Another “biggest flag” and the theory of small deeds

Youth leaders and representatives of the Ukrainian Diaspora from 20 countries, aged 18 to 35, have applied to participate in this event. The Forum aims at consolidating the leaders of the Diaspora’s youth non-governmental and student organizations. The conference of Ukrainian youth organizations (KUMO UWC) is structurally a part of the Ukrainian World Congress, and actually binds together the young people in the Diaspora. “Apart from an economic crisis, the world is going through a crisis of political leadership. Western European countries allocate big funds to solve this problem in order to involve the young in political processes. Ukraine must use the opportunities the Diaspora offers,” says Jaroszlava Hartyani, UWC first deputy chairperson.

Can our country make good use of this potential today, by involving young Ukrainians abroad to the building of state? There have been numerous statements of intentions, but due to a lack of political will of all the Ukrainian presidents, including Viktor Yushchenko, they remained empty.

The Lviv forum will last till September 2. The agenda includes conferences, roundtables with representatives of Ukrainian youth organizations, politicians, public activists, clerics, MPs, as well as trainings, Ukrainian folk-style parties, and a Diaspora Fest, with the participation of Ukrainian bands from home and abroad.

Several events have already been held. In particular, on Monday a record was set for the most mass performance of the National Anthem, and the “biggest National Flag” was spread in front of the monument to Ivan Franko, to honor his birthday.

We used the quotes here not without a reason. This was the third “biggest National Flag” spread in Ukrainian cities over a few last days. This gigantomania, an obsession with “the biggest,” “the highest,” or “the widest,” becomes quite remarkable. It is a sort of psychological trick. It looks as if Ukrainians, those in the Diaspora in particular, were trying to cover all their problems with the huge flag, smother them in the loud chorus singing the anthem, or swallow them together with the largest varenyk or the longest sausage. It works, but does not give new quality. So maybe, it would be worthwhile to start with small-scale, but useful, actions? For example, present your own school with The Day’s Library before the new school year begins. Maybe, then on September 1, Day of Knowledge, we will wake up in a different country.

Danylo KORBABICZ, president, Ukrainian Canadian Students’ Union, 24 years old, a lawyer:

“Canadian Ukrainians can exert substantial influence on situation in Ukraine, too. The Ukrainian Diaspora in Canada is 120 years old, and it has a huge impact on Canada’s political circles. In this aspect, the Diaspora in other countries faces much more problems. This is why such forums as the one in Lviv are very important, because we can teach Ukrainians worldwide how to organize their activities.

“For instance, the world would still be ignorant of the Holodomor, if it had not been for the huge Ukrainian community in Canada. Holodomor Day is remembered in all Canada’s provinces. The Canadian government marks Holodomor Day, too. All this is due to the influence of the Ukrainian community. We enjoy respect in Canada.

“By the way, if Canada’s government wants to find out something about Ukraine, officials first meet with representatives of the Ukrainian Diaspora, who are very informed about the developments in Ukraine.

“Two months ago, I was present at a meeting with Canada’s foreign minister. And this is what I heard there: the Ukrainian Consulate in Canada complained that Canada’s government lends too attentive an ear to the Diaspora’s opinion. To this, the minister replied, “That’s because Canada is a true democracy, and we always listen to our citizens’ opinion.” Where, in what country would you find an ambassador complaining about a foreign government listening too much to the diaspora? This is ridiculous. Do the Jews, who visit America, ever complain about the powerful Jewish community and a powerful Jewish Diaspora in the States?

“I was brought up on Ukrainian culture. I am proud to have been born in Canada. Yet I am ever prouder that I am a Canadian-born Ukrainian. Learning Ukrainian was quite a challenge for me, but I did it – because it saddened me to think that Ukrainian can be less frequently heard in Ukraine than Russian.”

Oleksii ZAKHARCHENKO, international affairs secretary of the Young People’s Movement (Molody Narodny Rukh), official spokesman for the Conference of Ukrainian Youth Diaspora Organizations in Ukraine:

“This has been a second forum of this kind. The first took place in Kyiv. We are planning similar events in other Ukrainian cities as well. We believe it important for the Ukrainian youth to meet young people from abroad. These are unique people, and our young can learn a lot from them. What strikes me most about them is that they, being the third, fourth, fifth, or sixth generation of emigrants, cherish Ukraine in their hearts. For example, they spend their own money to disseminate Ukrainian culture through Ukrainian festivals and so on.

“So this is how we met last year, at a forum in Kyiv. During this year we have implemented five projects. And now we are going to tell that 200 young people from the Ukrainian Diaspora have arrived to monitor the election in Ukraine. This is an example of concrete activity: holding an honest election in Ukraine.

“Thus, such forums for us are both an occasion to meet new people and share the know-how. Our main mission is unification.”