VOX POPULI: Ukrainian American youths speak out about independence (08/22/99)

VOX POPULI: Ukrainian American youths speak out about independence

On the cusp of the eighth anniversary of Ukrainian independence, The Ukrainian Weekly delves into the essential questions of how young Ukrainian Americans assume their roles in the diaspora and how they feel about Ukraine's independence. Taisa and Olenka Welhasch, summer interns at The Weekly, conducted interviews with their peers.

The Welhasch sisters note: "Our survey was by no means scientific or even demographically diverse, we simply tried to contact as many young Ukrainians as we could. Finding people to interview was more difficult than you'd guess because many of our friends are touring Ukraine with a Plast camp called 'Stezhky Kultury.' (See story on page 10.) "To those of you who ARE home, we say thank you for your enthusiastic responses."

Following are the responses elicited from a group of respondents between the ages of 17 and 28.

Markian Rybak, 23, Milburn, N.J.: We were shocked at the announcement of Ukrainian independence. All we ever learned about was the old history. I never expected it to be free. It's great that Ukraine is a free country, striving to be a democratic nation. [Mr. Rybak said he was particularly impressed by Ukraine's Constitution, which he studied in a Ukrainian history course at Rutgers.] One of the first things Ukraine did after gaining independence was to write an 'open arms' Constitution. That's encouraging. It ensures equal rights to everyone born in Ukraine - all races and all creeds.
Genia Olesnicky, 18, Florham Park, N.J.: When I visited Ukraine, I found their "independence" to be almost opposite of the freedom we have in America. Their independence seemed more symbolic, because it's not actually executed. They're independent politically, not economically. For example, even though people have an education, they can't get a job or afford to pay to further their education. Ukraine is supposedly free, but it's not as apparent as our freedom. Ukrainians' rights are still very constrained. There's a lot yet to be done in Ukraine and for us to help them.

I can't consider myself a full-fledged American. I'm very proud to be Ukrainian American and happy that Ukraine was able to regain its independence. Our culture is so rich that many Ukrainians are very patriotic. Lviv is one of the most beautiful cities I have ever seen and, if I make a lot of money when I'm older, I would love to live there.
Natalka Olesnicky, 21, Florham Park, N.J.: I'm really worried about Ukraine right now, after being there [last summer]. I think a lot of people have a direction they want to follow with their life, but they're still really scared. It will take an extremely long time for Ukraine to move on and truly gain its independence.

I'd never been to Ukraine during Communism, and seeing sniper towers surrounded by barbed wire in the middle of a sunflower field really scared me.
Taras Ferencevych, 24, Jersey City, N.J.: I'm glad that Ukraine does have its independence. As far as personal responsibility to Ukraine, I think it's important to me as a member of the diaspora because it's given me so much and the reason it exists in the first place was to help Ukraine gain its independence. I personally try to do it through Plast education. I try to teach them [the plastuny] that it's not as bad as they've heard - the mafia and criminals running the government, no national pride.

I try to introduce them to people who are the complete opposite, who work hard and volunteer their time to make it a little better of a place. [Mr. Ferencevych was camp director of Plast's Tabir Starshoho Yunatstva, ("Supercamp"). He observed that Volodymyr Fedorak, a Plast member who came from Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast to be a leader at this summer's camp, was exactly such a person.] He [Mr. Fedorak] was optimistic. He realizes that it [change] won't happen overnight. It will take a lot of work to define a whole new national identity for Ukraine.
Oleh Wolansky, 17, New Providence, N.J.: I'm very proud of Ukrainian culture. It's really good that communism [in Ukraine] has been stopped, but I haven't been there. In the future I'd like to go over and help in schools, developing art programs, maybe. I've thought about establishing a school of philosophy, presenting new perspectives and styles of teaching in the universities.
Peter Kindrachuk, 21, Allentown, Pa.: I think it goes both ways. Now that it's independent, I feel less responsibility, I mean, we don't speak Uke at home as much anymore. I feel like I don't have to try as hard because it's free. In a way, I feel responsible to go back and work and do something for Ukraine with what I've learned, now that it's a free country.
Lila Naydan, 19, State College, Pa.: I had the opportunity to go to Ukraine this spring to visit my father [Michael Naydan, who was a Fulbright scholar and professor] and learn more about the political situation and culture. I probably wouldn't have traveled there if Ukraine had not been free. I found travel to Ukraine to be very interesting, and I realized how different Ukrainian culture is from Ukrainian American culture. I found people to be very nationalistic and was excited to find that Ukraine has a very distinct culture.

