COMMENTARY: To Viktor and Yulia, with love: a letter, and advice, from Aesop (12/25/05)

COMMENTARY

To Viktor and Yulia, with love: a letter, and advice, from Aesop

by Tammy M. Lynch

Aesop, who lived in ancient Greece during the sixth century B.C., was well-known in his time for his fables - stories with simple moral truths written to oppose tyranny. Many of Aesop's Fables and proverbs remain popular today. Through the miracle of technology, Aesop humbly submits the following letter, based on his most important proverbs, to Ukraine's Orange leaders.

Dearest Viktor Andriyovych Yushchenko and Yulia Volodymyrivna Tymoshenko:

I have watched with concern as the unity that prevailed against a corrupt, discredited regime has crumbled. Back in September, I had great hopes that following the initial shock over the dismissal of the Tymoshenko government, you both would return to the understanding that union gives strength. Alas, this understanding has not come. To be sure, we've heard protestations of the desire to work together, but it seems that I was not mistaken in my belief that appearances can be deceiving.

My friends, I am sure the grapes are sour. It could not have been easy, Viktor Andriyovych, to see your former prime minister's rating pass yours. It could not have been easy having your closest friends whisper that your former revolution ally wanted nothing more than to replace you. Or to have her publicly oppose certain policies of your administration, and to later diminish your position by claiming that your office will be of little consequence next year.

And it could not have been easy, Yulia Volodymyrivna, to be told immediately upon taking office that many of the duties which should have been yours would instead be handled by another. It could not have been easy having your closest friends whisper that your former revolution ally did not want you around. Or to have him publicly disavow previously agreed-to policies, and to later diminish your work by claiming that you neither helped him during his election, nor produced any positive results as prime minister.

But, it seems that you both have miscalculated. In believing that you both could succeed without the other, you have forgotten my time-tested advice to not count your chickens before they are hatched. According to my information, both of your political parties are struggling - in fact, they are losing support. A recent poll by In Mind, not inappropriately, troubles my mind. Combined, the support for your two parties (Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc 11.8 - percent and Our Ukraine People's Union - 10.8 percent) barely surpasses that of the rehabilitated Party of Regions (21.5 percent). It does now seem that you both may lose the substance by grasping at the shadow. You should remember, friends, that we often give our enemies the means of our own destruction. With so much important work to do, and so many depending on you, why risk this possibility?

Yes, Viktor Andriyovych, your revolution partner entered office with less popularity than you and came out with slightly more, and quite obviously from your response, it stung. Yes, Yulia Volodymyrivna, you were criticized, isolated and dismissed, and quite obviously from your response, it stung.

Recriminations have followed, and continue unabated. But I believe you both have much for which to be proud. Your citizens have been freed, and although mistakes were made and much work remains, you have done your best to ensure that they stay this way. Your Ukraine is a different, better, more hopeful Ukraine.

Nevertheless, I fear that pride is in danger of coming before duty. It is true that people often begrudge others what they cannot enjoy themselves, but please understand that the unique strengths and attributes of each team member complement the others. Be content in your lot, my friends, since one cannot be first in everything. Together, however, first place might be assured. Continuing criticism of each other might assure just the opposite.

Viktor Andriyovych and Yulia Volodymyrivna, it is with great admiration for both of you that I write this letter. But I ask you to remember the sad tale of The Lion and the Four Bulls:

Four bulls, which entered into a very strict friendship, kept always near one another, and fed together. The lion often saw them ... but, ... he was afraid to attack the whole alliance ... At last, ... he took occasion, by whispers and hints, to foment jealousies and raise divisions among them. This stratagem succeeded so well, that the bulls grew cold and reserved toward one another ... and, at last, ended in total separation. The lion had now obtained his end ... he found no difficulty, now that they were parted, to seize and devour every one of them, one after the other.

The moral, my good friends? United we stand; divided we fall.

Tammy M. Lynch is a senior research fellow at the Institute for the Study of Conflict, Ideology and Policy in Boston. Chartered in 1988, ISCIP focuses on conflict-prone societies in crisis, especially Russia and other post-Soviet republics, paying particular attention to destabilizing factors of a political, ethnic and/or international nature. The institute is affiliated with Boston University.

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