LETTERS TO THE EDITOR (07/16/00)

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Setting the record straight on Batkivschyna

Dear Editor:

I am sorry to hear that a few of your readers actually believed the second New York Times article (July 6) about the Batkivschyna.

The first article (July 3) was prepared in Baltimore where 75 percent of the ship's visitors were Ukrainian due to our less-than-perfect location. Mr. Newman had time to speak with the crew and me and his story was 95 percent correct - except that the sail was torn, not shredded.

When he came back to the ship to do a follow-up article, we had approximately 160,000 visitors that day and had little or no time to spend with him.

The Batkivschyna is not the largest or prettiest ship in OpSail, but your readers should be pleased we have gotten the most media attention of all the ships. Your readers should also be aware of the thousands of hours Roman Woronowycz, your man in Kyiv, has spent to assist this expedition.

For the record, I was misquoted by the Times on July 6 regarding a delivery of vodka by one of our sponsors. It simply would be illogical to have so much vodka for so few people. Furthermore, the sales of T-shirts and other souvenirs are meant to help cover fuel, provisions, bottled water, flights home for the crew, etc. It is also nice when the crew members make friends that they can offer them a drink on board after an extremely hectic day without spending their own money to buy drinks. Incidentally, OpSail officials in Portland thought on the basis of that same article that the Batkivschyna was selling vodka.

People can interpret anything they read their own way, but getting this much attention for such a small ship from a country basically unknown to most Americans is a plus. Informing Americans that Ukraine is a beautiful country and a good place to do business and visit is the captain's dream. I, for one, am proud that I can do something positive to promote Ukraine.

I agree 100 percent with Capt. Dymytrii Birioukovitch that most media attention is good for Ukraine because it creates interest in a terrific country.

We hereby invite your readers to come and visit the Batkivschyna in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and in Portland, Maine.

The captain has plans to attend Philadelphia for Ukrainian Independence Day as well.

Roy Kellogg
New London, Conn.

The writer is a founding member of the Discover Ukraine Expedition.

Chechens are indeed freedom fighters

Dear Editor:

I was rather surprised by David Marples' statements in his article "Putin's Chechnya problem" (June 4). Prof. Marples, whom I respect as a colleague, made, in my opinion, a misleading statement when he wrote that "Russian tactics in the second Chechen war were modeled partly on NATO actions in Kosovo."

When we examine the tactics involved in both cases it becomes obvious that the only similarity between them is the word "bombing." What is crucial in this context, however, is the question of the objectives bombed by NATO and the Russians. NATO bombed strategic objectives - refineries, power stations, factories, bridges, railroads. The Russians, on the other hand, indiscriminately bombed the civilian population in cities, towns, villages and even hamlets. The strategy of the Russian high command reflected all the characteristics of a policy of genocide. U.S. criticism of such criminal behavior could hardly be considered "somewhat hypocritical."

Prof. Marples' characterization of the people of Chechnya as "hardly freedom fighters" overlooks the entire historical record of a small people struggling against a gigantic empire in order to pursue its own way of life. Surely, legendary leaders like Iman Shamyl, who in the years 1834-1859 led the Chechen people in their heroic exploits against the conquering Russian armies, could hardly be characterized as "warlords." Yes, you might say, but they lost, and for the last 140 years they have been a mere province of Russia. And yet, I would respond, they have survived to reclaim their right to their political sovereignty 140 years later.

The latest news from Chechnya about the increasing number of suicide bombers against the Russians should be evidence enough of the national commitment of the Chechen people.

In my eyes, they are, indeed, freedom fighters.

Taras Hunczak
Chatham, N.J.

The writer is professor of history at Rutgers University.

Ukrainian folk dancers' performance in Missouri

Dear Editor:

Living in a small town in Oregon, seeing Ukrainian dancers is very rare, so I was thrilled to see them perform during a recent visit to Missouri. When I met them, I was happy to hear that they spoke Ukrainian among themselves rather than Russian, which past groups seemed to use predominantly.

The folk group Zhaivir from Khmelnytsky, Ukraine, performed at the Worldfest International Festival at Silver Dollar City, in Branson, Mo. The festival was held from April 5 to May 7, and featured performers from many countries, including Russia, Jamaica, Zambia, Kenya, Thailand, Bulgaria, Ecuador, Australia, Vietnam and the Czech Republic.

Zhaivir featured fine dancers, instrumentalists, an operatic-quality singer and much humor. After the performance, troupe members sold Ukrainian souvenirs to help defray the cost of their trip to the United States. They played well and enjoyably in several outdoor theaters throughout Silver Dollar City, an Ozark theme park in Branson. Many of the audience had never met Ukrainians, and were eager to ask them questions.

Silver Dollar City deserves thanks for inviting and supporting Zhaivir, and Best Western Hotels for providing lodging during the group's stay.

The Ukrainian dancing was skillful and led by talented balletmaster, Yurko Ree, who had been previously invited as a visiting teacher to Toronto to instruct young dancers. The performance elicited standing ovations on more than one occasion.

It was most uplifting and enjoyable. My only question was: Why did the visiting Russian group also perform Ukrainian dances?

Halia Pushkar
Coos Bay, Ore.

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