Even though I've been exposed to Ukrainian culture at home, through my parents and grandparents, I didn't fully understand what life in contemporary Ukraine was really like. I studied the history and learned the literature, but didn't fully connect with the situation in Ukraine today. I definitely feel that the diaspora has a responsibility to Ukraine in the forms of education and business. [Lila added that she aspires to be active in this cooperation between Ukraine and the diaspora, but is not yet sure how.]
Maya Milanytch, 22, South Orange, N.J.: Ukraine's independence opened the door to traveling there for me. I was able to participate in two archeological digs, meet my family for the first time, and most recently, work in a program that concentrated on helping Ukrainian students apply to colleges in America. I believe that we have an obligation to promote as much interaction as possible between the U.S. and Ukraine.

Recently, I read an article that listed the countries that are most likely to be overthrown, and Ukraine was one of them. It was very disturbing to consider this possiblity, and if Ukraine were to be overthrown, I'd feel a strong personal responsibilty to get involved politically.
Ksenia Salewycz, 28, Clifton, N.J.: The independence of Ukraine has offered us the opportunity to implement concrete humanitarian programs. I have worked for the Children of Chornobyl Relief Fund since 1992, and CCRF is an example of the diaspora seizing that opportunity pro-actively. I have worked with people in Ukraine not only on a personal level, but also with government institutions and bureaucracy, and a lot has changed in the past seven years. This year's Independence Day is very different from the one we celebrated in 1991, it's changed in a positive way.

Now is the time to be the strongest because the euphoria is over. The diaspora is wobbling on its feet because they're disgusted with the negatives rather than focusing on the positive. In 20 years we'll have to take reponsibility for that. It's advantageous for everyone to assess what their childhood was like, where they came from and how they fit into the picture with Ukraine. This is the time we can't lose faith in Ukraine.

We must stay positive and do whatever we can either by volunteering, supporting other groups, or simply by talking about Ukraine to non-Ukrainians. By getting involved this way, we'll increase the professionalism of the community.

I'd like to commend Roman Goy for organizing the Joint Conferences [of Ukrainian American Organizations]. It was the first time all Ukrainian organizations were invited and or present. It was a wonderful opportunity to work together.
Adrianna Melnyk, 24, New York: We in the diaspora watched with elation as a distant Ukraine became independent in 1991. We now realize that declaring independence was the easy part: various events in the past eight years have served as an oftentimes painful reminder of the daunting task that nation-building can be.

On the eve of the eighth anniversary of Ukrainian independence, it is more critical than ever that the Ukrainian diaspora not only show its solidarity with the people of Ukraine as they continue their national search for identity, but also that we recognize this as a time to redefine for ourselves our role and future as part of a Ukrainian American community.
Xenia Piaseckyj, 27, Jersey City, N.J.: Ukrainian independence has had a direct influence on my life, on my career. At the Ukrainian Broadcasting Network we were able to freely pass along information about Ukraine in America, as best as we could from the U.S. Independence allowed my peers, my colleagues and me to work there [at UBN] in a seemingly unfettered environment. This was a novelty eight years ago.
Ivan Stokotelny, 21, Irvington, N.J.: Although it doesn't immediately affect my life, the fact that Ukraine has been independent for eight years shows how it isn't just a temporary thing. The diaspora should start taking an active role, i.e., visiting Ukraine, working there, keeping close ties with family in Ukraine - or they shouldn't call themselves Ukrainian.
Taisa Welhasch, 19, Berkeley Heights, N.J.: I'm not sure that I was able to fully appreciate Ukraine's independence eight years ago - at least not to the extent of my parents' and grandparents' level. Possibly because I was too young and because I really never had a doubt in my mind that Ukraine would gain its independence in my lifetime.

As far back as I could remember, I was always exposed to my parents' aspirations for a free Ukraine. I figured that after all those rallies and hunger strikes, protests, benefits and even parties at "Vuiko" [Roman] Kupchinsky's house, that Ukraine was bound to be independent after such passionate efforts. My father even worked for 17 years for an organization named Prolog, dedicated to help Ukraine gain independence. Thank God for our parents' relentless perseverance. I plan to involve myself in the Ukrainian diaspora and helping Ukraine by traveling there and possibly even working there. It's a very exciting concept for me, an aspiring geography major.
Olenka Welhasch, 20, Berkeley Heights, N.J.: My life was created around the dream of an independent Ukraine. My parents met at a hunger strike to free Valentyn Moroz, and my responsibility to Ukraine is an aspect of my life that was always very obvious.

I feel that we must get involved in our Ukrainian community, whether it is here or in Ukraine, or both, and dedicate our time out of respect and appreciation for those of us who are still suffering from Ukraine's unfortunate history. Our grandparents sacrificed a lot to give us the opportunities we have today. Those opportunities include the knowledge and the freedom to travel to our motherland and to help implement democracy there.

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