LETTERS TO THE EDITOR (01/22/06)

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Thanks on behalf of Paul Baran

Dear Editor:

On behalf of Paul Baran and his family, we would like to thank all of you who helped in any way with the bone marrow drives aimed at helping leukemia patients. On Sunday, November 6, 2005, 131 people were tested in Whippany, N.J., and on Sunday, October 30, 84 people were tested in Passaic - a total of 215 people. This gives Paul, or someone else in need, 215 "opportunities" of finding a compatible donor and being able to beat this aggressive life-threatening illness!

Incremental to the 215 people tested, many other individuals wanted to be tested but were denied for particular health reasons. We must also thank those who registered to be tested but were denied.

Due to the generosity of the following sponsors, the $30 per person testing fee was eliminated: MICROS Retail Systems, Inc., Junior League of Morristown, National Council of Jewish Women (West Morris Section), Whippany Rotary Club, Selfreliance Ukrainian American Federal Credit Union, Marrow Power, Knights of Columbus EAS Council 6904 of Whippany, Ukrainian National Association, Polish American Club of Whippany, Acura of Denville, Kiwanis Club of the Hanovers, Billy & Madeline's Red Room Tavern of Whippany and numerous individual donors.

Additionally, the following companies donated goods or services that helped cover the costs of advertising and food for the drives: Morris County Duplicating (Morristown), CRT International (Whippany), Fedex Kinkos (Parsippany), Bagel Brunch (Whippany), Signs By Tomorrow (Whippany), Costco (East Hanover), Sports Authority (East Hanover) and ShopRite (Springfield). Special thanks to the Soyuz Ukrainok at St Vladimir's Church in Elizabeth who made very tasty baked goods for the drive in Whippany and Nicki Kulyk, Carmella's Bakery in Clifton and Krystyna's Bakery in Garfield for their donations of food for the Passaic drive. Members of the "Stepovi Koni" troop from the Whippany branch of the Ukrainian American Youth Association (SUM) also helped with soliciting food donations for the Whippany drive.

Even though the drives are over, we should all continue to encourage anyone who hasn't been tested to do so. If you were unable to come to be tested at one of the two drives we had, we ask that you still consider being tested. If you were tested, we ask that you continue to encourage your family and friends who may not have been tested to do so.

Anyone in good health between the ages of 18 and 60 can call the HLA Registry at 1-800-336-3363 and they can send you a kit for testing or visit www.communitybloodservices.org for more information on becoming a donor. If you choose to call for this testing kit, you should reference the "Paul Baran Marrow Drive" so you are not charged the testing fee.

The greatest gift anyone can give is the gift of life. We were able to witness so many people willing to help - most of whom do not know Paul or his family. These acts of kindness "mean the world" to Paul, Nina and their family. Again, we thank everyone who helped contribute to these drives. May God bless you!

Genia Maksymiw
Clifton, N.J.

Joe and Maria Shatynski
Whippany, N.J.

Please, send Ukrainian cards

Dear Editor:

Christmas is a wonderful time to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. It is a time when we gather with our families to celebrate our beautiful Ukrainian Christmas traditions. It is also a time to send cards and letters to friends and relatives.

Ukrainian Christmas cards are very beautiful, and many of them are bilingual. Unfortunately over the years, most of my Ukrainian friends are sending generic "holiday cards." Needless to say, I find this very upsetting.

Please, dear friends support Ukrainian culture and tradition, and send Ukrainian Christmas cards.

Inia Tunstall
Annandale, Va.

The meaning of "nationalism"

Dear Editor:

In his letter published on January 1, Leo Iwaskiw cites Webster's Dictionary to provide "the real meaning of nationalism." One can infer that he believes that nationalism and patriotism are synonymous, and would probably be irked if nationalism were defined as an extreme form of the latter (as Oxford actually does).

Rather than dictionaries, one can find a better "definition" of these two concepts in an essay by George Orwell titled "Notes on Nationalism" (May 1945). He states: "By 'patriotism' I mean devotion to a particular place and a particular way of life, which one believes to be the best in the world but has no wish to force on other people. Patriotism is of its nature defensive, both militarily and culturally. Nationalism, on the other hand, is inseparable from the desire for power. The abiding purpose of every nationalist is to secure more power and more prestige, not for himself but for the nation or other unit in which he has chosen to sink his own individuality."

Perhaps this "desire for power" is but one element that contributes to evoking negative connotations for nationalism. Mr. Iwaskiw's definition as simply "loyalty and devotion to a nation" does nothing to enhance his contrary position.

Bohdan Pasichny
Hamilton, N.J.

We welcome your opinion

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