I Have Stopped Being Afraid!

I sent you my letter to The Day 's contest of experts, asking that my views not be disclosed, but now that I know of the STB management's half-and-half stand I began having doubts about my own position. If we all continue to be afraid, bowing and scraping to those in power, nothing will ever change for the better. We will continue to subsist and die slowly and torturously. It is time we cast all fears aside and raise ourselves above all that which suppresses and humiliates the individual. I am fully aware of my own utter vulnerability; I have no one to back me, no strings to pull. Yet I have a much greater asset: my own clear conscience, unblemished reputation, and a clear head to realize what is happening around me.

For this reason my position is this: do whatever you consider necessary, as warranted by the circumstances. I trust you implicitly and fully rely on your wisdom and prudence.

Many thanks for noting my letter in the multitude of correspondence you receive. I and my friends read your newspaper and we rate it the highest. You are doing a great job, carrying for the masses that torch which makes even the blind see the light.

Long life!

EDITOR'S NOTE:

Dear Ms. Yurchenko:

Thanks for your letter. It is true that fear is once again a determinant in our society, in many respects. That same fear we thought had sunk into oblivion several years back. We are pained at heart reading some of the letters criticizing the authorities and ending with the same request: please leave my name out. And mind you, these letters are not anonymous. Their authors identify themselves and their whereabouts, including telephone numbers. They do so because they trust this newspaper. Yet they fear retribution above all from local authorities abiding by strict «political» discipline. One can hardly blame them. Yet when someone finds it in himself to overcome this fear, it means that Ukraine has received another free person and changed for the better, if only a little. All it takes is an increasing number of such personal victories and then we will really change our lives. Actually, we are tempted to say, please have patience for another couple of months.