Serhii HRABOVSKY: A free person is a responsible person

The James Mace Civic Stand Prize award ceremony was held at The Day’s editorial office in a very warm environment created by the prize public board members, The Day’s journalists, our full-time authors Stanislav Kulchytsky, Yurii Shcherbak, Natalka Dziubenko-Mace, and Ihor Siundiukov.

“I have a strong feeling that we have started a good tradition indeed,” said The Day’s editor-in-chief, the founder of the prize, Larysa IVSHYNA, in her opening speech. “As the year passes, we watch the information space to see if the cause started by James Mace has taken roots in Ukraine, and what names and ideas emerge within it. Frankly speaking, it is hard to say it is an optimistic picture we are looking at. And the problem is not that to show one’s civic stand today is hard. The things are quite opposite. But the meaning of the civic stand is what truly matters: the competitive level of intellect, humanity, and professionalism are important. These are the features that James Mace possessed, but which, unfortunately, are not something everyone can achieve. But sometimes I can see healthy sprouts where I have never hoped to see them before. I think that what we really managed to do in 15 years is to establish a standard. But this would have been impossible if not for high-class professionals, people with great spiritual potential, who responded to our attempts to create a truly intellectual national newspaper. And this gives me a ground to state that if the experience of intellectual cooperation were widespread in society, we would already be living in a different country.”

While contemplating the candidate, who should become laureate this year, the jury pinpointed on three candidates. However, for ethic reasons their names were not announced. And finally, the jury unanimously voted for Serhii Hrabovsky, who has been writing for The Day for many years. “We recognized Hrabovsky’s long working experience, his position, and intellectual level,” Ivshyna explained.

And this is how the head of the prize public board Yurii SHCHERBAK explained this year’s choice made by the jury: “I send my sincere greetings to the winner. And I remember his father, a documentary director, and also my friend. I think that receiving an award of this kind is a great event in Hrabovsky’s life, it is also a kind of commemoration of his father. For me Hrabovsky is one of the most outstanding publicists in Ukraine and one of the best authors at The Day. He unwraps all the deceitful covers that our history, our present, everything that happens around us, is rolled into. He has a clear, shrewd eye of an experienced analyst who looks straight into the core of things, and he is not afraid of using their real names.

“Besides, I certainly would not like the era of Nazism and Stalinism confrontation to come back, but I am quite sentimental when it comes to the World War  II time, that is when I was a child. So, in his publications Hrabovsky clearly states that the borderline between Nazism and Stalinism was all but too thin. And this is utterly important. It turned out that Hrabovsky’s grandfather, who fought during the World War II and got injured near Stalingrad, passed on to him the spirit of that tragic epoch and all those sufferings that millions of people were destined to go through.

“While writing about modern events, Hrabovsky does not conceal his position either, he clearly shows the true essence of things. And this is very important too: to let the readers understand what they cannot perceive themselves,” underlines Shcherbak. “It is the third time I have presented this award, and each time I think that this is probably the highest and the best award in Ukraine. Because when you talk about state prizes, the interference of state leaves a trace of corruption. And this is a clean prize in honor of a pure person that is given to individuals that stand on high moral grounds. It is already prestigious, and its prestige can only grow, because it is a fine award named after the American who became a citizen of Ukraine to a greater extent than many Ukrainians, who spoke the stark truth about the tragic page of our history.”

The presentation of the award was the climax of the ceremony. Ivshyna handed in the diploma “For the best publicistic work in journalism 2011,” money equivalent of the prize, a set of post stamps carrying James Mace’s portrait, photo almanach Zhyva istoria (Live History), and a club kerchief (gentlemen’s version), created by artist Pavlo Makov and designer Lilia Poustovit in honor of The Day’s 15th anniversary, to the laureate.

“This person is not only endowed with erudition (it seems that Hrabovsky knows everything about every thing). This would not be enough. He also possesses the gift of comprehending vast amounts of knowledge he has accumulated,” says Ihor SIUNDIUKOV, the author of the History and I column in The Day, last year’s laureate of the James Mace Civic Stand Prize. “And one more thing, he gives us an example of thoughtful, smart, and quiet patriotism. And this is what Ukrainians need today as they have never needed before. In his works he omits slogans and bombastic phrases. Instead, he persistently analyzes everything that is happening from truly patriotic grounds, which are what The Day also stands on. That is why presenting Hrabovsky with this award is a right, conscious, and pleasant step. And what I especially liked out of all of his works is an article in which he, using proofs and sensible arguments, destroyed the myth of the so-called Stalinist order, a myth that still lingers in the minds of many people. With the help of documents and reminiscences, Hrabovsky proved that under Stalin’s rule the country was in a huge and horrible chaos.

“Another work that appeared extremely interesting to me is a publication about national socialism, Hitler’s model of pre-war socialism. It tells how the Nazis bought Germany’s working class as they took the freedom away from people and gave them material wealth in return, and what it all led to. The third vivid publication turned out to be prophetic, unfortunately. Three days before the third round of the presidential election in February 2010, Hrabovsky was the one to write about the role of NOTAs [voters “against all” or for “None of the above.” — Ed.] in Ukrainian history in a wide context, and he showed how NOTAs had ruined our state multiple times. Unfortunately, his prophecy came true. Of course, we still hope that it will be overcome, but now the events are moving in the direction Hrabovsky warned us about. I respect this person very much and I am happy the publicist received the James Mace Prize according to his deserts.”

“Hrabovsky is one of the titans of Ukrainian journalism and at the same time he is its tireless laborer,” says Natalia DZIUBENKO-MACE, writer, poet, journalist, James Mace’s widow, member of the jury of the prize. “The appearance of his articles in any periodical is a sign that this is important, it should be read by all means. His word has never been written just for the sake of the word itself, or for popularizing himself, it has always been written for a good cause. It has always been a courageous and honest analysis of events or phenomena that are really timely for the readers, or that are becoming urgent after Hrabovsky’s works are published.

“I also want to mention Hrabovsky’s high professionalism. He feels the energy of Ukrainian language and its colors like no other. Maybe, that is the reason he influences his readers in such a powerful way. And I am glad that the right paths that he chose in his life led him to the right newspaper. I honestly think that The Day’s articles are the top of Ukrainian journalism, they belong to its golden fund.

“Of course, James Mace had been acquainted with Hrabovsky, I do not know how close in a personal sense their acquaintance was, but it was very close spiritually. James always read his works, always looked up to his opinion, and highly valued him for his civic stand, his bravery and courage – the things this prize is awarded for.”

“It is great that we remember James Mace, especially in these November days. It is a good thing that this award exists, and that the most talented journalists who make The Day, thus defining its level of professionalism, are awarded this prize. It is crucial for The Day to remember those who have been working for it for many years,” says Stanislav KULCHYTSKY, historian, member of the jury of the prize. “I have known Hrabovsky for many years. I also had a chance to work with him. Hrabovsky belongs to that special type of journalists who at the same time are highly qualified scholars. This is a very rare combination, and that is the reason why his articles excite people, make them think over various burning problems that he touches upon in his publications.”

Last week journalists held the impunity counteraction march. We wrote about it, stressing that the counteraction to impunity has to go on. And so has the counteraction to forgetfulness. This is the primary task for journalism.

The mere facts of three years of the James Mace Prize’s existence, highly respected members of the prize jury, and the honored laureates indicate that though human and professional standards, so characteristic of James Mace, have not become a rule for Ukrainian journalism, they still keep existing and increasing the productive environment in the country.