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OUR LIFE Monthly, published by Ukrainian National Women’s League of America VOL. XL SEPTEMBER 1983 No. 8 SHOULD WE ADAPT OUR ACTIONS TO OUR PRINCIPLES OR VICE VERSUS? The question seems absurd, yet we often encounter individuals or groups that follow one set of principles themselves, while demanding something different from others. We often hear others being criticized for being unable to deal with something; yet we ourselves do not quite know how to deal with it either. We often see the minority succumb to the wishes of the majority even if the majority is not in the right; yet in other situations the majority may be right but the minor ity does not go along with it. We see many examples of such behavior, be it in organizations, unions or even nations and countries. Let us examine the issue of freedom of speech at a meeting. We cannot help but “admire” the adroitness of a leader who knows how to keep those whose opinions he does not want to hear from speaking while permit ting others to speak their minds. It is all explained by which set of principles he wishes to follow at which time. When we examine this same situation in regard to relations between nations then this “use” of principles hits home even harder. This pertains to the debate over disarmament for peace, to the human rights issue, to freedom of speech etc. From the Helsinki agreements to the conference at Madrid — all speak of human rights but none speak of how to ensure them. Yuriy Shuchevych, now half-blind, is still kept in isolation and not permitted to leave the USSR in order to get proper medical attention. Before us we see an appeal to Pope John Paul II in the defense of Josyf Terelia who “has spent the greater part of his life in camps, prisons and psychiatric hospitals,” who was the head of the Committee of Ukrainian Catholics in Ukraine and of the “Organization for the Defense of Freedom of Religion and the Church.” One can think of hundreds of thousands of different interpretations of human freedom as seen by the leaders of the USSR. But are we completely free from blame? We speak of how our fellow men in Ukraine should fight against Soviet terrors, against russification, against the spread of atheism. Yer we cannot even begin to imagine the feelings of devastation brought about by the terrors. We also do not take into account the time factor — it is easier to be a hero for a short time than for decades and generations. Under these conditions, the rebellions seen are truly a miracle of human inner strength. But we still like to believe that we could have done better, that we could have been still stronger, that we could have put up greater resistance and could have destroyed the regime. But what are we actually doing here and now in the free world? We are not even able to unite for our com mon undertakings (as, for instance, the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the starvation massacre of 1933). We are unable to make the Ukrainian language the native language of our children and grandchildren, besides, naturally, the language of their adopted country. We are disillusioned by the fact that we do not always hear Ukrainian spoken in Kiev and Lviv. Yet knowing and using the Ukrainian language here is a direct response to its persecution there. We must master the English language since we are citizens of this free land, but this does not mean that our children and grandchildren cannot master Ukrainian as well. This is a principle whose interpretation cannot change according to our wishes. We must bring to mind the proud words of an active member, of third generation: “my grandchildren speak better Ukrainian than I do." Those who say that since we are living in America we must speak only English are insulting this free country. We have come here not only to live comfortably, but also to be able to do all that is forbidden us in our native land! Does one set of principles pertain to those who live in Ukraine and Poland and another to us? We often utilize two different grading systems in our personal lives, especially in regard to bringing up the younger generation. How very often we criticize those whose children did not follow the road we think the younger Ukrainian generation should follow, even though this is not always the fault of the parents. If our children do not turn out the way we wish, we can always find an explanation or an excuse, but these excuses do not apply to others. It is easier to criticize and form judgments of others than to adapt our actions to our accepted principles. Translated by Mary Jarymowycz (from issue 7, page 1)
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