"Race for the Rada" series promotes interest in 2006 parliamentary elections (12/25/05)

"Race for the Rada" series promotes interest in 2006 parliamentary elections

by Tamara Gallo Olexy
Ukrainian Congress Committee of America

NEW YORK - Continuing in the spirit of the Orange Revolution slogan "Razom Nas Bahato" (Together We Are Many), the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, Shevchenko Scientific Society, Columbia University Ukrainian Studies Program and the Brooklyn Ukrainian Group (BUG), have joined forces to launch their "Race for the Rada" discussion series, in an effort to generate support for and interest in Ukraine's upcoming parliamentary elections.

The co-sponsoring organizations have chosen a variety of topics to appeal to different interests and tastes enabling participants to obtain a better understanding of the "hot topics" in today's Ukraine and provide an open exchange of ideas in a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere.

The first such event, hosted by the Brooklyn Ukrainian Group (BUG), was held on Thursday, December 15, at the UCCA's National Office. Serving as the evening's MC, Roxy Toporowych, co-founder and board member of BUG, welcomed the guests to the first Race for the Rada discussion on the topic of the influence of musicians, celebrities and music on the Orange Revolution and during the run-up to the parliamentary elections in Ukraine.

The evening's guest speaker, Dr. Adriana Helbig, an ethnomusicologist, delivered an interesting presentation on "Music and the Orange Revolution: Sounding the Ukrainian Nation." Highlighting how times have changed, Dr. Helbig illustrated a simple comparison of how, prior to the Orange Revolution, it was difficult to find Ukrainian music CDs, while now, for example at the recent international ethnomusicology conference in Atlanta, Ga., the association of Ukraine with rock music has "begun to push Western researchers toward serious analysis of the complex musical and socio-cultural phenomena taking place in Ukraine today."

Commenting on the role of the musicians on the maidan - Kyiv's Independence Square, the focal point of the Orange Revolution - Dr. Helbig stated that they "recognized their roles as not only cultural producers but as political and social leaders ... through this spectrum of sound, rock musicians helped forge a new, civic understanding of what it means to 'be Ukrainian.' " In conclusion, Dr. Helbig stated that the "Orange Revolution was not only the world's first Internet revolution, it was also the first revolution fought through tunes."

Following Dr. Helbig's presentation, over 30 participants engaged in a lively discussion, expressing their personal experiences of listening to the bands on the maidan, exchanging ideas on how music can influence events, what an important role music played in the peaceful revolution of 2004 and whether music will have a role in the upcoming parliamentary elections in Ukraine.

Subsequently, the guests had an opportunity to view an exclusive interview conducted by Damian Kolodiy only a week ago in Ukraine with Taras Chubai, the lead singer of the Ukrainian rock group Plach Yeremiyi.

An active participant of the Orange Revolution, playing almost every day for the thousands gathered on the maidan, Mr. Chubai relayed his thoughts and feelings about how musicians fed the momentum of the protests. "We were playing not for a candidate, but for the concept of a free and fair election," he emphasized.

Speaking of the first "Race for the Rada" event, "BUG co-founder Maya Lew said: "We tried to create a warm and relaxed atmosphere for our participants. The hall was decorated with Christmas lights and photos from the maidan, the guests enjoyed tasty hors d'oeuvres catered by Olesia Lew, while listening to music clips from the 2005 Maria Burmaka tour."

The co-sponsoring organizations thanked all who attended and invited everyone to the next "Race for the Rada" event which will be hosted by the Shevchenko Scientific Society in January 2006. The topic for January's discussion is the importance, or triviality, of the Ukrainian language for the electorate. For more information about the series readers may contact the UCCA, (212) 228-6840, or the Columbia Ukrainian Studies Program, (212) 854-4697.

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