LETTER TO THE EDITOR (12/01/02)

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

No apologies to "silent majority"

Dear Editor:

One can well understand Alla Heretz's attempt (Letter to the Editor, November 10) to put a positive spin on her admitted "familial trait" of "silence due to fear." She utterly and completely misunderstands Dr. Myron B. Kuropas' original point. "Silence" while one's family members, one's neighbors and one's nation disappear is indeed "complicity" (outright if not "clandestine").

There is nothing noble or praiseworthy about this "silence," and it is futile to demand or expect an apology from those who point this out. Fortunately, her boldness, in demanding an apology from Dr. Kuropas can be viewed as a positive sign demonstrating that individuals can overcome a "familial trait" of silence. This alone should help her family come to realize why the rest of us don't give the same level of respect to those who "suffer in silence" that we accord to those who fight or fought for justice and survival with dignity.

Sorry, there should be no apologies to the "silent majority." If they don't start voting and fighting to improve the Ukrainian condition, then let them go on "suffering in silence" without demanding anyone's respect.

Jaroslaw Sawka
Sterling Heights, Mich.

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