LETTERS TO THE EDITOR (04/16/00)

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Museum must recall all who were killed

Dear Editor:

Ukraine needs a national museum hallowing the memory of the many millions of Ukrainians murdered during the 20th century - and not just by the Nazis, but also by the Soviet regime and its collaborators.

Should a Holocaust museum be contemplated [in Ukraine] it should have official support only if it reflects the reality of what really happened in the second world war, when Ukraine lost more of its people than any other country in Nazi-occupied Europe.

One hopes that the Ukrainian World Congress has the wherewithal to make it clear to Prime Minister Viktor Yuschenko that he has a duty to remember the sufferings of all of Ukraine's citizens. While the world has dozens of Holocaust museums, not a single center of any consequence exists to commemorate the catastrophes that befell Ukraine in the 20th century.

Ukrainians today need to be reminded of the great price their ancestors paid for independence, just as all Jews and official visitors remember when they visit Israel's Yad Vashem.

Lubomyr Luciuk, Ph.D.
Kingston, Ontario

The writer is director of research at the Ukrainian Canadian Civil Liberties Association.

Is Ukraine's PM merely being PC?

Dear Editor:

We can only surmise that Prime Minister Viktor Yuschenko was merely expressing a "politically correct" statement when he made his comment in support of a Holocaust museum in Ukraine. One of the last things the world needs is yet another Holocaust museum. It is also the very last thing Ukraine needs.

Mr. Yuschenko and other Ukrainian leaders must themselves be educated about one central fact of the 20th century: no other nation suffered as many casualties at the hands of aggressors as did Ukraine. Honoring the memory of their own innocent victims should be their objective.

Eugene Harasymiw, LL.B.
Edmonton

The writer is president of the Alberta Ukrainian Self-Reliance League.

Thanks for printing info about Skoryk

Dear Editor:

Thank you for including some information about the works of Ukrainian composer Myroslav Skoryk (December 3). Mr. Skoryk also scored recently in the annual Taras Shevchenko Concert in Edmonton on March 12.

His "Carpathian Rhapsody" for clarinet and piano was performed by two young adult music students: Andrea Ciona (clarinet) and Roman Kotovych (piano). The program was organized by the Ukrainian Music Society of Alberta, under the auspices of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, Edmonton branch.

Halyna Kotovych
Edmonton

The writer is secretary of the Ukrainian Music Society of Alberta.

Yet another Odessa in the United States

Dear Editor:

In your April 2 issue you cite at least four Odessas in the United States, but have omitted the Odessa nearest to you, namely, the one in Delaware.

It is alleged that the name "Odessa" was chosen for this Delaware town because the city fathers thought at the time that it would be a major grain export center on the East Coast, and wanted to name it after a well-known grain-export city. Thus, the real Odessa came to mind.

Although their grain-export dreams did not come true, the name remained.

S. Trofimenko
Newark, Del.

Editor's note: Thank you! The gazeteer in the "National Geographic Atlas of the World," which we regularly consult, did not list Delaware's Odessa.

Kuropas column simply outstanding

Dear Editor:

The column by Myron B. Kuropas is simply outstanding. We need more of the same.

As soon as the paper arrives, I check to make sure that his column is in. His writing is thought provoking. I plan to re-read all columns by Dr. Kuropas. They are that good!

And your paper is great - keep up the good work!

Ed Buffalo
Fair Oaks, Calif.

Reaction to criticism of Kuropas column

Dear Editor:

It is Tatiana Durbak (March 26) who engages in a "hodge-podge of half-truths and baseless accusations" with which she tries to vilify Dr. Myron Kuropas. If she indeed was a regular reader of his column, she would know that he is an unabashed practicing Catholic. As such he will not commit the crime of silence out of fear that he may offend the homosexual or the powerful abortion lobby. She calls this "hate speech" while pretending to be in favor of "free speech," (except for Dr. Kuropas). You can't have it both ways.

Ms. Durbak's defense of affirmative action is absurd, as this racist policy promotes mediocrity and instills self-doubt in the individual as to whether the job or position was earned on his or her own merits.

Leo Cionka
Warren, Mich.

The Ukrainian Weekly welcomes letters to the editor and commentaries on a variety of topics of concern to the Ukrainian American and Ukrainian Canadian communities. Opinions expressed by columnists, commentators and letter-writers are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of either The Weekly editorial staff or its publisher, the Ukrainian National Association.

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