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
OUR LIFE Monthly, published by Ukrainian National Women's League of America Vol. XLVII S eptem ber — 1990 Editor: Marta Baczynsky On Monday July 16, 1990 the Ukrainian Parliament, meeting in Kyiv declared the “supre macy, independence, absolute authority and indivisibility” of Ukrainian administration on its territories. In a vote of 355 to 4, the representatives of the people of Ukraine carried into action the will of their constituents. There is a marvelous ring of righteousness to this statement. In our free society we accept it as a matter of fact, yet it is of awesome significance because it took place in Ukraine. In the coming weeks, months, years much will be said and written about the magnitude of changes we are witnessing in our homeland and in all of Eastern Europe. One by one the captive nations of the Soviet block have claimed their independence. Our country, our Ukraine which has been chronically brutalized for decades has not succumbed to the will of the tyrant either, but is emerging from the abyss of despair to the light of freedom and self determination. The idea of a free Ukraine translated into reality is at first hard to grasp, to accept uncondi tionally. Not because it cannot happen. If events continue on this roll, it definitely will. Yet, we find ourselves confused, uncertain for many good reasons. Our dreams are becoming a reality and we are not prepared for this reality this quickly. There are however, solid arugments to support our state of anxiety. History has taught us that prizes such as independence are not given freely nor lightly. An empire is disintegrating before our eyes in an almost orderly fashion as if according to some detailed plan. Where is the prece dent for such an occurence? The Russian communists are spouting words and phrases such as life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Can a leopard really change his spots? Because our land is bountiful and beautiful it has had the misfortune to be looked upon as a desired prize not on one occasion. Sadly we have to accept the fact that Ukraine is a small cog in the giant wheel of global political manipulations and fair game before mighty military machines. The key word in this situation is caution. We should rejoice at the events unfolding before our eyes, but not loose our heads in the celebrations, for we might need them, pronto! We must extend a helping hand to our brothers and sisters in Ukraine, but let us do it wisely and justly. Above all we have to acknowledge that there are differences between us — Ukrainians in diaspora and those in Ukraine — a difference spanning more than two generations, a difference of political, social and economic climate in which their lives and ours were nurtured. Let us therefore not judge nor criticize each other. Let us accept each others differences and use them to strenghten our common purpose — securing the welfare of our homeland. Editor
Page load link
Go to Top