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formed, true political parties. National symbolism was reborn, as was the women’s movement. This women’s movement is not the phony one so glibly pushed for years by the communists — repre sented by a figure of a woman with a red flag in her hand, who seemed ready to give her all for the good of the party. Everyone knew that this picture was not only false but insulting and mean. Such ridicule was distaste ful to everyone. Currently, Ukrainian National Women’s League is being reactivated in Ukraine. This situation will no doubt have no influence on our organization here. We there fore, must discuss these implications now, since events in Ukraine are not going to wait for us. With the com mencement of activities within the organization in Ukraine, we are bound to direct a part of our agenda in favor of their interests. We are compelled now to plan mutual activities, conferences, publications, etc. This is not an easy assignment. For the time being we are divided by the different approaches when deal ing with various problems. That, however is not an underlying difference. With mutual cooperation the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America and the Ukrainian National Women’s League in Ukraine will tackle all problems which confront us. In Kiev the Women’s Association of RUKH was organized. Women from other national minorities living in Ukraine have also formed organizations. In time all these women’s organizations should join together to form a national group, the National Council of Women of Ukraine. It will then be our responsibility to see that this organization becomes a member in full standing in the International Council of Women. Such was the case in 1919, seventy one years ago, when the National Council of Women of Ukraine became a member of that international women’s organization. On the road to this new venture we must stand ready to help in organizational activities, in teaching the history of the Ukrainian women’s movement, and help in all other particulars of life. We ave many mutual prob lems. Our children grew up in the United States where the competition between our two cultures was not on equal footing. In Ukraine, the Russian culture and the Ukrainian was also disproportionate. We must seek ways to equalize this difference. We see before us Ukraine in its terrible wasted state — hence we see the great need for realistic help, most of all moral uplifting. Should not we, Ukrainian National Women’s League of America create some group similar to the Peace Corp.? This would give our children who have graduated from universities and colleges the oppor- tuntiy to go to Ukraine and teach the teachers such sub jects as the English language, management, public rela tions, and whatever else that is needed. For the younger generation this would be an uncommon opportunity to develop wonderful new relationships and be useful to their people. Let us direct our attention to ourselves for the moment. There is a dynamic power and potential in this group. Here we have women with many years of expe rience in how to function in a democratic society. What great organizational experience is collectively present here! It is exactly this knowledge that must be somehow passed on to Ukraine. We must examine Ukraine’s needs and decide what we can do to help and in what can we be most effective. Here a few sobering words are also necessary. Not everyone might like them, but is important that they be said. The greater part of our community is probably in a state of euphoria, encouraged by the events in Ukraine. However, the war has not been won yet. Not everyone in Ukraine wants the current changes to become a way of life. There are many who still dream of returning to the old Stalinism, to the stereotype socialism. We must be on guard and protect what has been achieved so far. In reference to our sisters in Ukraine, we must remember that we are witnessing the start of a great process — the rebirth of the Ukraine woman, the rebirth of the Ukrainian women’s movement. After many years of oppression this woman is attempting to wrest herself free not only from government supervision but from social shortcomings, from that role into which the sys tem had cast her. Today, even in the newly formed democratic establishments in Ukraine there are only a few women in key positions. The years which have “formed” the role of the woman in society are yielding their results today, during the times of great changes. We might fight this by showing how a democratic com munity functions. In ending, please allow me to summarize our objec tives and tasks. UNWLA is changing its profile from day to day. The growth of the Ukrainian women’s movement as an inte gral part of the Ukrainian rebirth will impact heavily on our organization, on our activities. Gone are the times when we accepted passivity and behavior spurred on by circumstances of immigration. We are becoming one with the Ukrainian women’s movement — here and there. We, the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America will be able to expand our sphere of influence to effect the activities within our individual communities. It is time to realize an important truth — isolation breeds banality and passivity. The demolition of the arti ficial barriers around Ukraine frees us all from isolation. Shevchenko’s prophesy in the excerpt chosen from his poem “Subotiv” as motto for our Convention should be evident in our work. The bard said that Ukraine will conquer the gloom of slavery and the truth will shine everywhere, as the children of slavery pray in the glory of freedom! Ukraine will conquer! Then, all our terrible yester days will be gone and the original historical cycle of life will return to its logical beginning. We can then stand before our reborn homeland and with a clear conscience testify that we never dodged our responsibility Thank you! 22 ’НАШЕ ЖИТТЯ”, ЖОВТЕНЬ 1990 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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