EDITORIAL: "A people longing to be free" (12/26/04)

EDITORIAL

"A people longing to be free"

As this issue of the paper goes to press on December 23, during an abbreviated holiday week, all eyes are on Ukraine, which is set to vote on Sunday, December 26 (the date of this issue), in the rerun of the presidential election's run-off.

Over 12,000 election monitors have descended upon Ukraine from abroad to watch what is now being referred to as "the third round" of the presidential vote, among them 1,300 short-term observers of the International Election Observation Mission, a joint undertaking of the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, as well as the parliamentary assemblies of the Council of Europe and NATO, and the European Parliament (and that's in addition to the 55 long-term observers who have been in the country since mid-September).

A large force of observers has been sent also by the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America and the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, with the UCCA securing accreditation for some 2,000 monitors from the United States and other countries. Most of these volunteers are paying their own way. Why? Because they believe in the cause: democracy for Ukraine. And, because they can do something tangible to promote it. It must also be noted that there is some personal risk involved, as there continues to be concern about possible violence on and around election day. Thus, our election volunteers must be praised for their generosity, dedication, selflessness, and bravery.

Speaking of promoting democracy, we had an opportunity to watch the "Washington Journal" program on C-SPAN on December 22, featuring two members of a congressional delegation that had just returned from Ukraine, Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio) and Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.). These two extraordinary members of Congress demonstrated yet again what true friends the people of Ukraine and Ukrainian Americans have in the Congressional Ukrainian Caucus.

"We can be proud that we are on the side of a free election," Mr. Rohrabacher stated on C-SPAN, adding that "all people who believe in democracy and freedom" should support those who share that belief around the world. In response to a caller who asked about the millions of U.S. dollars allegedly spent to help the candidacy of the opposition's presidential contender, he stated unequivocally that the U.S. has not used its funds to influence the election, "but to make sure it's a free election. That isn't trying to influence the outcome of the election - there is nothing for us to apologize about."

A disturbing trend emerged in some of the questions as a couple of callers asked who is financing the protesters in Ukraine and questioned the protesters' motivation. It is a theme that has begun emerging also in other media sources - a theme that seeks to downplay the depth of the people's feelings in Ukraine and that reveals a bias against the people of Ukraine, as if they are somehow less worthy and, therefore, less likely to want freedom and justice, and a better tomorrow for themselves and their children - all those things that we as jaded Americans take for granted.

The truth, however, is eloquently simple. As Congresswoman Kaptur put it, what is happening today in Ukraine is a concrete example of "a people longing to be free." It is our sincere hope that this longing, this hope, will be fulfilled on December 26.

| Home Page |