LETTERS TO THE EDITOR (10/12/03)

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

"We" and "they" share aspirations

Dear Editor:

Dr. Myron Kuropas does well to introduce some objective data into the discussion of "us and them" by citing Dr. Voldemars Gulens' empirical study of the psychological effects of life in a totalitarian state ("Faces and Places," August 31, 2003). The formulation "us and them," however, is unfortunate.

For one thing, "we" - whether as readers of The Weekly, or as members of the UNA or of the Ukrainian diaspora as a whole - include both "them" and "us," that is, members of both the post-war and the post-Soviet wave of immigration, and indeed, members of the pre-war, largely economic diaspora.

For another, the "distortions" of which Dr. Gulens speaks are presumably measured against some norm or baseline of mental health. It is presumptuous for members of the post-World War II emigration and their offspring to assume, as many seem to do, that they represent the norm by which all Ukrainians should be evaluated.

Every diaspora has its psycho-social peculiarities (witness the conflicts, so similar to today's, between the pre-war emigration and the post-war "newcomers"). Every generation of Ukrainians, whether in Ukraine or abroad, has been influenced by political, socio-economic and cultural factors of one sort or another. Some would argue that the educated Galicians of the late Austrian period surpassed all types of Ukrainians, previous or subsequent. But there is no ideal Ukrainian sociological type, no one correct way to be a Ukrainian.

One can, of course, come up with a list of typical characteristics of the Ukrainian people that have been fairly constant over the last millennium or so. The ethos of Eastern Christianity and the values of a settled agricultural people come to mind. And there is patriotism, roughly measurable by adherence to language, culture and the ideal of national independence.

But is it clear, under these standards, that "we" are superior to "them"? By force or by fraud, Soviet Ukrainians were deprived of their language and religion, and raised in a moral and cultural wasteland. Yet many kept their faith, their language, their national dignity and identity. Ukrainian Americans, while enjoying freedom and prosperity, are surrounded by a secularized, materialist and consumerist culture profoundly at odds with our own. Have we exercised our liberty to resist or have we compromised? Can we blame "them" for having compromised, too? While hardly comparable to the trauma of Soviet oppression, has not the diaspora experience created its own psychological and spiritual distortions?

While it is instructive to compare the third and fourth waves of immigration, any notion of moral superiority is unwarranted. Nor does it make much difference. Although we have created a vital, sometimes startlingly original Ukrainian American subculture, in the long run the diaspora and its institutions are a half-way house to assimilation - or at best, a last bastion of ethnic identity. Perpetuating a "pure" Ukrainian culture and mentality in an alien environment is ultimately impossible.

Perhaps what really bothers "us" is that "they" - "sovky" and "homines sovietici" included - represent the new Ukraine, whereas "we" do not. In that case we should strive to contribute our inherited virtues and values, as well as our acquired American optimism and pragmatism, to the task of nation-building in Ukraine. If possible we should go there, as many have already done. When we do, we will find that, to a surprising degree, the same beliefs and aspirations are as dear to "them" as to "us."

Andrew Sorokowski
Rockville, Md.

Weightlifters' visit was memorable

Dear Editor:

On September 1-10 the city of Savannah hosted a meet of "World Weightlifting Masters." A total of 153 weightlifters representing 50 countries were housed in three motels near the National Guard Armory where the meet was being held.

Only three weightlifters from Ukraine were entered officially, while Russia had 40 contestants. I was told that money was the main factor. The three were: Volodymyr Lysenko from Kremenchuk, vice-president of the Ukrainian Weightlifting Federation; Victor Makarov from Mariupol; and the 105+ kg heavyweight Vadim Motyryv, also from Mariupol. Both Lysenko and Makarov finished in fourth place in their weight class, while Motyryv was a silver medalist.

I met the trio at the Savannah airport and entertained them. They most enjoyed fishing in our lake. I gave them a golf cart and three fishing poles, and on the first day they caught a three-pound catfish and a few perch. On Sunday, we all went to the Greek Orthodox Church. Later they went fishing again and caught a three-foot eel. After they cleaned and fried the fish, we all ate with pleasure while listening to Ukrainian CDs. We all had a great time singing and sipping wine and vodka. On Monday we took them out for a meal. That night Valentina, a recent émigré from Kremenchuk, took them out shopping. The three weightlifters all said that they enjoyed being themselves "na rybaltsi" (while fishing) watching "krokodyli" (alligators) in our lagoon, and seeing a Ukrainian family and how they live. They have also invited us to visit them in Ukraine.

Dmytro Nesterenko
Savannah, Ga.

The Weekly is superb paper

Dear Editor:

I offer my comments on the 70th anniversary of The Ukrainian Weekly.

1. The Ukrainian Weekly evolved into the newspaper it is today thanks to dedication by all its editors and contributors.

2. Beginning with the 1970s - and, continuing through today - publication of this newspaper was a team effort. It should also be noted that it was in 1976 that The Ukrainian Weekly adopted a modern tabloid format and layout style. In 1976 the newspaper increased in size from a four-page to a 16-page tabloid-format newspaper. Today a typical issue has 24 to 28 pages.

3. Let us hope that the constantly growing paper will continue to be an effective "visible bridge," making us more aware of the distinctive qualities of ethnic literary talents.

4. The Ukrainian Weekly clearly promotes closer ties between the American and Ukrainian peoples.

5. In short, The Ukrainian Weekly as an ethnic newspaper is superb.

W.T. Zyla
Lubbock, Texas

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