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OUR LIFE Monthly, published by Ukrainian National Women s League of America VOL. XLV FEBRUARY 1988 Editor: Marta Baczynsky WHAT DO WE WANT FOR OUR CHILDREN. (a continuation of interviews concerning the preservation of the Ukrainian language) Our current discussion is with Dorian, brother of Tanya, whose interview was published in the December 1987 issue of OUR LIFE. Presently we will weigh the situation of having two culture/nation system and explore the positive aspects, as well as the problems faced by young people who mature under the influence of two worlds — the Ukrainian community and the country in which they live. Dorian is 25 years old. He is a graduate of an Ivy League college and has attained a masters degree in business. In grade and high school Dorian did not have Ukrainian friends, therefore the Ukrainian influence in his life came from his family and the youth organization Plast. It must be noted, with great pleasure that Dorian’s command of the Ukrainian language is as good as his sister Tanya’s. One can converse with him in Ukrainian on every topic without any difficulty on his part. Our conversation will dwell on the particular situa tion of children born in America to Ukrainian parents. Q: Is the situation of two cultures/nations a problem for you, Dorian? A: I can’t deny it, the problem exists. One can try to resolve it, but it nevertheless continues. For some young people the effort to find resolutions is just too much and they distance themselves from all that is Ukrainian. For others, because of the influence of their parents, through personal enthusiasm or because of their level of intelli gence, the difficulties can be more easily explained and resolved. Q: How do we actually see these problems? A: They are part of the following: — Open discrimination, particularly from the Jews; Americans, as such, are not as familiar with Ukrainians as to discriminate against us. However, their discrimina tion against us is neutral, almost passive, as it is against everything that is foreign (lumping us in the total they label Russian). — In the world of culture, which is dominated by the Anglo-Saxon influence, there is discrimination against “foreigners,” and we are a part of that group. In this sphere nonconformism and adherence to a particu lar ethnic group, may be a stumbling block in commun ity, social and professional life. — Our names and sur-names separate us from oth ers even if we don’t want this to happen (in the same way the color of a black person makes him stand out). — Our social activities and traditions are not the same as those practices by the American community. It is difficult to find common experiences with our Ameri can friends, when ours were forged in Ukrainian schools or in Ukrainian organizations. On the other hand Ameri cans have activities which we can’t subscribe due to our commitments to Ukrainian communities. — People growing up go through phases during which they question the validity of learning the lan guage of their parents, religion, or culture, asking them selves if it is necessary or useful. Such analysis is healthy, although it tends to create many problems. In the process of such analysis some individuals dismiss a part or their entire heritage. It is difficult to dismiss the romantic “how it used to be in Ukraine once upon a time” and censor ones patrimony (we are still under the taboo to criticize or analyze the negative sides of our history). Yet, when a person reflects upon the positive and negative sides of his or her Ukrainian heritage, guided by his or her own motives, and consciously accepts it, regardless of parental influence, then this decision has far reaching implications. Q: What then are the duties of parents? A: To my way of thinking, parents have the obligation to guide and encourage their children up to a certain point. The children should be allowed to make the identi fication with their heritage of their own accord. Too much pressure on the parental side may result in total negation of that heritage by the children. Q: What is the reaction of your American business and social circles to your ethnic and national awareness? A: Reactions to the national question changes with age. 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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