Euromaidan YYC

Many years ago in 1991 when Ukraine gained its independence from the USSR, a Calgary news reporter came to Calgary's Sadochok and asked to interview me. The question was, if Ukraine is now independent, will I "go back"? I was shocked at the question, being of Canadian citizenship, four generations of being Canadian! The question seemed to hinge on the confusion between patriotism, and nationalism. How could one be a patriot of Canada, and care deeply for one's ancestral homeland? Perhaps social media continues to wrestle with this question.

For an intensely interesting view of Tomas Rafa's #Euromaidan YYC film, Calgary's Military Museum is hosting a photo/video exhibit about the Ukrainian EuroMaidan this month and until December 15, 2014. Great cinematography and fascinating ideas about heroism in the times of the Maidan.

www.themilitarymuseums.ca

Twenty First Century Citizens

Khmelnytsky monument in Kyiv amk2013

The recent events in Ukraine have left me speechless lately.  Like many, I am astounded by the audacity of Ukraine's neighborhood bully.  And the constantly changing scenario fluctuates moment by moment.  So what is true?

Ukraine's relationship with her north eastern partner has been the source of much angst and bloodshed over the centuries. Her patient people have shared, collaborated and created a community of solidarity that stands on the principle of truth. The Ukrainian idea, while expressed in cultural artifacts, songs and dance, is truly about that beautiful ideal. There is a time for everything, for dancing, singing, weaving, planting, and harvesting, ...and yet a droplet of energy properly expended can change everything.

Pereyaslav Khmelnytsky Museum amk2013

Families love their children, children continue to care for their elders in a cycle of mutual love, care and concern - family values matter.  Even when a person departs this physical earth, the continued presence of the 'saints' who have gone to prepare a place for us lingers.  The smells, sights, sounds and remembrances of times past nurture the coming generations.  This is culture.

And so when new generations everywhere contribute improvements to science, communication, medical care and other needs, it is a direct response of care and love for the coming generations.  When a loved one's life is at risk, or in need, the family/community/nation steps in with assistance - we are all one interconnected family.  We may not always admit, but it has always been so. When the earliest travellers stepped into the world, they carried personal honor, truth and principles, trust and reciprocity as their "cultural baggage", and it included poetry, lyrics and histories that nurtured and sustained them through ethical challenges and dangerous times.

Shevchenko Museum in Kaniv amk2013

So when the principled actions of intelligent, patient people in Ukraine over these past months are assessed by the world media, the one consistent message is that these are a very informed and cultured people who care deeply about their land. No longer left in political, social and economic isolation, the twenty first century citizen of Ukraine is crowd sourcing, collaborating, and responding to a system that has cheated them of a real future for so long. Armed with the truth, it hasn't taken long for people to see when rules have been manipulated in a cheating game.  It is Ukraine's gift of patience and fortitude that has made them respond to the smell of tyranny, to stand witness to a manipulative bully, and to speak truth to the power which once held them ransom.

In these changing times, I hope the world continues to be ruled by love, truth and honest family values and that the Golden Rule applies to everyone, including Ukraine.  Who will stand to get the bully and his gang off the field?

Lighting Calgary in Blue and Yellow

Elena EV Skorokhod, Calgary's Langevin Bridge Jan 2, 2014

Well, Calgary it is our turn to light the town in blue and yellow! The Ukrainian community of Calgary and Southern Alberta graciously invites all supporters of the Ukrainian Euromaidan idea to a special event in Calgary Thursday, January 2 and 3rd, 2014! Thursday, January 2nd, and Friday January 3rd, Calgary's Langevin Bridge going into downtown Calgary will be lit up blue and yellow. This bridge is on Edmonton Trail going into downtown.

Lighting the Calgary Langevin Bridge in the colours of the Ukrainian flag is a symbolic act of solidarity with the mass demonstrations currently in their 5th week or more on the streets of Ukraine's cities, especially Kyiv.

Thanks to the excellence in civic involvement here in Calgary, and an international promise to uphold the democratic principles of this great Canadian land, the City of Calgary Municipal Land Corporation is supporting the request to light the town in blue and yellow. Actually it will be the bridge from Edmonton Trail going downtown - the Langevin Bridge!

Some Calgarians of Ukrainian origin will know that the Bridgeland area was essentially Calgary's Ukrainian downtown area for a long time, starting with the earliest immigration here in the late 1890's. It is still home to two Ukrainian churches serving Calgary's Ukrainian diaspora.

