LETTERS TO THE EDITOR (01/14/01)

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

An author thanks her supporters

Dear Editor:

After "The Sky Unwashed," my novel about Chornobyl, was published in the spring, I was privileged to be invited by several Ukrainian communities who hosted readings and booksignings. Throughout my travels, I was pleasantly surprised and humbled by the remarkable and enthusiastic response Ukrainians exhibited for the book.

Now that the book touring has officially ended for this year, I would like to take this opportunity to publicly thank everyone who was instrumental in helping me launch "The Sky Unwashed."

My heartfelt thanks go to the following individuals and groups who hosted readings: Alex Kuzma, Dr. Zenon and Nadia Matkiwsky, Orest Dubho, the Rev. Andriy Partykevych and the Children of Chornobyl Relief Fund; Ambassador and Mrs. Gryschenko, Laryssa Chopivsky and The Washington Group Cultural Fund; the Rev. Volodimir, Peter Kornienko and the parishioners of St. Mary's Protection Ukrainian Orthodox Church; the Rev. Bohdan Lukie and the parishioners of St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church; Irene Antonovych, the Ivan Franko Ukrainian Literary Fund, Oleh Kowerko and the Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art; Dr. James Clem and the Harvard Ukrainian Summer Institute; and Marta Baczynsky, Maria Shust and The Ukrainian Museum.

Thanks also to Daria Horodysky, Olena Welhasch and Slavko Pihut for their kind and supportive letters to The Ukrainian Weekly. I am also grateful to Drs. Vasyl and Daria Markus and their staff at the Encyclopedia of Ukrainian Diaspora for their continuing interest; and to Anna Krawczuk and the UNWLA for donating "The Sky Unwashed" to the Holmdel (N.J.) Library.

I am very grateful to the Ukrainian media for their generous and in-depth interviews and articles: Stefan Hermanowych, WUNH Radio, University of New Haven; Theophil Staruch, Voice of America Ukrainian Service; Irina Mosievyenko, BBC Radio Ukrainian Service; America; and of course, Svoboda and The Ukrainian Weekly.

And finally, a tremendous thank you to everyone who attended the readings, supported and promoted "The Sky Unwashed."

Writers usually write in anonymity and solitude, and once a book is sent out in the world, it is especially gratifying to realize that one's work is publicly embraced by the very people it sought to represent. The book tour provided me the rare opportunity to reconnect with Ukrainians, and to share in person the pride and love of this heritage that I hope is conveyed in my writing.

Irene Zabytko
Apopka, Fla.

We must honestly face our history

Dear Editor:

For years the Ukrainian diaspora has been battling blatant falsifications and distortions of our history and culture by Russians, Poles, Americans and others interested in marginalizing our heritage. But, perhaps most disturbing is the fact that our diaspora has itself been guilty of misleading interpretations of Ukrainian history especially when it comes to the most tragic event of our anguished history - the religious and spiritual split of our nation. One can only wonder what version of history future generations of our diaspora will learn.

As a small minority of the diaspora, due to the fact that most immigrants came from western Ukraine, Ukrainian Orthodox have been subjected to many interpretations, distortions, and partial truths by the diaspora "free" press on our religious history. Who is responsible for the integrity and truthfulness of the diaspora press? Myron Kuropas often refers to hypocrisy and lies in the U.S. media (October 15, 2000), yet he is ready to apply the same standard of historical accuracy to his interpretation of known facts.

The following is an excerpt from Mr. Kuropas's interpretation of Taras Bulba, and the Kozaks as it appeared in The Ukrainian Weekly on September 17, 2000.

Dr. Kuropas accurately states that the Kozaks fought the Tatars, the Poles, the Russians and anyone else who stood in the way of their freedom. Kozaks, continues Dr. Kuropas, "preserved Ukrainian traditions, especially the Ukrainian language." Language was somewhat of a problem among the upper class who attended the Jesuits schools, but not an issue among Kozaks or the agrarian society of the 16th and 17th centuries. Interestingly enough, Dr. Kuropas omits the Kozaks' most significant cause (raison d'etre). He omits the historically known fact that the Kozaks were the protectors and defenders of the national Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The tradition that the Kozaks preserved was their Orthodox faith, the faith that was synonymous with Ukrainian nationality, its spirit and culture since 988. While the Poles were claiming more and more of Ukrainian lands, they continued to demise the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and faith. With the help of the zealot Jesuits, the Polish crown strengthened the power of the Catholic Church by first purging Protestant followers in Poland then by taking on to the liquidation of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The result was the secretive Union of Brest of 1596. An act that created "a house divided against itself," to paraphrase St. Luke 11:17. An act that 58 years later forced Bohdan Khmelnytsky to seek help and to sign the fatal "Pereyaslavska uhoda" with Moscovy in 1654.

The irony of it all is that Dr. Kuropas's biased omission triggers another misconception. In his novel "Taras Bulba," Mykola Hohol depicts historical realities of the Kozaks warfare with Poland. Defense of the Orthodox faith is their priority. Dr. Kuropas's hero, Taras Bulba, kills his beloved son Andrij, precisely because he betrays his Orthodox faith and; therefore, his nation by going to the Polish camp. The Kozaks and hetmans of the time embodied Taras Bulba's devotion to Ukraine and its faith, and their heroic contribution to Ukrainian history should not be distorted for convenience.

Until the Ukrainians honestly face their history, it might be difficult to ask others to honor our past and future.

Today independent Ukraine's future is extremely vulnerable with much of its problems due to spiritual divisions and split loyalties. At the same time, the national Churches of Poland and Russia enjoy unity and strength. Might there be a correlation?

If we love Ukraine, as we claim, let us remember that a nation or civilization is not destroyed from without until it has been destroyed from within.

Halyna Hrushetsky
La Mesa, Calif.

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