February 26, 2016

We are Americans of Ukrainian descent

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Dear Editor:

In recent months, The Weekly has published four pieces on how Americans of Ukrainian descent “aren’t providing enough political help” to Ukraine (Oleh Wolowyna, October 18, 2015, and January 17, 2016; Orest Deychakiwsky, November 8, 2015; Andrij Dobriansky, February 14). As Ukraine is an independent country and these writers speak of voting in American elections – implying citizenship – I don’t understand why Americans of Ukrainian descent “should” be patriotic for a foreign land.

My background (for statistical purposes): I was born in Detroit, am 37, have a M.S. in applied physics from the Naval Postgraduate School, live in the Pittsburgh area, and am a registered voter. I served as an officer in the U.S. Navy for over seven years, a job that required me to swear an oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States; I voluntarily took that oath as, in part, I figured I owed America for it taking in displaced persons after World War II – which included my grandparents and parents – and allowing them the freedom to build successful lives. I have relatives in Ukraine and I consider it their country.

One afternoon in July 1994 at Novyi Sokil Plast camp in North Collins, N.Y., one of the counselors walked into the camp and announced in Ukrainian: “We have a new president!” (Dramatic pause for one or two seconds.) “Kuchma won.” My only thought during that dramatic pause: “What happened to Clinton?” Ukrainians got a new president in 1994, not I.

Messrs. Wolowyna, Deychakiwsky and Dobriansky urge that Americans of Ukrainian descent – especially politicians – should support Ukraine’s matters. Logic dictates, then, that those of Italian heritage should support Italy’s matters, of Irish heritage should support Ireland’s matters, of Russian heritage should support Russia’s matters, and so on. Did that last one catch you off-guard? Is that what you really want?

I (obviously) bristle at the idea that because I’m of a certain ethnic heritage then I’m supposed to think a certain way – it cheapens me as an individual.

I truly understand the mindset behind these patriotic articles. We Americans of Ukrainian descent that were born before 1985-ish remember the atmosphere in which it was our duty to keep our language and traditions alive so all of it could be shared with (native) Ukrainians once Ukraine again became independent. (Remember the “Free Our Churches Now” demonstration in Washington on Columbus Day Weekend 1988?)

As Ukraine has been independent for nearly 25 years, I think we and our ancestors have done the job and we should start transitioning to a mindset similar to that of the Italians, Irish and other ethnic groups that have an independent “mother country” and have been in the United States for over 100 years: be proud of our heritage and work to preserve and carry on our traditions, but also acknowledge we are Americans and not citizens of “the home country.”

Gibsonia, Pa.

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