The Ukrainian Canadian Congress and its advocates invite you to meet at the Holodomor Monument on Memorial Drive on Thursday, January 2, at 7PM! Participants are invited to wear blue and yellow regalia to support the democratic aspirations of the Euromaidan.  

Thank you to Elena Skorokhod for inquiring and City of Calgary Municipal Land Corporation for supporting the UCC request. Guests can join the event on facebook at www.facebook.com/events/548937555196515/

MEET AT THE HOLODOMOR MONUMENT AT 7 pm THURSDAY EVENING!  

Here are some interesting links about Canada's Niagara Falls which was lit in blue and yellow in support of Euromaidan Ukraine.  

http://www.niagarafallsreview.ca/2013/12/29/niagara-support-for-ukrainian-protesters

http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine-abroad/cnn-niagra-falls-was-blue-and-yellow-334535.html

Unity of Purpose

Diversity is Calgary's pride, the international origins of its citizenry make Calgary the third most diverse city in Canada. The ethnic diversity, visible and non visible minorities, linguistic plurality, political inclinations, and economic responses are simply the fabric of society, with effective channels through which to influence public policy through democratically elected officials. This is the stuff of dreams in many societies the world over.

Millennia of aboriginal histories, westward expansion, contemporary histories, the boom-town opportunities, and the cultural accumulations of all its citizenry all play a part in the drama of Calgary. Even the memory of the Calgary flood of 2013 will have a place in the folklore of this place! It's a young city, but the themes running through Calgary's historical narrative are rather practical ones - how to create a place for the achievement of one's dreams!

On the Maidan in Kyiv and elsewhere people take pride in medieval Kyivan Rus, the memory of early modern Cossack republics, the national poet Taras Shevchenko. They share grief about the millions of victims of the Stalinist famines of 1932-33, and a common indignation that their life's work continues to feed a usurper's purpose. The big story items are largely uncontentious! People are largely of one common thought! It's all about creating a place to achieve one's dreams! Strikingly uncharacteristic for international mass demonstrations, though the rallies have been estimated between 800 thousand to a million citizens, there is a peace, levity and humor at the Maidan, which can only be described as supernatural. In many ways, international observers may only now be recognizing the Maidan's organic purpose in treating the accumulated adrenal fatigue of a people long under chronic stress.  The protests have a moral character, healing touch, and this non-violent national uprising has already convinced Ukrainians of their power to change their situation.

But after a month or more of protests, though this tour de force of emotional and physical exhilaration has galvanized common purpose among Ukraine's diverse citizenry, there is more yet to accomplish!  Discipline, patience and timing is everything when considering the government politicians whose purposes are far more sultry. With the increase in physical threats, and use of violence to keep the protesters spinning, the government forces do a great dishonor to their citizenry.  At which point will the Ukrainian Maidan protests accumulate the weight of world opinion, political pressure, and citizen engagement in sufficient force to effectively tip the agenda for the Ukrainian state?  

And the Light Will Shine

This wonderful season of goodwill is full of hope!  Traditional church chants of Christmas tell intriguing stories of schooled wise men of old who pursued the light, leaving the shameful ways of the past, and bridging the divide for others.  They simply followed the star. The light enticed them, they studied it, and discovered they didn't need sooth sayers, fraud, manipulation or coersion to pursue their glorious future.  The old strictures, hopeless rules and tyranny of the past was simply over.  They had seen the light.

Ukrainians who have taken to the streets in recent weeks say they want to see a better-governed, less corrupt and politically liberal country, more closely aligned with its western neighbours. The champions of this brilliant idea believe the consuming sooty darkness that has obstructed the light potentially shining through the window must simply be washed away. Persevering in its destiny with the future, the Ukrainian Maidan is now well into its second month of purposeful direction.  The Maidan is embracing everyone equally, converting the talents and services so generously shared into a sparkling opportunity for civic engagement. People's hearts are being softened, their stories are being shared, the sorrows and hurts are being heard.  It is a healing time.  People are energized, even when their lives, the lives of those with whom they have the most staunchly shared oneness of purpose, are threatened, or even worse - taken. The Ukrainian Maidan is challenging the ill-tempered representatives of the dark with light, truth and dignity. And though the dark may seem to win at times, the precious gift of Christmas is The Light!   

Someday, not in the too distant future, the light will shine through the Ukrainian nation and there will be change.  Change that will require constant vigilance, dogged determination, bravery and light.  The people who have joined together over the course of this mission driven engagement, this service of honour on the Maidan, will be proud to say they threw back the curtains and washed the windows.  Ukraine's future is bright, and her legacy will shine!    

