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Where there is no law, but every man does what is right in his own eyes, there is the least of real liberty
Henry M. Robert

November 7: Red Letter, Black,or Ordinary Day?

10 November, 1998 - 00:00


The date marking the 1917 seizure of power by Lenin's Bolsheviks in
St. Petersburg divides Ukraine into two irreconcilable camps, with some
of the populace marching under hammer-and-sickle slogans, bearing faded
portraits of past Soviet leaders like Lenin and Stalin, while others rally
under gold and blue Ukrainian flags. Both sincerely believe that only they
are right.

Of late the political barometer has fallen a bit, apparently due to
other pressing matters, such as overall economic instability, which discriminates
against no one, making itself felt by thriving businesses and rank-and-file
workers suffering from chronic back wages. Add here those who are just
sick and tired of the ongoing squabbles among our politicians.

The Day asked several noted political figures to comment on this
date.

  Leonid KRAVCHUK
(first President of Ukraine):

I do not celebrate November 7, not any longer I am positive that this
should not be regarded as an official holiday. In fact, the only reason
it remains a red letter day is that we have so many Reds in our Parliament.
I am one of those who says one should always preserve his history, but
this history should be reflected in monographs, books, and the press. I
appreciate all those who struggled for freedom and were prepared to sacrifice
their lives for the good cause. They all sincerely believed that they were
building the bright communist future. They were wrong, of course. On the
other hand, we are supposed to be living in a democratic country, so we
must respect all those revering this date.

  Natalia VITRENKO,
leader of the Progressive Socialist Faction:

Our party is the only Marxist party in the Ukrainian Parliament. We
have always consistently upheld the very Marxist idea: political power
to the toilers. October 1917 demonstrated to the whole world what power
to the people means. Thus, for us it is the most important holiday of all.

In 1917, the only right system of rule was established. The 1918 Constitution
strengthened it, and in 1936 it was reborn. The People's Soviets became
those of the nomenklatura. We have not lived under Soviet power. From this
came distorted information, problems, and the collapse of a great state.
And what was left of the economy was finished off by the Communist ideologues.

  Dmytro TABACHNYK,
People's Deputy, Ph.D. (History):

I am an historian by training, and for me November 7 is a serious historical
event, one of the defining turning points in the history of civilization.
In its way, it is comparable with Waterloo or Bastille Day. The Great October
Socialist Revolution had a tremendous impact on the fate of the world,
to be regarded in two dimensions; first, carried a powerful positive charge,
building the phantom of some absolute social model, a Utopian idea on Marxist
and Campanella's standards. Later, when fully implemented, its impact was
felt in strengthening democratic traditions the world over, rallying advanced
forces faced with the terrible, strict empire occupying one-sixth of the
globe. The entire democratic world watching this inhuman experiment came
to the only logical conclusion: people had to unite and live under laws
respecting human rights and liberties. It is better to develop social programs
than place one's life on the revolutionary altar.

  Dmytro KORCHYNSKY,
radical nationalist Vitchyzna (Fatherland) leader:

This date went down in twentieth century history. It was then that a
number of personalities and ethnic groups received a real chance to implement
their potentialities. On the other hand, October 1917 was a lesson: you
want to achieve something, you have to learn the craft of rebellion. They
learned how to stage big and small revolutions and went on from there.

  Valery CHEREP,
United Social Democrat faction:

I would sound naive to allege that this date has played no role. I grew
up and matured fully exposed to the powerful communist propaganda machine.
However, we are all exposed to changes in our life and times. Watching
realities change, we are not always aware of how we ourselves also. Let's
face it: we did have the Russian Revolution and this date in October remains
a red letter one in our calendar. We have on more than occasion tried to
cancel it in Parliament, but the Left has effectively blocked our attempts.

  Volodymyr MOISEYENKO,
member of the Ukrainian Communist Party Central Committee:

For me this is the most important holiday. It was in October that our
people felt free for the first time. It was a force capable of changing
our life for the better. I am aware of myself as part of a new community
of people.

I think that all talk about canceling the festivities immortalizing
the Great October Socialist Revolution is nothing but empty talk. We are
supported by the majority of Ukrainian citizens. The Right and the national
patriots suffer one defeat after the next. And the new bourgeoisie are
surrounding their positions. We shall not allow them to cancel this nationwide
holiday. The presidential campaign is approaching. You see Leonid Kuchma
turning even more to the Left, and he will start singing dithyrambs to
the October Revolution.

  Yaroslava STETSKO,
leader of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists:

This is not a red but a black-letter date. It has passed and will never
return. Personally, I observe another date: November 1 when the Western
Ukrainian National Republic was proclaimed in Lviv. I am a true Christian,
so I go to the cemetery to pay tribute to the graves of all those who fought
and gave their lives for a Free Ukraine. I bring candles and light them
on their graves. And I will try to rest Saturday November 7.

  Anatoly MATVIYENKO,
leader of the NDP faction:

November 7 used to be a great holiday. People looked forward to it and
prepared for it. Currently, this date ought to be used for summing things
up, making comparisons between the way we lived and the way we are going
to live. I do not consider this date as a day of self-reproach. In fact,
November 7 ought to have been nullified as an official holiday in Ukraine
long ago. Nothing happens on this date now. Ukraine had the revolution
exported to it, as was Soviet power.

  Vitaly KONONOV,
leader of the Greens:

I think that we have too many red-letter days in our calendar. We kept
the old ones and added new ones. This is why we live badly; there's no
time to work. November 7 is holiday for the Left. I don't understand why
everyone should dance to their tune. The last presidential elections showed
that they are supported by only 30% of the people. All the rest will proceed
to build a new democratic state.

 

 

 

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