LETTERS TO THE EDITOR (01/07/96)

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Quebec Ukrainians' double standard

Dear Editor:

Chris Guly' s report on Ukrainian Quebecers and the province's referendum (December 17, 1995) is generally accurate, but it is not entirely objective. For example, he fails to mention that over 95 percent of the so called "ethnic" and "Anglo" vote went to the "no" side. (Furthermore, "pure laine" may be translated as "pure wool" or "virgin wool," but certainly not "poor wool.")

What surprises me is that Ukrainian Quebecers, who were pushing so strongly for an independent Ukraine, are so ready to deny the same right to French Quebecers. In fact, just before the referendum, the Ukrainian radio program in Montreal was urging all Ukrainians to vote "no" to Quebec's independence.

According to Mr. Guly's report, Eugene Czolij apparently says he hopes the meaningless offer of "distinct society" made at the last moment by the prime minister of Canada will be given a chance by Lucien Bouchard and that "there are always options to live together."

I wonder what would we all be saying if a similar situation occurred in Ukraine, which, by the way, may still happen there in the future. In fact, Ukraine had a far greater "distinct society" status within the Soviet Union than Quebec could ever hope to achieve within the Canadian federation. Ukraine, for example, was a full member of the United Nations. If Canada wishes to make Quebec a real "distinct society," why not offer to Quebec the right to become a separate member of the U.N.? This would indeed be something meaningful and, I am sure, would be welcomed by all French Quebecers.

Moreover, Ukraine is culturally much closer to Russia than Quebec is to the rest of Canada. The Ukrainian and Russian languages are also much closer than French and English, and Quebec's Latin character is very different from the Anglo-Saxon way of life of the rest of Canada. Obviously, French Quebecers form a distinct people and, as such, they naturally want their own country.

The fact that the "ethnic" and "Anglo" vote was over 95 percent in favor of "no" was a slap in the face of French Quebecers and was far more intolerant toward French Quebec than anything said by Mr. Bouchard or Jacques Parizeau, who merely expressed a fact of life in present-day Quebec where the birth rate is very low and all Canadian citizens who have resided in the province for at least six months had the right to vote in the referendum. In Canada, one can become a citizen after a mere three years of residence.

In contrast, when referenda were held in the Baltic states, for example, only those who were citizens before the annexation of the Baltics to the USSR and their descendants had the right to vote, and in addition they had to know the local language. As to France, even children of immigrants who are born in France must live there until they are 18 years of age before they can apply to become French citizens. And in Japan, third- and fourth-generation Koreans are still unable to obtain Japanese citizenship. Also, try to become a Swiss citizen to vote in their numerous referenda. Thus, compared to what is happening in most other countries of the world, Quebec's referendum was a pinnacle of fairness towards the so-called "ethnic" Quebecers.

Coming back to Ukrainian Quebecers, obviously we are people without principle. We all shout high and wide that Ukraine must be and remain independent, and it would be heresy for any of us to suggest otherwise, but for Quebec "there are always options to live together." It is difficult to be proud of such a double standard.

George Primak
Pierrefonds, Quebec

A thank-you for efforts in Congress

Dear Editor:

As representatives of the Ukrainian American community in Washington, the Ukrainian National Information Service would like to acknowledge the efforts of all those senators and representatives, who, in an impressive display of solidarity, offered support for both the Ukrainian earmark of $225 million and the Armenian earmark of $85 million.

Under the capable leadership of Sen. Mitch McConnell, chairman of the Foreign Operations Subcommittee, and Congressman Sander Levin, author of the House "Dear Colleague" letter in support of earmarks to Ukraine and Armenia, support was manifested for the two nations as future democracies and contributors to a peaceful world order.

The House "Dear Colleague" letter, which was signed by a total of 40 congressmen and congresswomen, was brief but eloquent. It stated that ''[a]mong the countries of the former Soviet Union, Armenia and Ukraine both have remained stable democracies while moving steadily to implement pro-West economic and foreign policies."

The needs of the two countries for U.S. aid and the positive implications of earmarking this aid were also discussed. "The people of Ukraine and Armenia deserve and need maximum U.S support," the letter stated, and this support call only be achieved through earmarks of assistance.

Congressman Levin and his colleagues should be praised for their persistence and vision, and we would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to them.

The signatories of the House "Dear Colleague" letter were: Sander M. Levin (D-Mich.), Martin Hoke (D-Ohio), Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), George Radanovich (R-Calif.), David Bonior (D-Mich.), Chris Smith (R-N.J.), Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.), Jim Saxton (R-N.J.), Sam Gejdenson (D-Conn.), Peter Blute (R-Mass.), Victor Frazer (I-Virgin Islands), Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I.), Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.), Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), Dale Kildee (D-Mich.), Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas), Robert Andrews (D-N.J.), Robert Torricelli (D-N.J.), Peter Visclosky (D-lnd.), Mike McNulty (D-N.Y.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Maurice Hinchey (D-N.Y.), Louise Mclntosh| Slaughter (D-N.Y.), Christopher Cox (R-Calif.), Martin Meehan (D-Mass.), Constance Morella (R-Md.), Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Calif.), Gary Ackerman (D-N.Y.), Luis Gutierrez (D-lll.), Anne Eshoo (D-Calif.), Richard Durbin (D-lll.), Calvin Dooley (D-Calif.), Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.), John Hostettler (R-lnd.), Edward Markey (D-Mass.), Anthony Beilenson (D-Calif.), Robert Borski (D-Pa.), Chris Shays (R-Conn.), William Thomas (R-Calif.) and Charles Moorhead (R-Calif.).

We would also like to thank all of the members and branches of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, as well as the many other organizations and activists across the U.S. who tirelessly made calls and wrote letters to their senators, congressmen and congresswomen. Without your help and support, Iegislation such as this could not become a reality.

Marta Kunasz
Washington

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