LETTERS TO THE EDITOR (05/11/03)

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Relations between "us" and "them"

Dear Editor:

Volodymyr Tsybulko and Yuriy Tarnawsky confronted a most agonizing subject in their discussion of the relations between "us," the diaspora, and "them," Ukrainians in Ukraine. They raised interesting and valid points but being literary their politeness and congeniality tended to blur their main points.

This is a subject that pains "us" all and since the door has been opened it merits frank debate, what the philosopher Nietzsche called "philosophizing with a hammer."

As an architect I, too, had my share of frustrations and disappointments when I designed (gratis) the cathedral for Kolomyia in the most avant garde style and presented it in Ukraine. I wanted to ignite a discussion. To my surprise it was accepted by all without discussion. The Bishop then asked me: "How much money can you raise for this building in America?" Besides money, there are several dynamics at work here in our relationship with our countrymen. For one there is the "prodigal son syndrome" - you left, you had a good life; we stayed, we suffered. Now you owe us.

Do we?

Secondly we forget that the Communist regime systematically eradicated the intelligencia. Pol Pot in Cambodia killed everyone who had glasses because they could read. Our Soviets were not far behind. So there is a great fragility in the current cultural elite. As Mr. Tarnawsky points out, in many cases they are merely "poseurs" mimicking culture. Thomas Aquinas called this "learned ignorance."

If the truth be known, there are about 35 million Ukrainians in Ukraine. In the diaspora in the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia and South America we have about 350,000 cognizant, informed Ukrainians. Yet this 350,000 is better educated, more cultured, more productive, richer and much more patriotic than the 35 million in Ukraine. This leads to all sorts of phobias.

One of them is: Our countrymen have created a territorial concept of Ukraine. These who are within the boundaries are Ukrainian. Those outside are not. Very primitive.

The diaspora must refocus and continue building the virtual Ukraine and the rich culture we created outside Ukraine. We have a literature, art, architecture, schools, theaters, banks, churches; we have a Ukrainian civilization that generates nothing but pride and awe.

It takes three generations to raise an intelligentsia in a normal country. When that happens in Ukraine we can share our intellectual and cultural energy and help Ukraine to take its place in the phalanx of European nations.

For now, countrymen, let's be honest: "The emperor has no clothes."

Zenon Mazurkevich
Philadelphia

Heretz expresses unfounded concern

Dear Editor:

I was disappointed by the somewhat unfounded concern that Michael Heretz postulates in his response to a March 18 article questioning Cardinal Lubomyr Husar's proposed missionary work to bring Christ to the unchurched in Ukraine.

It seems that Mr. Heretz draws a false conclusion from a recent survey of Ukraine's population with regard to faith and religion. He is saying that just because someone is baptized Orthodox, they are actively involved in their faith and don't need to hear the Gospel. He draws similar conclusions about the rather large number of "believers" in Ukraine in spite of 70 years of religious persecution by the Communists.

Being baptized into any Christian faith or claiming belief in the Triune God doesn't necessarily equate to active involvement in any Church. Lenin, Stalin and Castro were baptized, but their initiation into Christianity didn't prevent them from becoming totalitarian despots. Satan most certainly believes in God.

My point is that bean counting doesn't always portray a realistic picture of a given situation. The mission field in Ukraine is ripe for plucking, and no one should have any inordinate fears about Cardinal Husar trying to bring the Gospel (Good News) to the lost sheep of Ukraine.

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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