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Every year, on November 1st we organize commemorative programs and attend special church services to commemorate those who, fighting for our freedom, raised the Ukrainian flag over Lviv’s City Hall for the first time. They took a step forward; succesive generations of Ukrainians have followed their lead. This year we also celebrate the 35th anniversary of the founding of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA). It has also left a legacy, covered with blood, but steeped in glory, that should be heeded by future generations. It is disconcerting, however, that in all these commemo rative celebrations we expend more energy mourning the dead than we do wondering at their achievements. Surely they them selves would wish us to not only remember and weep for them, but to study the circumstances that gave birth to their struggle: to learn as much about them as we can. This would do much to inspire us, especially the younger generation, not only to mourn those who have died fighting for freedom, but to continue their struggle as well. The younger generation (and even the scholars among them) seems with increasing frequency to believe that every thing has its beginning with them: that there has been no positive or constructive movement in our history, culture or science until now. Perhaps if they took the time to study more closely the political and strategic situations that existed in the world at the time, if they knew and understood the circum stances which surrounded the deeds of these freedom fighters, they would end up with quite a different assesment of their deeds. After studying and understanding why and how the Ukrainian Sichovi Striltsi did what they did one cannot help but be amazed how they in such a short time could have prepared what we now call the November insurrection. We must take account that the national consciousness was not strong among the vast majority of Ukrainians. As for any kind of political consciousness (i; e. the desire to establish an independent Ukrainian government) this was strictly a minority sentiment. The Sichovi Striltsi in their movements across various parts of the Ukraine not only waged successful campaigns against the enemy, but spread the idea of inde pendence and freedom as well. We must admit to ourselves, after all, that, our long cultural heritage notwithstanding, when it comes to political consciousness we are a very young nation. Understanding this fact should help to build our hopes and eliminate our feelings of inferiority. One more thing comes to mind. Every so often one comes across the assertion that the Russification is not being forced upon the Ukrainians, that the people themselves are guilty, that they passively accept the dominance of a foreign culture and willingly give up their own. That is easy to say for someone who lives here in America, a free land where every individual’s rights are protected and guaranteed, for someone who has no idea of the methods used by Russian imperialism in its campaign to dominate the Soviet Union. The assault on the Ukrainian NOVEMBER 1, 1918 culture in the Soviet Union is not a frontal attack that is easy to recognize and to defend against. It is insidious and cunning, moving gradually so as not to attract too much of the free world’s attention. The Soviet government has at its disposal the wide desolate expanses of Siberia and Kazachstan where it can conveniently exile anyone who gets in its way together with all his family. Let us try to imagine some other nation in a similar situation and ask whether it would be able to preserve its identity and culture or would it perhaps give in to the demands of the invaders in order to survive. And yet every so often the patriotic flame flares up in the Ukraine, every so often we hear the voices of those who refuse to be subdued. And hearing these cries we see that the struggle for freedom initiated by our parents and grandparents continues and will continue until a free Ukrainian people can have the final say in a free Ukrainian land. Translated by M. T. OUR COVER The Ukrainian Sichovi Striltsi left behind them a legacy of military achievement and struggle for freedom. They also made a considerable contribution to our culture in music, art and literature. The ranks of the Sichovi Striltsi were filled with the most gifted and patriotic young men and women. Truly the flower of our youth. We welcome the publication of a full collection of the songs of Roman Kupchynsky entitled ”My idemo v bii” (We go into battle). Leafing through the collection one finds many songs that are so widely sung that we usually consider them part of our national folklore. It might be painful for the author of these songs that his name dissappeared somewhere along the way. At the same time, however, this only proves how well these songs express our national spirit and our world-view. How many of us know that the song that we often sing in church: "Bozhe Velykyi, Tvorche Vsesvitu” (Great God, Creator of the Universe) was written by Roman Kupchynsky? It is impossible to list here all the romantic and charming songs written by this author that have become the property of our society and culture. There are still other creative people that have added to the artistic heritage of the Sichovi Striltsi. There are even a few personalities who have become legendary (Tsiapka, for one). In other branches of art the time of the Sichovi Striltsi has be come a rich source of material for various artists and writers. This month our cover is graced by a graphic work of one of the Sichovi Striltsi, Ivan Ivanets, and inside we have included a number of illustrations by EKO-Edward Kozak which were taken from the collection of songs by Roman Kupchynsky published by "Chervona Kalyna”. It would be interesting and worthwhile to have a scholarly work about the contributions of the Sichovi Striltsi to Ukrainian art. It would be interesting to know more about Ivan Ivanets, a particularly learned and cultured person. 24 НАШЕ ЖИТТЯ, ЛИСТОПАД 1977 Видання C оюзу Українок A мерики - перевидано в електронному форматі в 2012 році . A рхів C У A - Ню Йорк , Н . Й . C Ш A.
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