Emotions and dreams of a Ukrainian ’emigr’e
New York City, USA — Life is very interesting because at any moment everything can change dramatically. After living in Ukraine for 12 years, I experienced precisely this kind of change. What happened was characteristic of millions of families where a parent was earning a living abroad. This is a very complicated situation — you are constantly and painfully aware of your father’s absence, in everything, every day. When flying to the United States on Oct. 18, 2001, my mother, sister, and I clearly realized that we were not going to America, but to see the husband and the father.
Having spent seven years far away from the native land, I have never lost interest in what was happening in Ukraine. Much water has run under the bridge since I landed on American soil, yet the older I grew, the stronger was the desire to see Ukraine. Living abroad certainly does not mean that you sever all contact with Mother-Ukraine. We share all your problems, worries, joys, and failures. I would even say that our emotions are stronger than those of some people in Ukraine — at least, mine are, because I have never psychologically separated myself from the land of my forefathers. As a boy, I never subconsciously left Ukraine; I simply went to see my father. This is the reason I have decided to write this article, because everything that happens in Ukraine concerns me as a citizen of Ukraine.
The Orange revolution came and left, but we still feel its consequences in Ukraine and beyond its borders. In fact, this revolution also took place in America. Hundreds of ethnic Ukrainians wore orange colors and chanted slogans near the Ukrainian embassy; some even flew to Ukraine, but not to freeze on the Maidan for Yushchenko. For many this act meant sacrificing, if need be, one’s life for the honor and will of the Ukrainian people. Do you remember the scale of this event? Many listened to political analysts and thought up various positive and negative scenarios. We have gone through all this together with you; we were and still are concerned about our native land. We are also aware of your disillusionment with Yushchenko, and we are hurling our curses in the same direction as you are.
During the soccer championship in Germany many diaspora Ukrainians were there to represent Ukraine. I know several people from Chicago who were there. I remember when Ukraine’s team was executing an eleven-meter penalty kick toward the end of the game with the Swiss national team. I was so anxious that my hair nearly stood on end. I was standing about 20 cm from the TV screen, staring, gripping the phone, and relaying what I saw on the field to my father. And then the glorious moment of our victory! My goodness, tears started rolling down my cheeks and I yelled “yes!” so loudly that the windowpanes vibrated and I was hoarse and speechless for several seconds. By comparison, when the US team was playing, I didn’t pay much attention, and when I did I rooted for the opponent team. Ukraine, we are with you and we never forget about you!
Needless to say, when Klitschko was fighting the Russian Ibragimov at Madison Square Garden we were there rooting for him. There must have been several thousand Ukrainians in that building with yellow-blue colors, six times more than Russians. People came from Canada and various parts of the States to support the boxer. Some took a huge five-by-two-meter Ukrainian flag around the stadium. They did it perhaps seven times and every time they marched past us we would stand up and cheer, whistle, and wave our own Ukrainian flags. We outshouted everyone else. This is how made a Ukrainian wave roll over the platforms in America. Regrettably, I couldn’t see this when I watched a replay of the bout on television at home, but you can take my word for it: Madison Square Garden was Ukrainian then and everyone knew and felt this.
The new gas war and the squabbles in the ranks of the crazed patriots at the so-called Verkhovna Rada did not pass unnoticed here, either. Believe me, we joined you in cursing and sneering at the pseudopolitical hustling and bustling of the malevolent politicos. We were especially outraged by the chauvinistic lies presented as the “absolute Russian truth” in the world’s “most honest” news releases.
Wherever I am, I always feel I am Ukrainian. My ultimate plan is to complete my studies here and return to my home country. I am sure that, with my knowledge I have, I will be able to make a significant contribution to Ukraine. I do not want to stay here and help build America. There is a saying: “If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans.” I hope that our Lord is not a humorist. I believe in my destiny and that it sent me to America for a reason. I will try to take everything I can from this dying empire and then return to Ukraine to build a nation-state, a Ukrainian United and Independent State!
John Kennedy once said these excellent words: “Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country.” It is true that the sad lot that befell Ukrainians in what is a modern-time colony has turned many of them into economic outcasts, forcing made them to leave their native land and travel far. We make no secret of this — nor do we forget this. No matter how many reasons there are for doing nothing and regardless of the growing number of liars who urge us to pin our hopes on Yushchenkos, Tymoshenkos, Yanukovychs, Lytvyns, Yatseniuks, and others (those will supposedly pave the way to a happier democratic future, but without a nation-state) — all of this cannot serve as an excuse twiddling our thumbs or trusting political crooks.
Even if we do not live to see the fruits of our revolutionary work, we will make it easier for our children and grandchildren. They will uphold our cause, building on the foundations we will lay for them, just as we continue the struggle for the Ukrainian United and Independent State, relying on the gains of our predecessors. The responsibility for our present and future was once shouldered by the Cossacks Mazepa and Orlyk, haidamakas, opryshoks, Ukrainian classical writers, Sich riflemen, servicemen in the UNR army, guerillas and ideologues of the UVO and OUN, the powerful UPA, and others. Similarly, the future of our children and grandchildren depends on us. No one but Ukrainians will truly care for Ukraine and Ukrainian interests. Let us think and act with an eye to the greatest national values, the Ukrainian national idea, and the Ukrainian nation-state!
Glory to Ukraine! Glory to its heroes!
