 27 edition about the UNA and UFA merger. The merger was first discussed in 1988? And now four years later they still are discussing a possible merger? What are they waiting for?

Both appear to be in financial distress to a greater or lesser extent, yet they continue to bicker. I guess it will take the threat of a Chapter 11 or its equivalent for them to take action. Sad, but quite typical of our organizations.

Arnold Rudakewych
Philadelphia

EDITOR'S NOTE: Please see page 5 for an update on this matter written by UNA President Ulana Diachuk.

The Ukrainian Weekly welcomes letters to the editor. Letters should be typed (double-spaced) and signed; they must be originals, not photocopies.

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