LETTER TO THE EDITOR (10/10/99)

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

About our waves of immigration

Dear Editor:

In regard to Sergey Chikakov's letter "What about the wave of new immigrants?" (August 15), I'm prepared to initiate an "open dialogue" as the writer suggests. I am confident that The Ukrainian Weekly will print the viewpoints of members of the new wave of Ukrainian immigrants.

First of all, the writer seems displeased with our perspective as North American Ukrainians and somehow doesn't take into account that the previous waves of immigrants not only consider themselves to be Ukrainians, but also North Americans and don't necessarily view the world as he does.

Furthermore, I would have liked to see the writer be a bit more specific with his complaints and offer pertinent examples. Does he have good, specific suggestions and solutions to the issues that bother him?

Personally I resent his accusations that the Fourth Wave is being ignored, because that is just not so in our geographic location. Let me expand. There are more than 12,000 new Ukrainian immigrants in Metropolitan Seattle, according to Washington state statistics. Comparatively speaking, there are very few immigrants from earlier waves in this area. However, unlike what the writer claims, there has been a concerted effort to warmly welcome and assist these new arrivals. This is a far cry from the scenario of "acting like an exclusive club," which the writer alleges.

Do we help the new arrivals? Yes, of course! I personally have spent countless hours voluntarily teaching English to the Fourth Wave, as have others. We have acted as interpreters and advisors; we've tried and largely succeeded in involving the new arrivals in church, social and other activities.

However, there is an old adage: you can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make it drink. Many of our new arrivals have chosen to wonderfully blend into our activities. Many others are reluctant to participate, and they certainly have the right not to do so. Unfortunately, a select few want to "rule the roost" so to speak, and want things to happen immediately and want things to be done their way. They want to change us instead of understanding that they may have to change themselves. When thwarted in their attempts and when things don't go the way they want, they proceed to "look down their noses" at us - not vice-versa. It is angry attitudes of this nature, perhaps, that make the immigrants of previous waves reluctant to become more involved with Fourth Wave immigrants. Furthermore, previous waves of immigrants have worked hard to achieve what they have - maybe that is why they feel comfortable in their North American homes. Also, they are willing to share, but they don't want to be used.

I don't agree that earlier waves of immigrants left under similar circumstances. Their hopes for the future may have been the same, but that's where the similarities end. I can speak knowingly of those who immigrated in the last decade of the 19th century. Most of these immigrants had little or no formal education because there were no schools in rural Ukraine in those days.

My grandparents and parents arrived in 1898. They were very capable farmers but illiterate, as were many of the others who arrived en masse and formed large Ukrainian communities in North America. They helped each other and prayed together. It is important to note that there was absolutely no public assistance for them and they were entirely on their own. Their children and grandchildren received an education and went on to become educators and scholars, professionals and business people. Many in the Ukrainian communities throughout North America are descended from these first immigrants and they are the ones now willing to help the Fourth Wave.

The intermediate waves, in the 1920s and especially those after World War II, were better educated than the first wave, many were experts and professionals. However, they also had to make it on their own from day one, because there was no assistance for them. (See the excellent article by Ihor Lysyj in the August 22 issue of The Weekly.) Many bore the humility of being called "dumb DP's"(displaced persons) when they first came to America because, despite the fact that many had been professionally trained in Europe, they had no opportunity to learn the English language. Furthermore, most of the post-World War II immigrants and their children did not immigrate voluntarily or willingly. They were refugees of war, political refugees, virtually chased out of their homes and country under the threat of death by the Soviets. After spending five to 10 years in displaced persons refugee camps in Europe, they came to North America and started over again. Soviet propaganda alleging that these immigrants were selfish "bourgeois nationalists" who turned their back on Ukraine was a lie.

Many among the recent wave of immigrants from Ukraine have a better-than-average education; many have a basic to substantial knowledge of English. Most came here - voluntarily - for a better life, which is the main reason why most people come to America. Fortunately for this wave, unlike for the previous three waves of Ukrainian immigrants, there is public assistance, government-subsidized English-language classes and classes for all sorts of trade training. To be frank, unlike what Mr. Chikakov claims, conditions for this new wave of immigrants do not seem anywhere near as desperate and hopeless as the situation that confronted earlier immigrants. Better conditions exist now for immigrants than existed ever before in the history of the United States. Yet many, far too many, Fourth Wave immigrants still seem dissatisfied, and seem to somehow resent being immigrants to this country, resent the success of the previous immigrants and expect that things be given to them.

May I suggest that there is a huge difference between the waves, not the least of which is the difference in attitude, and that is perhaps why there may be a smidgen of resentment, dubiousness, disappointment and skepticism in the minds of the previous waves towards the Fourth Wave? Also, all the previous waves from Ukraine, despite differences in education or political beliefs, shared a common commitment to their Ukrainian heritage, whether it was their Church, or their language, or their culture and traditions. This long-term commitment does not seem to be present in many Fourth Wave immigrants, in fact, there often seems to be a disdain for things Ukrainian.

One other aspect of the Fourth Wave bothers me personally. Not a small number of the new wave in our region have brought much shame and embarrassment to the entire Ukrainian community because of dishonesty, misdemeanors and felony activities. This has caused a reluctance to wholeheartedly accept newcomers until they are better known. Good, honorable individuals are fully and eagerly accepted.

Since the writer indicated that he is a "recent arrival," perhaps he should have waited a bit longer. If the writer truly believes that there is a "huge blind spot" on the part of the previous immigrants, may I suggest that it is he who is prematurely myopic in his views.

Michael E. Sasynuik, M.D.
Bellevue, Wash.

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