VIEW FROM THE TREMBITA LOUNGE

by Taras Szmagala Jr.

The power of individual example

Months have passed since the Ukrainian people took to the streets and assumed responsibility for their own country's future. President Viktor Yushchenko has assembled his team, set forth his agenda, enacted a budget, and reached out to world leaders near and far. Yet, even as the euphoria of the Orange Revolution gives way to the reality of governing an economically challenged nation, an aura of the enchantingly mysterious lingers over the events of late last year. There's a sense that something very, very special took place, even if it defies description. "What just happened here?" we ask, while at the same time we smile to ourselves, knowing that, whatever it was, it was good.

Historians will debate what stirred our brethren out of their slumber and into the protest lines and voting booths. And time will tell what effect the Ukrainian example will have on the people of Kazakstan, Belarus and even Russia herself. Only after many years have passed will we be able to see the "big picture," and understand the long-term significance of last fall.

There is another interesting question, however, that is also worth examination: Why did we, outside Ukraine, act as we did? Why did we respond with unprecedented energy, time and enthusiasm? Perhaps not even Ukraine's independence generated the kind of passion, involvement and energy among our community as the Orange Revolution.

On its face, our involvement didn't make much sense. After all, we're Americans and Canadians, not Ukrainians. Whether Yushchenko or Yanukovych became president of Ukraine mattered little to our country's well-being. With the exception of a few entrepreneurs among us, we had no economic interest in the outcome, either. And unlike our friends in Ukraine, our country's future was not at stake.

But we acted as though it were. Hundreds of us gave up holidays with our family to travel, on our own dime, to garden spots like Dnipropetrovsk or Donetsk. Tens of thousands wrote letters to Washington, donated funds to Pora and attended rallies across the nation. And when President Yushchenko recently visited the United States, he was greeted with a hero's welcome. Even though we were not explicitly invited, we crashed the party - we in the diaspora couldn't help but make this revolution our own.

This apparent contradiction resolved itself, in my mind at least, when I read the story of Natalia Dmytruk. I suspect you are familiar with her saga, as well: she was the brave sign language interpreter for Ukrainian state television who, at the risk of her career and perhaps even her life, dared to report what was really happening on the streets of Kyiv. Rather than repeat the government-sanctioned version of events, she told the truth. And by that simple act, she may have changed the course of Ukrainian history.

Her story is the story of the Orange Revolution. More than any group, organization or political party, the power of the Orange Revolution was rooted in the exemplary conduct of individuals. To be sure, individuals were acting as a group, but it wasn't the group that motivated us - it was the examples of individual courage and heroism. The images are burned in my mind: an elderly woman handing out coffee on Independence Square, an orange-clad student giving his sweater to a shivering Yanukovych supporter dressed only in a thin blue shirt, a young woman in an embroidered blouse placing a flower into the shield of a Ukrainian soldier. These images captured our imagination, and, more importantly, challenged us to follow their example.

That's why, in my view, we reacted as we did. We wanted a taste of what it was like to put aside so much in our lives that can be mundane, trivial, or petty, and participate in something that brought out the best in people. To do something that was good, and good for you. No matter that our contributions were of little consequence in the overall scheme of events. That wasn't the point. Just by attending a rally, or sponsoring an election observer, or e-mailing our congressman, we were able to claim a small part in a great event, and become slightly better people in the process.

I've heard it said by many that the events of last fall helped them regain some of their youthful idealism. Certainly that is true for me. But how will we retain it? Like the Orange Revolution itself, we'll need to focus on our individual acts, and not worry quite so much about the big picture. Some will choose to act boldly: while in D.C. last month, Katya Yushchenko called on us to consider spending two years in service to Ukraine's new government. Others will choose to act closer to home, whether within the context of a Ukrainian American organization or otherwise. Perhaps if we focus on the small things, the larger things important to us will fall into place.

By reminding us of the power of individual example, our Ukrainian friends gave us in America much more than we gave them. We can repay this favor by remembering their example, and putting that power to work for all of us.

Taras Szmagala Jr. is a Cleveland-based attorney and third-generation Ukrainian American. Mr. Szmagala may be reached at [email protected].

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, May 8, 2005, No. 19, Vol. LXXIII

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