The problem of our European choice is rather easy for Ukrainians. We made it from the day of our birth, because we live in a European country. Ukrainians are not Asians, and we do not need any retrograde Russian choice, since the Ukrainian choice has not firmly established itself yet at the state level.
We have a long way to go to Europe, in fact even longer in terms of mental organization than geography. The route has been chosen, maps are delivered, and it is time to set forth. Our very first steps confirm that we have chosen the right course. We are returning to ourselves, since we are Europeans by spirit and by blood from the early times. Though Europeanism was exterminated from the minds of the older generation long ago, the young who have lived for only ten years in independent Ukraine are already inoculated with the gene of citizens of United Europe.
The openness of Ukrainian society, new communication technologies, and, last but not least, the will of the young to be on the cutting edge of modern civilization further this process. While old-fashioned politicians are making one step forward and two steps back, the young spirit has already reached the United States of America, not to mention the European Union. It has reached places where everything is progressive and beautiful, where there is no political schizophrenia, where a mere mortal can become a saint. If you politicians create such conditions for personal development, you will truly became saints in the Ukrainian land. Meanwhile, talented young specialists go abroad to earn some money or even to take permanent residence, while the number of drug addicts, alcoholics, homeless children, and unemployed scientists and scholars grows rapidly.
The young are strong and able to overcome all the current hardships, but they see a beautiful wealthy life around them flourishing side by side with poverty, and they are willing to live an interesting, prosperous life, earning it with their own hands and brains. Modern people should not think in terms of equality and poverty. How long ago did this kind of mentality appear? It was only ten years ago. Ukrainian independence has brought a positive way of thinking with it, a new life, and an opportunity to join the family of free European nations. It was members of the younger generation who were first to believe in this new life, in democratic principles of human existence, the market economy, progressive changes, and the transformations it has evidenced.
Of course, it was not all smooth sailing, for this entails revolutionary changes. Year after year Ukrainians have become acquainted with the free world, previously closed by the Berlin Wall, through new films, new technologies, new books, and new opportunities. We have seen food products on our tables which we had never dared to dream about before. We tasted it and could not stop, because we never expected to see such a variety of cheese, sausage, fish, and even vodka. Then we came to our senses, started to produce it by ourselves, and it worked.
Year by year, while we were eating Snickers and paying family visits to McDonald’s, new words, new habits, traditions, and holidays came into our life. St. Valentine, unheard here before the 1990s has now become favorite among those in love, and now thousands of heart shaped valentines await for their recipients every year on February 14. Halloween, because of its masquerade monsters, found acceptance mostly among teenagers. But all Ukrainian young people sing “Happy Birthday to You” at birthday parties.
Under the influence of American films it seems that now both teenagers and older people know what OK or yes means and probably have some idea about what the unspeakable words from the land of Uncle Sam mean. What worries me is not such words but the mass dissemination of prison slang: the so-called prison of nations has collapsed, but its fragments stick in the hearts of its now free citizens and pollute both the Ukrainian and Russian languages. I hope that in course of time those words will go out of usage, and only such terms as manager, Internet, supermarket, pager, and many other symbols of our transition period will remain.
I envy those who are starting their adult lives at the beginning of the third millennium. All we had were the glum Beatles, bell- bottomed trousers (which the militia shortened), hippie style long hair (which they cut), and the only opportunity — to keep silent. Today’s young gallants have everything they need: specialized fashion boutiques for the young bearing symbolic names like Extreme, night clubs, discotheques, foreign cars, cheap marihuana, and political Karaoke. They have a choice.
And the rising generation is choosing: either a healthy way of life and embracing a law, political, or a business career, or wanton drinking, smoking, or cellmates.
Meanwhile, the young have another choice: choice of religion. While the Ukrainian and Russian Orthodox fight for Ukrainian churches and souls, all kinds of fundamentalist preachers are trying to net young yet unformed souls in their webs. They are ready to do anything to make them believe in their idols.
Contemporary youth does not believe much in religious idols any more than political ones, but it must have a choice, for this makes them calmer and more peaceful. Perhaps this is why the new generation is not hostile toward either Russia or NATO, unlike their parents whose love of peace is rather one-sided.
Youth already lives by the principles of the European Union, mentally it is already in Europe, and do not try to take away from them the attributes of European life they have already become accustomed to. It will create a revolutionary situation the next day and take them back.
Remember: the gene of the citizen of United Europe is already in the blood of Ukrainian youth, and nobody will succeed in luring them into any renewed union under red flags. The young people in Ukraine are living their own active and positive lives, studying how to manage the market economy and political processes. They respect the nation’s yellow and blue colors, support Kyiv Dynamo, like domestic Obolon beer, and go to the concerts of the Ukrainian VV and Russian Mumy Troll rock groups and might even come to a Scorpions show. Because this is the youth of the third millennium, and its idols are Bill Gates and Klychko brothers. They think positively and pin their hopes only on themselves; they wait for the old actors to leave the scene, and then they will make Ukraine a prosperous European state with a high level of culture.