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=iaXe9OumpY4

Разом ми це переживемо

In the Days Before Christmas on the Euromaidan

Since the night of November 21st, Kyiv residents and the citizens of Ukraine have gathered for protest demonstrations on the public spaces, called the Maidan.  People of character, the world over, through social media and live stream channels have witnessed, astounded at the mass scale of this continuing event.

At the very core of  Euromaidan is an idea, a declaration of independence, a declaration of values. Citizens of Ukraine are fed up with kleptocratic government leadership whose gargantuan appetites have impoverished the state treasury at huge risk to Ukraine's sovereignty.  After a 360 year experimental allegiance with its northern partner, Ukraine's Maidan participants are voicing their preference for a western, democratic value system, they will not be held in bondage to a system of government that closes its eyes to fraud and embezzlement at the highest levels, and allows excessively burdensome "deals" which strip the state of funds necessary for building a prosperous future for Ukraine's children. The decision to stand, in quiet, peaceful civil disobedience, to protect their future is both simple as that, and powerful as that!

Safely protected under laws designed to guard the personal freedoms of its citizens, I am blessed by instant access to quality information which informs me, enlightens my perspective.  In the closed world of darkness, many people are yet to share my values and privileges.   Thankfully, in anticipation of the Good News, lights are aglow at the Winter Festival display in Calgary's Confederation Park, where Khrystos Razhdayetsia is only one of the emblazoned messages brightly shining over the golf course below. Sharing video clips from around the globe, citizens of the world express hope, faith, and attest to the message Peace on Earth, Good Will to All!  And the world waits with bated breath for a peaceful resolution to the amazingly intense stand-off on the Maidan in Ukraine.

Representatives of the International Community caution powerful forces at the Round Table Discussions to wisdom, to apply universal values, reason and knowledge in the determination of Ukraine's future course, as expressed by the citizen electors.  In the cold days before Christmas, the brave citizens of Ukraine, and an international host of honest people know that the face of tyranny speaks loudest in the darkness.  The good news is, the people on the Maidan know they are not alone at all, not when the night is darkest, the wind coldest, the world seemingly indifferent - for this is the time chosen.  May the Light shine over all!

A familiar but new idea for Schedryk - the familiar Carol of the Bells
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uKbK1CPwSs 

In the days before Christmas - both beautiful and moving
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cidy28pELe4&feature=youtu.be

Politely Speaking or Civil Disobedience

this baran-shaped figure is use as a wine jug,
good for pouring

From my warm chair overlooking the snow-drifted yard I marvel at the huge buck on Nose Hill, his horns rising in supremacy over the tall grasses, now snowy white, sitting in regal dignity among his harem of docile consorts. What tenacious life force holds them there on this cold wintry day?

Another image comes to mind, the million and more throng of protesters lining the broad streets in Kyiv, drinking tea and sharing companionship to stay warm. Intentionally calm and resilient in their third week of civil disobedience of course they are risking punishment from the powers that be.  Their remarkable mutuality of purpose enabled by the unprecedented immediacy of social media releases is disarming.  The Ukrainian citizenry's seeming diversity of opinion has coalesced into a very special and powerful force.  Emotions are high but restrained.  This protest movement is striking, even at a distance. Some have wisely observed the incongruence of 'organized' participants whose actions seem highly and unnecessarily provocative. Indignant confirmations of at least one fatality, and multiple applications of prison sentences for demonstrators, are being shared widely on social media, inflaming emotions further.

At issue is opportunity.  Regular Ukrainian people have lived with a legacy of lost opportunities, of treacherous, and deceitful last minute 'deals' which led to impoverishing conditions, both economic and cultural, for some hundreds of years. Recent negotiations with the EU gave rise to hopes of improved opportunities, although it seems the lessons of history seem to be attempting a reprise.

Subjugated to landlords in the 16th and 17th centuries, Ukrainian people were held in economic, judicial and personal servitude, requiring tribute, rent and labour as payment.  People's arduous work created wealth for the landlords, while they themselves lived in poverty.  While official serfdom was abolished in Russian dominated Ukrainian lands in the mid-late 19th century, it was a brief respite because upon Soviet intervention, retreating from a market based economy deprived urban craftspeople for markets, and deprived them of social and economic structures - they performed service to the empire.  Of course profits accrued for the empire, but not quickly enough.  The collectivization of farms created financial opportunity for the regime who created for the international world an illusion of wealth, at the expense of the labourers who remained in poverty, or worse.

