EDITORIAL

"Suicidal nationalism" revisited

George H.W. Bush returned to Kyiv 13 years after his notorious trip of August 1991 to tell his audience at Kyiv State University - and by extension the people of Ukraine - that he has always supported those "who pushed the frontiers of freedom."

His comments came by way of explanation for his remarks of 13 years ago when, in addressing the people of Ukraine, he had cautioned against "suicidal nationalism." Dubbed by observers the "Chicken Kiev" speech, that address was widely criticized by those who supported independence for Ukraine and expected the U.S. president to express similar sentiments, but instead were advised to "stay the course" (to use a Bush phrase from a different context) and remain a part of the Soviet Union.

Back on August 1, 1991, the first President Bush became the first American head of state to visit Ukraine since Richard M. Nixon in 1972. Though it was only a half-day stopover in the Ukrainian capital that followed two days in Moscow, nonetheless the presidential visit was seen as recognition of the importance of the USSR's republics at a time when they were making their sovereignty felt and moving away from Moscow.

It was also seen as raising the stakes in the debate between the republics and the center over the future of the Soviet Union. "We want to retain the strongest possible official relationship with the Gorbachev government, but we also appreciate the importance of more extensive ties with Ukraine and other republics, with all the people of the Soviet Union," the president said upon his arrival in Kyiv.

Later on, those words were offset, even negated, by his address in the Ukrainian SSR Verkhovna Rada. "Freedom is not the same as independence. Americans will not support those who seek independence in order to replace a far-off tyranny with a local despotism. They will not aid those who promote a suicidal nationalism based on ethnic hatred," President Bush stated. Of the new union treaty he said: "the Nine-Plus-One agreement holds forth the hope that republics will combine greater autonomy with greater voluntary interaction ... rather than pursuing the hopeless course of isolation."

The disheartening message was received loud and clear. And it was clear also that President Bush was supporting Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in keeping the USSR together, in preserving the status quo. Some observers even said it would have been better if Mr. Bush had stayed home. Ukrainian Americans were, in a word, outraged.

Now, thirteen years later, former President Bush explained in Kyiv: "I encouraged them [Ukraine's leaders] not to do something stupid. My speech here - if you look at it, if you read it - I said to restrain from doing anything that would cause them to react when things were going the right way." He continued, "Because your leaders acted in the national interest, and not in self-interest, they avoided what could have been another Prague Spring." (The reference is actually to what came after the Prague Spring of 1968 - the invasion by Soviet troops.)

In our book, that's no explanation for the disastrous speech of 1991, but, what's done is done. Thankfully, the events of 1991 nullified Mr. Bush's speech.

The good news about the elder President Bush's 2004 address in Kyiv was his exhortation to students, Ukraine's future leaders and decision-makers, to make public service, volunteerism and charitable work part of their lives. He underscored how satisfying it is to see that "without government intervention, without government money you can help somebody else." As well, he told his young listeners about the importance of involvement, of participation in "the debate to help tackle the big issues of [the] times." These words by an elder statesman and a public servant have the potential to influence a whole generation to act for the greater good - for the benefit of their entire nation at a time when Ukraine is building a civil society and faces a crucial election.

Finally, it was indeed heartening to hear that President Bush has seen the new Ukraine. As he told the Ukrainian people, he has observed "how far you have moved down the path to freedom - a path you are still marching with pride and great determination today." He concluded his remarks by stating that Ukraine "has had a new birth in freedom" and paraphrasing Taras Shevchenko to note that "Ukraine's day of hope has indeed arrived."

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, June 6, 2004, No. 23, Vol. LXXII

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