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OUR LIFE Monthly, published by Ukrainian National Women’s League of America VOL. XLVI SEPTEMBER 1989 Editor: Marta Baczynsky GET INVOLVED WHERE IT COUNTS! We are sophisticated women today. We have worked our way through the feminist revolution with a battle scar here or there, but our pride is intact and we have more or less won a few major victories in the market place, on the social level and even in the home. In other words we have twice as much work now, twice as much responsibility but most important we have twice as many chances and opportunities to go ahead and make things better for ourselves, for our families, for our communi ties, for our Ukrainian people. So, why are we not going for the jugular? Why, we women of the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America, united in an organization which can make a difference, are still for the most part on the fringes of many major activities which shape our future? One of these activities is participating in the politi cal process within our country, a privilege that is gua ranteed to all citizens by the Constitution. Notwithstand ing the fact that there are numerous women who individually have made a place for themselves in politi cal spheres, we as organized women, within the Bran ches of UNWLA, can also work within the system to benefit our causes. The UNWLA is a non-political organization. The personal politcal preference of its members is respected, and the organization does not affiliate itself with any political party or dogma. Hence, what role can our organization play in the political process when by virtue of its by-laws it adheres to a principle of non-involve- ment in politics? There is a job, an important job that our organiza tion can do, in effect should do, because of two key elements that bring us into the political arena. The first is because of who we are — Ukrainians and Americans of Ukrainian descent: the second is because of our re sponsibility as conscientious members of our society to be involved in all social interactions which bear an impact on our lives and on the future. We are all aware of the strong running currents that herald impending dramatic changes in our native Ukraine. Much is also happening in the United States concerning American policies which have a direct bear ing on events in Ukraine. It is at this point that our influ ences comes into play. Let me illustrate. On July 21, 1989 the Senate of the United States Congress passed a bill (a similar bill was passed by the House of Representatives on April 12, 1989) which brought the U.S. one step further to establishing its presence in Kiev, Ukraine in the embodiment of a “small consulate.” Ukraine is the largest non-Russian republic in the Soviet block and has no American representation. At a time of budget cut-backs in Congress, an appropri ation granting a “fully secure” consulate in Kiev would stand no chance. A small consulate would ensure Amer ican presence in Kiev, however in a non-secure small facility. But it would be there!!! Two more very important matters were handled by the U.S. Congres which will benefit the Ukrainian com munity and Ukrainian cause — an amendment authoriz ing $100,000 for the U.S. Commission on the Ukraine Famine: the designation of certain groups from the Soviet Union, among them Ukrainian Catholics and Orthodox people as persecuted and allowing them refugee status, thus easing their entry into the United States. What then can we, as members of the UNWLA do in these matters and others of similar nature. The answer is — A LOT! The very fact that the consulate bill was passed, as were the others, is the fine, tireless work of Ukrainian organizations in their lobby efforts, but mainly in their field endeavors, securing the support of Ukrain ians everywhere in petitions and letter writing campaigns which let the elected representatives know how impor tant this issue is to us. It is in this interaction between the government and the public that we, women, united in the Branches of our organization can work within the political system for the betterment of our society. First of all we must be well informed about the workings of our executive and legislative bodies, be it on the federal, state, or local level. We must be familiar with our representatives within the government and above all we must know of their spheres of interest and how they are inclined to act on matters that are impor tant to us. 22 ’’НАШЕ ЖИТТЯ", ВЕРЕСЕНЬ 1989 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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