Independence opened the door to capitalism for some who accumulated wealth beyond imagination while most stalwartly acculturated to new times, accustomed to privation.  But with less than seven generations separation from the agrarian life lessons of their ancestry, folk wisdom may still course through their veins. And it knows no linguistic bounds - it is international.  Gargantuan appetites have been mentioned in cheeky folk tales too, so I hope you enjoy a read of the traditional English folk song, The Derby Ram!

As I was going to Derby, upon a market day, I saw the biggest ram, Sir, that was ever fed with hay. 

The ram was fat behind, Sir, the ram was fat before.He measured ten yards round,Sir,I think it was no more. 

The wool grew on his back, Sir, it reached to the sky. And there the eagles built their nests. I heard the young ones cry.

The wool grew on his belly, Sir, and reached to the ground.'Twas sold in Derby town, Sir, for forty thousand pounds. 

The wool upon his tail, Sir, filled more than fifty bags.You had better keep away, Sir, when that tail shakes and wags. 

The horns upon his head, Sir, were as high as a man could reach. And there they built a pulpit, Sir, the Quakers for to preach. 

The mutton that the ram made, gave the whole army meat. And what was left, I'm told, Sir, was served out to the fleet. 

Oh, as I was going to Derby, upon a market day, I saw the biggest ram, Sir, that was ever fed with hay.

It's About the Children

seven-generations.com

Euromaidan 2013 could not have a more important agenda!  At first, the whole protest movement seemed to be about the people's anger with the government fumble in not signing the EU Association documents as was planned, promoted, advertised and celebrated all over Ukraine. Of course finances come into the question but there is more.  The young democracy emerged from its empire, feudalism and colonial serfdom relatively recently.  And the nightmarish embrace of the past is trying voraciously to devour the opportunities of the future.  Some of Ukraine's "bear-ish" neighbours, spawning many like-minded "bear-cubs", have persistently asserted themselves into the very thought patterns of this young nation.

Given a good reading of the Ukrainian psyche, it could mean that the children are anxious, feeling bullied and worried about family members themselves. Ukrainian folklore and literature is full of these themes. Know yourself, observe and know others, work around obstacles, don't react, guard your self esteem, recognize your significance, help others, speak truth to power, recognize insults as childish, use wisdom and laugh to restore perspective. But nightmares of past atrocities, past injustices, past incidents that prevented self reliant actualization have dogged Ukrainians for a long time.

The long list of persistent stress-ors that have impacted on the Ukrainian agenda are signals of serious problems that need healing. Every caring person, Ukrainian or otherwise, wants to contribute to their children's better future, to give them the tools for engaging the world in a powerful and satisfying manner. Everyone wants their children's success, happiness, and peace. And most wise people know it "takes a village to raise a child", "nobody is an island unto himself".

Ukraine's international diaspora has had the distance, time and opportunity to infuse its children with values, social and historical understandings which create pockets of Ukrainian identity. Crucially, those of us children, raised in the "little villages" around the world have a positive sense of self, identifying with ancestral homeland in a myriad of small and seemingly insignificant ways. Our aspirational neighbourhoods have shaken any vestige of economic or feudal bondage to our past, and this is the envy of people in Ukraine.

Euromaidan 2013 has coalesced in its emotionally resolute, ethical stance to correct the strategic focus of their government's work, from chumming with thuggish neighbours, to creating vibrant, healthy communities, economically healthy neighbourhoods and healthy friends for all their children's children.

CALGARY EUROMAIDAN DECEMBER 1st Singleness of Purpose

Calgary November 23,2013

Soaring expectations for change fed by the Ukrainian government's negotiation with the European Union have whetted the appetite of Ukrainians everywhere! Months of anticipation spawned a civic awakening in Ukraine, an optimism dashed in the recent disappointing government refusal of the EU offer.  It seems these were pseudo negotiations, and today's social, economic and political situation in Ukraine has galvanized an invigorating civic awareness, leading citizens to press for the removal of their ruling elite. Today, extreme disappointment with political leadership, and hungry for political change, has led to hundreds of peaceful mass protests in Ukraine and her widely spread diaspora.  A pressure cooker of change is currently brewing.
The prognosis for the future of these protests is yet to be decided but hopeful.

Singleness of purpose is a gift that keeps giving.  Chasing the truth truth through history, archaeology, and literature is one thing.  But the burbling anger emerging from analysis of statistics is different.  Historical documents now proving the horrendous acts contributing to the Ukrainian Holodomor of the 1930's continue to shine light on uncomfortable truths. And as my daughter once said, "Once someone tells you who they truly are, believe them!" Former subjects of a regime, and now citizens of a baby democracy schooled in the social media age, Ukrainians cannot deny the false premises upon which their government has gained such access and opportunity for kleptocratic behaviour.  Public awareness is rising, but Ukraine has been denied so often, it's enemies are cunning and patient.

