LETTERS TO THE EDITOR (09/15/96)

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Thanks for Weekly's Olympic coverage

Dear Editor:

Thank you, The Weekly, and a special thanks to Roman Woronowycz, for the excellent detailed reporting on the Ukrainian Olympians.

I cannot help but feel there was media bias in the reporting of the events in which Ukrainian Olympians took part. Example: The bland narration by John Tesh, who only showed some feeling when relating background information with photos about the Russian gymnasts. Could he be of Russian extraction? Another example: Bronze medalist Oleksander Bahach, omitted from the footage showing the American gold and silver winners on the platform.

Frankly, the American news media's publicity of this great event was upsetting.

Mary Andreyko
South Pasadena, Fla.

Many thanks due to Woronowycz

Dear Editor:

Please convey our congratulations and expressions of gratitude to Roman Woronowycz for his comprehensive and thoroughly enjoyable coverage of the Ukrainian participation in the XXVI Olympic Games.

Without his excellent reporting, we would know very little on this subject, in spite of the many hours spent in front of our TV set watching the Summer Games in Atlanta.

Many thanks, Mr. Woronowycz! Many thanks, The Ukrainian Weekly!

Alexander Voronin
Oksana W. Voronin
Silver Spring, Md.

More on transfers of Ukraine's assets

Dear Editor:

In his illuminating discussion of independent Ukraine's economic development at the recent Harvard Ukrainian Research Institute's meeting (The Ukrainian Weekly, August 25), Prof. Jeffrey Sachs states that whether Ukraine was exploited by Russia or not is of secondary importance to the fact that both republics were inefficiently managed under the Soviet regime, hence the difficulties in starting reconstruction. Furthermore, he bases his notion of exploitation on a moot issue: which country exported its products at below equilibrium prices in interrepublic trade. This statement requires some comments.

As Prof. Sachs mentions, this problem has been analyzed extensively. Several scholars in the West as well as in Ukraine, while using various methodologies and various data bases, have been unanimous in their conclusions that a significant share of national income was transferred without compensation from Ukraine to other regions of tsarist Russia and, subsequently, the USSR during various periods of time. This unrequited transfer amounted sometimes to as much as 20 percent of national income (net material product).

Clear evidence of such transfers was, for example, Ukraine's persistently low share in the total investment of the USSR relative to its population share. Since it was quite difficult to capture the effect of administered price structure in these calculations, they were in most cases based primarily on transfers of national income through the state budget. It was not a zero sum game, as Prof. Sachs suggests, rather, an unquestionably minus sum game for the Ukrainian people.

Instead of, say, using these transferred funds for modernizing the economic structure and capital stock or for introducing new technology in Ukraine, where they were generated, they were used for the development of the Asiatic regions of the Russian Federation or for satisfying the great power ambitions of the USSR. This policy was obviously possible as a consequence of Ukraine's political status, whose interests had to be subordinated to those of Moscow. Were one able to add the effect of these foregone opportunities of Ukraine's economy to the more evident effect of national income transfers, the game for the Ukrainian people was indeed minus sum in the past and an additional reason why the reconstruction of their economy is so difficult at the present.

If Ukraine's economic conditions within the Tsarist Empire and the USSR were simply of intellectual interest, perhaps only students searching for dissertation topics in economic history would have reasons to rejoice. However, Ukraine's colonial experience in the past is acutely pertinent to the current political relations between the two countries.

As presented incisively, for instance, by Dr. Fiona Hill, another participant in the mentioned HURI forum, Russia has by no means given up its intention to reincorporate Ukraine into its empire, if only under a different guise, for example, the Commonwealth of Independent States. One can add that in this effort Russia is enthusiastically supported by the various so-called left wing parties in Ukraine.

To ward off such attempts, it is incumbent on those who are responsible for defending Ukrainian independence - and, yes, on their advisors as well - always to remind the citizens of Ukraine of their country's colonial exploitation by Moscow under both the tsarist and Soviet regimes. I apologize for ending this letter, for want of a better expression, with the oft repeated warning by George Santayana: "Those who forget history are condemned to repeat it."

I.S. Koropeckyj
Moorestown, N.J.

Editor's note: This problem is discussed in greater detail by the author in his book, "Development in the Shadow." (Edmonton, 1990), Chapter 3.

St. John's students have fond memories

Dear Editor:

The students of St. John The Baptist Ukrainian Catholic School in Newark, N.J., had many wonderful experiences to reminisce about during the leisurely summer months.

On May 5, 26 second graders (13 from St. John's) with eager anticipation walked into church, each holding a candle, while parents, relatives and friends watched with joy and pride. This indeed was a special liturgy and a day that no one would forget, as the children recited their prayers and sang the liturgical responses, finally receiving their first holy communion.

On Sunday, June 16, the eighth grade commencement program took place, with 10 students graduating. Doriana Alexis Gorsky, Oksana Jablonsky, Alexa Jaroslava Milanytch, Dmytro Smyk, Andrew Scott Wynarczuk, Marco Adam Hordynsky, Sergey Konstantin Lyaschenko, Adrian Peter Padkowsky, Oleh Paul Wolansky and Tanya Alexis Wynarczuk said farewell to the students and faculty as they prepared to embark on a new and exciting phase of their life at such high schools as Mount St. Dominic, Oak Knoll, Mount St. Mary's, Oratory Prep, Union Catholic and New Providence High. Of these graduates, Alexa Milanytch, Marco Hordynsky, Adrian Padkowsky and Oleh Wolansky received the Presidential Award, which signifies outstanding national academic achievement.

Mr. Wolansky, graduating with honors, gave the salutatory address. He spoke with wit and humor about his various experiences with the teachers and the impact they had on his eight years at St. John's.

Mr. Padkowsky and Miss Milanytch, both graduating with high honors, gave the valedictory addresses in English and Ukrainian, reflecting on their own experiences with students and teachers and expressing their gratitude to Sister Maria, the principal, and to the teachers and parents for their commitment and dedication to the students and school.

During the last week of school, on June 18, 16 kindergarteners dazzled parents and the school community with their own graduation ceremony and program. It was a wonder to listen to their performance of songs and various recitations as they stood proudly in their white caps and gowns. Alexandra Burns, Matthew Diliberti, Larysa Filewicz, Danyla Frazier, Chrystyna Lazirko, Michael Kavka, Adam Klapko, Roman Kovbasniuk, Danylko Lesko, David Markowski, Stephanie McNally, Alexander Mycio, Andrea Pitio, Bohdania Potter, Olenka Strutynsky and Danylko Szpyhulsky received their kindergarten diplomas and are now going into first grade.

On Wednesday, June 19, 115 students and St. John's parishioners bid farewell to the school principal, Sister Maria Rozmarynowycz, OSBM, after 10 years of service to the community and school children. Her dedication and hard work came through in many ways, and her accomplishments are too numerous to list.

St. John's excellent academic and religious program, wonderful school spirit, and caring environment underlying good morals and high standards, as students are nurtured and learn to feel proud of their Ukrainian heritage, can all be attributed to Sister Maria's commitment and dedication, along with that of the excellent teaching staff and clergy of St. John's Parish.

Indeed, the Ukrainian community is very lucky to have such a fine school, and we wish our former principal, Sister Maria, all the best in her future endeavors.

Terenia Rakoczy
Whippany, N.J.