Fight and Win!

Mental Callisthenics with Vujko Ilko

By Oksana Bashuk Hepburn

 “Sorry.  Can’t make our talk today,” says Uncle Ilko over the phone.  He is cancelling his much-loved mental callisthenics; a chat on things Ukrainian? 

“Are you okay, Vujku?  Is there nothing to discuss?”

“Nothing to discuss?  Ukraine’s opposition member bleeds over the Rada floor fighting the law to make Russian the other State Language; the United States is on the verge of freezing oligarchs’ assets; a key functionary is selling EURO Cup tickets to line his pockets?  Nothing to discuss when our Canadian community is buzzing like a nest of enraged wasps?”

It’s obvious: he’s in fine fettle.

“So what’s up, Uncle Ilko?  Can’t we meet?”

“No time.  Must finish writing letters.  I’m urging the World Federation of Ukrainian Women’s Organizations to seek the resignation of all Ukrainian female leaders who are inadequate in their jobs: they’re bad models for our girls. ”

“What’s this, Vujku?”

“Plain and simple.  People like Hanna Herman, Raisa Bohatyrova, and the other female power houses in Ukraine are meant, with the men, to ensure that the State is doing what it set out to do; things women care about - jobs, safe place to bring up a family, good schools, no corruption, the well being of the people. Instead, it’s in a crisis.  The political opposition is in prison; the Americans are threatening to withdraw their ambassador; rumour has it that Russia is setting up Medvedchuk to Russianize Ukraine completely.  So where are the wise women who need to tell the President dosyt!  Rancho relaxo already; let Yulia and the others go.”

“Angela Merkel is saying that.”

“Angela is in cahoots with President Putin.  She doesn’t love Yulia.  She wants Yanukovych out - a more pro-Ruskyj puppet in - and with Russia, control Ukraine.  This is a long-standing historic strategy; including the reason for WWII.”

“Vujku, Yanukovych is in trouble.  Will he listen?”

“It’s important for diaspora women and those in Ukraine to take a stand.  All women of the world should be incensed.  Scho?  Women don’t care that some retro-male politician is calling high-level-academic women achievers ‘ugly’; or calling on the world to see the EURO Cup in Ukraine and its girls ‘undress’?  Or undermining the law to punish a clever woman like Yulia?  And now these macho parliamentarians are making criticism of politicians and government illegal?  Good God, where is the universal female fury?  And where are the men?”

“You’re right.  It’s sheer madness.”

“And where is the leading democrat Kateryna Yushchenko with all that White House expertise? Zasnula, chy jiji ‘nevyhidno’?  Thankfully, President Obama is up to the task.  Discussing our responsibility in confronting atrocities which, by the way, tend to follow deteriorating political situations of rogue states, he said “… awareness without action is meaningless.”

“I’m with him.  I’m overwhelmed with FYIs on the bad news out of Ukraine yet cannot convince folks to protest in front of the Embassy and Consulate of Ukraine in Ottawa and Toronto.

“Now there’s a real puzzle: why is the diaspora leadership not rallying the community to support Prime Minster Harper, Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird, and all the other political parties that are loud and clear in their condemnation of Ukraine’s bad behaviour?”

“Apparently, the Ukrainian Canadian Congress is concerned about mixed messages and libel suits.”

“Mixed messages? That we support Canada’s united position on freedom for the imprisoned opposition leaders?  What mixed message can there be in placards reading: “Free Yulia”; “Freedom for Lutsenko”; or “Thank you Canada”?  

“UCC says: Do a demo, but not under our leadership or banner.”

“Now there’s a muddled message. And what’s this about libel suits?”

“Apparently, it was decided at the highest levels that should something happen at a demo, the organizer gets sued.  So UCC is out.”

“What a red herring.  In Canada we have a right to peaceful assembly and protest.  I have yet to hear of anyone prosecuted for doing so.  Wow!  Who is the author of this clear thinking?”

“So what are you saying in your letter, Vujku?”

“I’m asking organizations of which I am a member to please explain why there are no public demonstrations condemning Ukraine’s lawless government? Let’s get some answers.

 Do you remember the UCC’s silence during the Georgia crisis when Putin threatened to nuke Ukraine?  Nuke Ukraine!  Georgia stood up and kept on fighting and now will be joining NATO, has a respectable economy and is moving forward in democracy because it wants it and is getting help.”

“You mean that had we protested and made more noise, Canada and the US would have been more responsive?”

“The squeaky wheel gets the grease.  President Yushchenko failed to protest Russia’s threat; the diaspora did not cry ‘nuclear holocaust’ so the West decided Ukraine wants to be under Russia’s influence.”   

“Israel’s government uses such a threat from Iran consistently.”

“Yep.  I’m worried Canada’s interest will falter if there is no visible grass roots support.  Votes count.” 

“And your other letter, Uncle Ilko?”

“Don’t let the Moscow Patriarch use Patriarch Bartholomew and Metropolitan Yurij as Russia’s instruments of dividing and conquering the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada.  Go and write some letters too.  It’s important to protect one’s positions and win.”