Anyone paying attention to the hot spots in social media this week recognizes the importance of the Euromaidan protests in Kyiv and elsewhere in the world.  Hundreds of thousands of people are watching in nervous anticipation. For a patient people, such exaggerated focus on the protests resulting from Ukraine's disappointing government refusal to sign the EU Association agreement is perhaps out of character. Other issues generally usurp everyone's attention, but for today this issue must be kept relentlessly in the foreground! Ukraine's opportunities to grow into a prosperous free and democratic nation have been been insidiously infected with parasites.  Given a choice, nobody has wanted to speak on such issues. But developing trends in politics, high stakes power struggles, machinations and clashing interests are subjects of public discourse in this young democracy. At the very core of this protest movement is the belief that Ukraine's biggest obstacle to her future prosperity is myopic, fearful denial of truth. A growing maturity of purpose is evident in the latest protest demonstrations in Ukraine.  Recognizing the risks, the Ukrainian people are hugely optimistic for the potential for change. Change is coming.  May it help the Ukrainian nation.

Supporters of this movement, Ukrainians and Canadians of good will are rallying together Sunday, December 1st at Olympic Plaza in Calgary at 3:30 PM!

CALGARY EUROMAIDAN DECEMBER 1, 2013

Standing in Solidarity - Calgary EuroMaidan Євромайдан

It has been a particularly busy Ukrainian Calgary weekend; warm, satisfying, thoroughly moving, and an indication of the values retained by Canadians of Ukrainian decent here on the western prairies of Canada. 

Filling St. Vladimir's Ukrainian Cultural Centre upper hall, Saturday's Commemoration of the Holodomor began with the singing of Otche Nash by Korinnya Choir, conducted by Iryna Kalynovich.  Then the Ukrainian clergy of Calgary led the Panachyda/Requiem.  Korinnya then sang the traditional Song of the Cranes, a song of farewell.  Dr. Bohdan Klid spoke about the intense academic and research work being conducted worldwide in regards to the truths hidden in documents only recently available to the public!  Very special guests Spiritus Chamber Choir of Calgary performed the Ukrainian Requiem for the Holodomor,as composed by Roman Hurko, with amazing bass-baritone soloist Paul Grindlay intoning the priest's part, conducted by Tim Shantz.  Svitanok, a girls singing group performed a couple of beautiful pieces. Then a dramatic reading/presentation involving the young people of CYM Ukrainian association was followed by a communal singing of Vichnaya Pamyat' - Eternal Memory.   

To a person, the community was very focused, still and extremely attentive to the program.  Appreciative of the great effort, love and care taken by the program participants in preparing for this important commemoration, comments included, "tremendous!", "so thankful to have been here", "what an important community connection we have here", "these are the best people!" Many, many were especially thankful for the deeply moving singing of the Requiem by Spiritus, an English speaking, Canadian choir.  It was an important day to honour the memory of the Holodomor victims in a quest to sensitize people to the lessons in world history.  May we never forget, and may the world be protected from such horrendous cruelty!  Never again!

Ukrainian churches across Calgary served memorial requiem Panachyda prayers Sunday morning. 
And on Sunday night in peaceful solidarity with thousands of Ukrainians across Ukraine, Canada and the world, about a hundred Calgarians gathered at Olympic Square across from City Hall for Calgary's EuroMaidan, Євромайдан, Showing their solidarity with the 100,000 (in Kyiv alone!) Calgarians voiced their concern for Ukraine's disengagement with their landmark opportunity for association with the European Union. Singing anthems, hymns, and joining together in common support for Ukrainian aspirations to European democratic values, and economic opportunity, these are Canadians of merit and principle!  

Together, we are many!  This weekend in particular, those of us with ancestry in another land, far away, were intensely thankful for our Canadian way of life! Appreciative, and aware that people in other lands aspire to such opportunities and privileges, we stood together in solidarity! 

To hear Korinnya check https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kR1e83UfIGU&feature=youtube_gdata 
And for a melodic reminder of how long Ukrainians have carried these ancestral aspirations check here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E09kWXwsEj8  for

Боже Великий Єдиний (God Great One) - spiritual anthem of Ukraine

ps proud to say Calgary was only one of the 92 ( to date ) EuroMaidan events!
check the map here https://a.tiles.mapbox.com/v3/euromaidanmap.gccpeja0/page.html#4/50.82/44.47