FACES AND PLACES: Resolutions for 2003 (01/12/03)

FACES AND PLACES

by Myron B. Kuropas

Resolutions for 2003

One of the hazards of authoring a biweekly opinion column is that one occasionally gores someone's ox.

No columnist ever pleases everyone. "Faces and Places" has been around for 22 years and during that time I have been accused of "falsifying Ukrainian history," providing "few facts," being an "arch-Catholic," being "anti-Catholic," being "anti-Orthodox," disrespecting certain Ukrainian families, being "out of touch with the Ukrainian American community" and, of course, of "right-wing rant."

Fortunately, most readers tend to agree with most of my views, either in letters to The Weekly, or by phone, in personal conversation, or by e-mail. Some e-mailers, of course, disagree. If their criticism is civil, I always respond.

Other e-mails, however, condemn what I write in the most vitriolic language. "Limbaughesque race-baiting bombast," wrote one correspondent. "Transparently populist crap," wrote another. "Anti-Jewish whining," suggested a third.

Some readers are upset that I occasionally voice political opinions about developments in the United States. "There is no need to waste The Weekly's space," one disgruntled correspondent suggested. "Let the American media do American politicking. They are quite competent."

A year ago I wrote a New Years' column titled "Predictions, dreams and fears." This really rankled one lady. "We do not need your predictions, dreams and fears," she wrote. "I would suggest that you steer your energy and interest to a real important issue instead." She then suggested that I focus on the 1932-1933 Famine in Ukraine. I informed her that I had developed the first Ukraine Famine curriculum guide in 1980, that I conducted workshops on the famine for teachers in Chicago, Detroit and Newark, that I testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on behalf of the U.S.-funded Ukraine Famine Commission, and that I also served on that commission as a public member.

One young man urged the editor of The Weekly to stop publishing my column immediately because it is "an embarrassment to the entire Ukrainian American community."

An anonymous e-mailer, who called himself "The Hiker," cancelled his subscription to The Weekly because the editor "showcased" my father's 100th birthday. The Hiker argued that the only reason The Weekly wrote anything about "Taras" Kuropas (my dad's name was "Stephen") was in "deference to his son," described by The Hiker as someone who is constantly "whining about everyone who doesn't share his views." People familiar with our community know that my father was one of the most active UNA members ever. He established eight UNA branches, wrote a Svoboda column for 30 years, and served as auditor and vice-president of the UNA for over 40 years. The Hiker was not impressed.

What astounds me about many of the complaints is the seeming lack of thought or corroboration. Many appear to be knee-jerk reactions to a perceived slur. Rather than write a letter, or a commentary even, that rebuts what I write, my detractors resort to an ad hominem attack or to sarcasm. Don't agree with Kuropas? No problem. Label his writing "crap," or "whining," or "offensive," or simply laughable, or anti-this or anti-that. Then demand that he be censored or exiled.

I have no problem with readers who disagree and put their thoughts to paper. I can deal with thoughts; feelings, however, leave little room for discussion. A lively but intelligent debate is healthy. The best, in my mind, was the months-long, vigorous dispute I had with Eli Rosenbaum, the present director of the Office of Special Investigations.

Some of my detractors believe I should write only about events in the Ukrainian community - as if our community is not an integral part of the United States, as if events in Congress, the White House, the mayor's office, the schools, have absolutely no bearing on our lives.

Having agonized over all of this for quite a while, I have decided to turn over a new leaf beginning this year.

I resolve that I will never again write anything that might, could, or will offend anyone in our community - be they Catholic, Orthodox, Jewish, Democrat, Republican, socialist, American-born, Ukrainian-born, Third Wave, Fourth Wave, young, old, female, male, Banderite, Melnykite, or a UNA executive.

I resolve that I will always take into account the fact that some Ukrainians believe feelings are just as important as facts. Some in our community are ultra-sensitive and bruising their feelings, especially today in multicultural America, even unintentionally, is a grave offense, one that cannot go unnoticed or uncorrected, or even unpunished.

In order to "get a grip," I resolve that I will enroll in a political sensitivity training workshop so that I can become more open to, and appreciative of, icons such as Bill and Hillary Clinton, Al Gore, Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton and, of course, Jane Fonda.

I resolve that I will stop being so judgmental. Judgementalism is out in our society. Just getting along is in.

I resolve that I will write only about apolitical American topics. So what if I have been politically active all of my adult life, worked as a Special White House assistant to President Gerald Ford as well as a legislative assistant to Sen. Bob Dole. My opinions don't count. Fortunately, we have The New York Times and The Washington Post to keep our community informed.

I resolve to always remember that certain groups - Jews in particular - are above reproach. To criticize the Office of Special Investigations or the so-called "Nazi-hunters" in The Ukrainian Weekly runs the risk of being labeled "anti-Semitic." It doesn't matter that I worked with the American Jewish Committee for 15 years, and was honored with an AJC award, before becoming convinced that dialogue with the AJC is counterproductive.

I resolve that I will never again criticize left-wing professors at my or any other university. These are people whose intentions are honorable. The documented fact that most of them are Democrats only makes their pronouncements that much more credible.

That's all the resolutions I can think of, but I'm open to suggestions.

One caution, however. I rarely keep my New Year resolutions.

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

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