Skip to content
Call Us Today! 212-533-4646 | MON-FRI 12PM - 4PM (EST)
DONATE
SUBSCRIBE
Search for:
About Us
Publications
FAQ
Annual Report 2023
Annual Report 2022
Annual Report 2021
Initiatives
Advocate
Educate
Cultivate
Care
News
Newsletters
Sign Up For Our Newsletter
Join UNWLA
Become a Member
Volunteer With Us
Donate to UNWLA
Members Portal
Calendar
Shop to Support Ukraine
Search for:
Print
Print Page
Download
Download Page
Download Right Page
Open
1
2-3
4-5
6-7
8-9
10-11
12-13
14-15
16-17
18-19
20-21
22-23
24-25
26-27
28-29
30-31
32-33
34-35
36-37
38-39
40
OF UNIONS, THEIRS AND OURS: THE FALL M USING OF MARTHA BOHACHEVSKY C H OM IAK The electrifying events in the Soviet Union, and especially in Ukraine, lead me to muse about weighty matters and those always bring me close to home. What the current situation in Ukraine illustrates is the blatant inability of the regime, by using traditional centralized communist approaches, to deal with the economic, ecological, welfare, and health matters of the population. Our press, American as well as American- Ukrainian, writes with awe about the rapid growth of national consciousness in Ukraine and regales us with pictures of the blue and yellow flags joyfully waving in Kiev and in Lviv. Fine, my heart skips as do the hearts of all of us, and we all admit that even ayear ago we would not have predicted this patriotic eruption. But — in this euphoria let us not forget that the blue and yellow flag stands for the needs of the Society in Ukraine. It stands for a system that is responsive to the needs of the com munity, it stands for democracy, and freedom from bureaucratic high-handedness and from decisions made from above, with no regard for the local population. It stands for that population, for the people of Ukraine. It doex not stand exclusively and only for the myth ical “nationalism,” that some of our jounalists are dis covering as they discover Ukraine. Ironic, is it not, that on these pages, where we have become accustomed to bemoaning the sad ignorance of the outside world about Ukraine, I should stress that nationalism, as conven tionally understood by Americans, is not all there is to the developments in Ukraine. The people rally to the blue and yellow because they want their concerns heard. For decades they marched under the red banner, now they want to speak, and they need an alternative stand ard. The popular movement for restructuring in Ukraine, the R u kh (M o v e m e n t), The G ree n W orld ecological group, even The S o c ie ty fo r the D e fe n s e o f the U k ra in ian L a n g u a g e , all of these are popular expressions of the concerns of the communities in Ukraine. Ukraine speaks not abstractly and not symbolically. Its people express their concerns and their needs, and they symbolize their hopes in raising heretofore forbid den symbols — the flag, the trident, the cross. Ukrainian women, overburdened with the double load of work outside the home and housework, have been largely silent in the movement. There has not even been a symbolic gesture of women’s organization. A voice is raised here and there, but the women as a whole have little energy left for public activity. Irena Kalynets has organized the Society of the Myrrh Brin- gers, to work toward the legalization of the Ukrainian Catholic Church. And three years ago the formation of the Ukrainian National Council of Women of Ukraine was proclaimed in Kiev. It has shown no signs of life. Again, Ukrainian women defer their needs, for the needs of the whole community are so overwhelming. That makes me muse about us, women in the Uni ted States with ties of sentiment and of symbols to Ukraine. Where do we stand, what do we do? Obviously we continue in our work, and we use the increased opportunities of contact with Ukraine and vis itors from Ukraine to pursue the goals of the golden rule that guides our work. But where do we stand as far as our own community is concerned? Do we have a voice? Are we being heard? UNWLA began as a community organization and its real strength lies in community service. Throughout the USA our branches take part in community activities, our members fundraise, participate in ethnic festivals and political ralies, care for the aged and the young, provide fellowship for the lonely and food for the patriotic Ukrainian males. What we do not do is speak up. The old, the new and the newest waves of the Ukrainian diaspora have little real contact with each other except to argue about language. Meanwhile, the leaders of the Ukrainian Congress Committee cannot reconcile their differences with the Ukrainian Council, and the last thirty years of our Ukrainian political life in the United States is not reviewed except in bombastic procla mations. Does that reflect us? Does that reflect our commun ity? Is UNWLA apart from all this, above it all and beyond it all? Should we care? Or should we continue our dedicated service for the welfare of the community even if the community does not speak for us? UNWLA has so much to offer beyond bake sales and embroidery. Our community and our fellows in Ukraine could learn the simple lesson that organizations are merely a relfection of their members, that real work is not what comes from the center but what emanates from the members. The branches are the life of the organization, and they reflect the vitality of the com munity. The Ukrainian community in the USA needs to listen to its community, and we women, Ukrainian Americans and American Ukrainians, must speak out as members of the community. When are we living, a hundred years ago, when it was not seemly for women to speak? Community service is not merely charitable service, it also requires speaking out on issues of sub stance to the community, and having the community listen. For too long we have served the community, I think the time has long come for Ukrainian women in the United States to take a clear look at the Ukrainian community in the USA, and tell us what they see. The Convention in Detroit will give us that oppor tunity. Let’s use it. Martha Bohachevsky Chomiak ’’НАШЕ ЖИТТЯ”, ЛИСТОПАД 1989 25
Page load link
Go to Top
1 
2-3 
4-5 
6-7 
8-9 
10-11 
12-13 
14-15 
16-17 
18-19 
20-21 
22-23 
24-25 
26-27 
28-29 
30-31 
32-33 
34-35 
36-37 
38-39 
40 
