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What are the goals of women now? HELPING HAND. In good historical fashion, the women are subordi nating their goals to the common goal, and the common goal is liberation — liberation from the fear of totalitar ian terror, liberation from centralized bureaucratic con trol, liberation from a planned economy that brought scarcity and shoddy goods, liberation from a military power mentality that sanctified suffering, liberation from regimentation of where one lived, what one studied, and where one could travel, and liberation from want. The last is a long way off — and receding. But liberation from centralized control, from colonial domination is tantalizingly close. Ukrainian students, in an unprecedented move at the beginning of October, staged a massive hunger strike which for the first and so far only time in the Soviet Union forced the resignation of the unpopular premier of Ukraine. The students, wearing headbands, were heroes — men and women together fighting for freedom and human rights and peace and being harassed and beaten by the police. Familiar, no?! Women’s de mands were not raised but young women were there. Maybe this generation of young women in Ukraine will grow up normally, not scarred or killed by famine, by Hitler or by Stalin. I talk to Laryssa Skoryk, born 1939 in Eastern Poland, grew up in Western Ukraine to become a professor of architecture at the Kiev Polytechnic, the mother of a daughter who in early October gave birth to a child. Laryssa is also an elected deputy to the democratic Congress, a vegetarian, a mesmerizing speaker, a com mitted citizen. She fasted with the students, and taught what she had been able to read about the technique of passive resistance. She was severely manhandled by the police thugs, but she talked the students out of violent immolation and other dramatic and terminal acts. Skoryk, slim, ramrod straight, with a wonderful sense of humor and a capacity for fun, is disciplined, predictable and —wonder of wonders in Eastern Europe — on time. Her cupboard is often bare, she has no time to shop, and no one to care for her. But she took care of her daughter, arranging for a hospital stay (not that routine in this land of chronic shortages, where childhood mortality is high and spinals and caudals for women unheard of) and then felt she was being a bad mother since the bir thing daughter was in a different city. Skoryk new little about American women and women’s organizations, but it took very little to see that unless women are drawn to defend their vision of democracy and liberty and genuine human rights the reality built by the men could exclude the women. Skoryk is not yet active in women’s organizations: she is a major voice of the democratic bloc within the new parliament. She may be a voice, one of the many voices needed to carry the message of women’s organi zations, to include women in this yet another — and let us hope not futile — struggle for freedom in Ukraine. UNWLA Branch 58 has recently donated $4,000 to the Children of Chernobil Fund, destined specifically for youngsters in Ukraine who have hearing problems. The money purchased 50 hearing aids for the children. The branch also gave two $500 scholarships to two young boys from Ukraine. The branch president Irene Ryzyj and the members are very concerned about Ukraine, its people and especially its children and are working very hard to help in any way they can. The late Maria Yasinsky arrived in the United States of America in 1921 as a young girl. It was not easy to adjust to the new environment, but nevertheless, she not only survived, got married and started her family life, but also took part in various Ukrainian community organizations. In the Ukrainian National Women’s League, she was the president of Branch 23 for a long, long time, and in the years from 1949 to 1954, she was the president of the Detroit Regional Council, then called "Filia’’. At that time, the post-war immigrants were com ing in multitudes, and they will never forget the helping hand extended to them by Maria Yasinsky. When cele brating its 50th anniversary in 1985, the Detroit Regional Council awarded Maria Yasinsky with an honorary membership. On behalf of the Detroit Regional Council of the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America, I wish to express my deepest condolences. May she rest in peace. Members of 58 Branch of UNWLA. Meeting at Oresta Pierce’s home on November 15th, 1990. Bereaved Family and Friends:
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