THE 14th ANNIVERSARY OF UKRAINE'S INDEPENDENCE
"Eyewitness to the Orange Revolution" program marks anniversary in Houston
by Eugene A. Kuchta
HOUSTON - On Saturday, August 27, Houston commemorated Ukrainian Independence Day. The event, titled "Eyewitness to the Orange Revolution," was held at Rice University and was jointly sponsored by the Rice University Slavic Studies Program and the Ukrainian American Cultural Club of Houston (UACCH).
The evening began with welcoming and opening remarks by Dr. Ewa Thompson, professor of Slavic studies at Rice University. Dr. Thompson, a longtime and dear friend of Houston's Ukrainian American community, spoke to the significance of the evening's program. A key point was her comparison of the situation in Ukraine today versus that of almost 20 years ago, when Rice University and the UACCH commemorated the Famine-Genocide of 1932-1933 by screening the movie "Harvest of Despair" with Dr. James Mace as guest speaker.
Olia Holowka Palmer, president of the UACCH, then greeted the audience and, since numerous members of the audience were not of Ukrainian heritage, conducted a brief slide presentation on the basics of the Orange Revolution, in particular, the faces places, facts and flags.
A video montage of various scenes from Kyiv's Independence Square ("maidan") was then presented; the montage included Kyiv's tent city, debates between Yushchenko supporters and Yanukovych supporters, and street music and dancing.
Keynote speaker Luba M. Dub spoke about her personal experience during the Orange Revolution. Ms. Dub, who was born and reared in Hoston, is a graduate of the University of Michigan with a B.A. in Russian and Eastern European studies and currently a student of international business at Ivan Franko State University in Lviv. She spoke movingly of the culture shock felt upon arriving in Ukraine one year ago and the extraordinary change she witnessed in the people around her as the Orange Revolution unfolded. Her descriptions of life on the maidan during those stirring days were colorful and informative.
A second video montage included speeches by Yulia Tymoshenko, Viktor Yanukovych and Viktor Yushchenko; a meeting of President Leonid Kuchma with the candidates and European mediators; and crowd scenes with the sound track of "Razom Nas Bahato" sung by the Gryndzholy (Greenjolly.)
A second slide presentation highlighted the efforts of Ukrainians in Texas in support of the Orange Revolution. It included a visit to Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison's office and a demonstration in Crawford, Texas, during Thanksgiving in 2004. This was followed by video footage of inauguration day in Ukraine.
Dr. Thompson provided concluding remarks on her thoughts about Ukraine and its future. The Orange Revolution spotlighted Ukraine to the world, more people now know of Ukraine, and its differentiation from Russia has become more prominent. For the first time in its history, Ukraine is unlikely to see its borders breached by hostile forces. However, Ukraine has many challenges ahead, she noted.
Honorary Consul of Ukraine Gregory Buchai was then introduced. He spoke of Ukraine's post-Orange-Revolution situation.
A question and answer period followed with Dr. Thompson, Mrs. Palmer, Mr. Buchai and Ms. Dub replying to audience inquiries. The audience then adjourned for light refreshments with oranges as the theme.
The UACCH acknowledged the contributions of Rice University, Dr. Thompson and Anthony Potoczniak for the success of the evening's program. Mr. Potoczniak, a Ph.D. candidate at Rice University, is a Fulbright scholar studying Ukrainian musical archives.
Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, September 18, 2005, No. 38, Vol. LXXIII
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