LETTERS TO THE EDITOR (11/02/03)

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Reflections on 9/11 and war in Iraq

Dear Editor:

So, the Bush administration has finally admitted that no direct connection exists between Saddam Hussein's regime and 9/11. Yet 69 percent of Americans were convinced of the existence of such a connection, which would justify our war in Iraq. Robert Scheer of The New York Times has accused the Bush administration of the "brainwashing of Americans."

The sad truth is that most Americans are woefully ignorant about the rest of the world, and prejudice, stereotype and over-generalization fill the void created by a lack of knowledge. To many people, all 15 former Soviet countries are "Russia," and Russia speaks for all of them. Likewise, to many, "Arab" is synonymous with "Moslem," which is synonymous with "terrorist." Distinctions just create undesirable complications.

As a member of Ukrainian American Veterans Post 40, I attended the "Support Our Troops Rally" in North Port, Fla., on March 22. Unfortunately, it was really a pro-war rally, and both the City Commission's proclamation and the Roman Catholic priest's invocation emphasized 9/11 as the supposed justification for the war. On another occasion, someone who was trying to reconcile herself with the war said, "Well, at least we'll get rid of those religious fanatics."

A letter to the editor of The Weekly (April 20) justified the war by citing both 9/11 and the specter of "a pan-Arabic empire with Islam ruling," in which "if you do not convert to Islam, you lose your head." It doesn't matter that none of the 9/11 hijackers was from Iraq or that the Iraqi regime was a secular one, which treated Christians decently, Shiite Moslems badly and the mostly Moslem Kurds horribly. It seems that, after 9/11, many Americans just wanted to fight Arabs.

The Bush administration, far from brainwashing the public, merely exploited widespread ignorance and post-9/11 fear and hatred to gain support for its irrational and nepotistic war. Politicians will be politicians. In a democracy, suckers for propaganda have only themselves to blame.

Karen Bapst, Ph.D.
Port Charlotte, Fla.

U.S. should promote morality to world

Dear Editor:

I am sorry to provide a belated comment on an article in your August 31 issue which I had misplaced and found yesterday. The comment has to do with "Faces and Places" by Myron B. Kuropas on "Why can't they be like us," referring to Ukrainians in Ukraine. "They're different. Different attitudes and values. Different mindset. Different behavior ... They appear arrogant. Cynical. Somewhat morose with a penchant for dissimulation."

In the same issue you had a report from South Bound Brook, N.J., headlined "Ukrainian Orthodox and Catholic hierarch meet in 'Fraternal Encounter,' " responding to the challenges and needs of Ukrainian Catholics and Ukrainian Orthodox in the 21st century.

What is very interesting is the comparison of concern of Ukrainians in America and in Ukraine. At the meeting of hierarchs, "Addressed in broad terms were relationships with Ukrainian communities and organizations in North America and Ukraine; the challenges presented by the on-going process of secularization in society; and the Church's role as the principal teacher and repository of faith and morality, and as the promoter and guardian of the sanctity of life."

It appears to me that the United States, with its freedom, wealth and power, should be in a position to follow the course of the hierarchs in preserving what we have in the United States, specifically faith and morality, and extending this to the rest of the world, especially Ukraine.

Christ came to the Jews to show the Way, the Truth and the Life. We sure can benefit from the mission of Christ if we extend it to our country and hopefully to the world.

Therefore, I appeal to you with your worthy weekly newspaper to dwell on articles on the course chosen by the hierarch. We need to work together since we are in the world and not of the world.

Joseph Jackson
New Providence, N.J.

Variety of articles in October 19 issue

Dear Editor:

I meant it when I sent in the congratulatory statement for the Ukrainian Philatelic and Numismatic Society on your 70th anniversary and when I mentioned that I was "continuously amazed by the breadth of your reporting." Your October 19 issue is yet another wonderful example of this diverse coverage. In addition to more traditional newsy articles, it contained pieces on Ukrainian films acquired by the Harvard Film Archive (for arts lovers), three music-related features, a very interesting report on how Uman becomes "Little Israel" for two weeks every year (for ethnographers), two poignant rememberances of activist Oresta Kowcz (a true loss, but a great inspiration) and coverage of "Ukraine's Hercules" (for sports enthusiasts). Terrific!

What truly topped it off for me was the "Blue + Yellow = Green" travelogue. I have long been fascinated by the many similarities and parallels in Irish and Ukrainian history, and it was a pleasure to read Natalie Mason Gawdiak's impressions. My spouse is also (part) Irish and I too have visited the Emerald Isle, so there was much in the narrative that I could relate to.

Her mention that Ukrainian and Irish music can sound the same is something that I've noticed too. I believe (but cannot prove) that this is something that can be attributed to a common Celtic ancestry. Many people don't realize it, but the Celts weren't confined to just western Europe. They spread as far as western Ukraine. Traces of their presence are visible in the scattering of redheads I noted in the Podillia region (even among members of my own extended Ukrainian relatives)!

I find it interesting that the most quintessentially Celtic instrument, the bagpipe - found in all western Celtic areas: Scotland, Ireland and Brittany - has a western Ukrainian counterpart, the duda (also called the Volynka or Koza).

Keep up the great work! Your efforts are certainly appreciated by this reader!

Dr. Ingert Kuzych
Springfield, Va.

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