LETTERS TO THE EDITOR (03/31/96)

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Yet another reaction to Quebec's vote

Dear Editor:

I am writing this letter in response to the letter written by George Primak regarding the Quebec referendum (January 7).

First of all, Mr. Primak reports that over 9S percent of the "ethnic" vote went with the "no" side in the referendum. Doesn't this very statement betray a deepseated bigotry? Why differentiate between the so-called "ethnics" and the others? I thought that in a democracy all votes are equal. And where does Mr. Primak get the figure of 95 percent? The vote, after all, was secret and it is, therefore, impossible to say with any accuracy how people voted. This figure of 95 percent is bandied around by separatist lackeys without any substantiation in fact.

The majority of ethnics voted "no" not to humiliate Francophones, but for reasons of self-preservation. When one can be jailed for putting up a bilingual sign then one will not vote for those who would bring in even greater discrimination.

Mr. Primak also chooses to ignore another pertinent point: almost half of the Francophone population voted "no" as well.

Point No. 2 voiced by Mr. Primak is one that could easily be found in KGB propaganda files and betrays a hatred for Ukraine. Ukraine was much more distinct in the Soviet Union than Quebec could ever hope for in the Canadian federation, claims Mr. Primak. Let us consider how Ukrainians were distinct. Over 10 million were murdered in 1932-1933 through an artificial famine. The language and culture of Ukrainians was persecuted as the intelligentsia was annihilated. The gulags were populated by between 50 and 60 percent Ukrainians. Is this the distinctiveness you are referring to Mr. Primak? I remember talking to members of the Veryovka choir when they visited Montreal in the early 1980s. I pointed out to them that our premier of Quebec at that time was planning to separate Quebec from Canada. And, this was being debated in a civilized manner. In Ukraine, Levko Lukianenko, for raising consideration of a point in the Soviet Constitution, was sentenced to death.

Truly, the lot of Quebecers was and is a lot harder than that of the lucky Ukrainians.

Point No. 3: Ukraine seceded from the Soviet Union in accordance with provisions in the Constitution of the Soviet Union. The secession proposed by Quebec is in violation of law. It is illegal. It is rather interesting that Mr. Primak fails to mention the documented fraud that went on in ballot counting during the referendum. "No" votes were counted as "yes" votes, and this was done with the blessings of the scrutineers, all appointed by the separatist government. Nor does Mr. Primak mention that the separatist government of Quebec, before the results of the referendum were even in, was soliciting members of the Canadian Armed Forces to swear allegiance to Quebec. Is this the act of a democratic government? Is this the act of responsible people, when they incite sedition and mutiny?

Point No. 4: In a curious perversion of logic, Mr. Primak blames ethnics for the racism of the separatists. After all if there were no "ethnics" in Quebec then there would be no racism. This kind of apologetics for racism has been going on for years and it is every bit as ugly as actual racism. What about the defacing of Ukrainian churches in Montreal? I suppose that this was only a natural reaction from people who have been humiliated by those ethnics. Mr. Parizeau, the premier of Quebec, on the night of the referendum defeat blamed the "ethnics and money." Mr. Landry verbally attacked a worker in a hotel, berating her for having a non-Francophone name and therefore voting "no" in the referendum. The police had to be called out to calm this incident and this, by the way, involved the minister in the separatist government in charge of developing relations with the ethnic communities.

Mr. Primak, in case you don't know this or wish to ignore it, Ukraine has a history of over 1,000 years. We settled our lands peaceably and not by force as the French did when they drove out the indigenous Native peoples. With a population of over 52 million, Ukraine is a land rich in resources. Its historical and geographic importance is unquestionable, and the suffering that this land and its people have undergone is unique. This country voted by over 92 percent to be free. There is undoubted democratic support for independence in Ukraine. Your separatist confreres on the other hand, were looking at 50 percent plus one vote. Even constitutions aren't changed with that kind of vote, and yet the "yes" side was preparing to rend Canada on such a razor-thin decision.

Just one other comment has to be made about Mr. Parizeau, whom Mr. Primak defends with such ardor. When Mr. Parizeau announced the referendum, it was to be on a question of Quebec completely seceding from Canada. This did not fly with the populace, as the support for this position was in the vicinity of 30 percent. So Mr. Parizeau changed his tune: a new arrangement with Canada was promised as a goal. It was interesting and somewhat embarrassing that Mr. Parizeau taped 3 television interview prior to the referendum but on the condition that this interview was to be shown only several months after the referendum was held. In the interview, Mr. Parizeau clearly admits that he lied to the people. He had no intention of negotiating any relationship with the rest of Canada. In fact, the whole separatist position was based on lies, on cheating and on fraud - and they still lost.

Over half the territory of Quebec was granted to it after it joined the Confederation. It will obviously lose this land in case of separation, because the aboriginal peoples occupying this territory have voted overwhelmingly to stay within Canada. If Mr. Primak is so gung-ho in defending the so-called rights of the Francophones, will he defend the rights of the Native people? Somehow I don't think so.

Dr. A. Melnyk
St. Laurent, Quebec

A reader's query re "Animal Farm"

Dear Editor:

I was delighted to discover in The Weekly that a Ukrainian edition of George Orwell's "Animal Farm" was issued in 1947. I've often mentioned this book to Ukrainian friends overseas who are very curious about Orwell and particularly about this anti-communist tale which is unavailable in Ukraine.

I would be interested to know if the Ukrainian edition is still around, and where one may purchase copies. If not, are there plans to re-issue this book? Given the precarious political climate in Ukraine these days, I believe "Animal Farm" would be a timely fable for Ukrainians there to process and ponder.

Thank you for your assistance.

Irene Zabytko
Apopka, Fla.

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