LETTERS TO THE EDITOR (04/10/05)

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Re: the workings of Soviet KGB

Dear Editor:

One Sunday morning many moons ago, I was walking with my aunt, Jaroslava Krawczuk, to attend liturgy at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Philadelphia. It was just a few days after news arrived that Volodymyr Ivasiuk, the composer of "Chervona Ruta" and many other contemporary Ukrainian songs, was found hanged in the military zone somewhere about Lviv. Since Mr. Ivasiuk was a thorn in the side of the local Soviet authorities, my first thought was that the KGB did it. But then I thought that if the KGB did it, then why would they make it so obvious that they did it, by hanging him in a military zone, to which the average person had no access? As I conveyed my logic to my aunt she said to me: "You just don't understand Bohdan, the KGB does not care who knows, they don't care if the entire world knows that they did it." Perhaps, I thought.

Then Vyacheslav Chornovil died in an automobile accident. My wife, Roxolana, immediately stated point blank: They (the KGB) killed him. Again, I suspected the KGB. However, when I read that Mr. Chornovil's car was traveling at a high rate of speed, I again thought, well, it could have been an accident. My suspicions of KGB involvement were somewhat enhanced, however, when I read that one of the KGB's favorite elimination techniques was to create a fatal car accident.

On December 13, 2004, Fox News with Hannity and Colmes, elaborated on the "Who poisoned Viktor Yushchenko" issue. They interviewed an American with the Yushchenko campaign Dick Morris. When Mr. Hannity asked who did it, Mr. Morris replied without one second of hesitation: Mr. Putin and the KGB. Mr. Morris also stated that previously the "create a fatal car accident" approach was tried, but that it failed when the car was totaled and Mr. Yushchenko walked away. Does Mr. Putin or the KGB care if the rest of the world knows that they tried to kill Mr. Yushchenko? Obviously not.

Thank you, Teta Slavtsia. Bohdan now finally thoroughly understands the workings of the Soviet/ex-Soviet apparatus.

I hope that President George W. Bush also understands the workings of the anti-democracy ex-Soviet forces and sets up an appropriate U.S. foreign policy.

Bohdan Siryj
Cinnaminson, N.J.

Road to building a nation is long

Dear Editor:

Roman Solchanyk in his commentary on March 6, "What the Orange Revolution did not revolutionize," took "a sober look at what Ukraine's Orange Revolution has changed and, no less importantly, what it has not changed."

The author, in his two initial paragraphs, credits the Orange Revolution with two changes: first, Ukrainians said "no" to "the Soviet way of life," and secondly, "the orange revolutionaries convincingly demonstrated that they no longer wished to collaborate." He then proceeds to discuss "the nation-building project in Ukraine (and Russia?)" citing a public opinion poll that showed "that nearly half of Ukraine's voters cast their ballots for Viktor Yanukovych" and still yearned for the good old "Soviet way of life," while slightly more then half of people would rather prefer Vladimir Putin's "managed democracy."

All of the above data are probably true, but public polls are not always reliable and can be manipulated (even reportedly in the U.S.). Dr. Solchanyk then rightfully writes about Russia's persistent negative attitude toward Independent Ukraine. He is also right that "nations are not born, but made through hard effort."

The main focus and the goal of Orange Revolution, however, was not to "revolutionize" or solve all the problems, such as to change the Russian mind-set, that fixed mental attitude that was caused and formed by the centuries-old Russian imperial virus regarding Ukraine and other neighboring nations. Although, in all fairness, the Orange Revolution, by blocking and disregarding Mr. Putin blatant efforts to influence the Ukrainian presidential election, might be perceived as a start in the direction to change Russia's attitude.

Also, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's statement that the Russian government views Ukraine as "absolutely sovereign," though perhaps not sincere, was reported in many major newspapers in the U.S. and elsewhere. The Orange Revolution was not intended to impress or to change the prejudicial attitude of Old Europe's Jacques Chirac of France or Gerhard Schroeder of Germany toward Ukraine.

Thomas (Tip) O'Neill, the late speaker of the House, is known for his memorable aphorism: "All politics is local." The main and primary goal of the Orange Revolution was to establish a fair, transparent and democratic presidential election through the rule or law, and to elect a pro-Ukrainian, accountable president. Indeed this was done, and that was the main change that the people of Ukraine achieved. This was not an easy feat.

The road to nation-building is long, difficult and fraught with mistakes and dangers to be sure, but Ukrainians took the first step in the right direction. In Ukraine's favor also is the fact that world opinion of President Putin and his Russian type of "managed democracy," is changing dramatically. The Wall Street Journal, for example, is publishing critical articles such as "Vova the Dread - Stalin lives on - in the guise of Putin." (The above title is in reference to the book written by British writer Martin Amis "Koba the Dread" by Nina L. Khrushcheva, great-granddaughter of Nikita Khrushchev.)

In addition, Ukraine has friends such as Poland, the Baltics and the U.S. - the only super-power. President George W. Bush in his inaugural address stated: "the policy of the United States is to seek and support the growth of democratic movements and institutions in every nation and culture..." Only the president of United States can allow himself to make such a bold statement.

Dr. Solchanyk ends his commentary: "the Orange Revolution is quickly receding into history - but what a glorious and inspiring event on par with fall of the Berlin Wall will be recorded in modern history. It seems as if Ukraine's own history turned the corner." But it ain't over until the fat lady sings - it looks as though the fat lady is just about to start singing her aria.

Dr. Myroslaw Burbelo
Westerly, R.I.

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