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The Real Birth of the Ukrainian Nation

 

Ukrainians are a soft spoken Caucasian people who by their own nature adapt to all societies. Apart from the first generation who may be identifiable with an accent - siblings generally have no accent, thus the integration into foreign Caucasian cultures is complete by the second generation. Ukrainians have thus adapted and integrated into such countries as Australia, USA, Canada, UK, South America and all over Europe! In Canada, the situation is slightly different because of the vast number of immigrants over an extended period of time. The Ukrainian culture has become synonymous with Canada’s history and it is not uncommon to see prominent people of Ukrainian background in politics, law, medicine and many other professions. 


Thus in Canada, even if a minority of the Ukrainian settlement were to uphold the cultural traditions then there is sufficient numbers to identify Ukraine and Ukrainians as a unique culture in Canada.   Apart from the USA, elsewhere in the world the situation is different and this is the need for unity and not separatism. I am not advocating due to the large numbers of Ukrainians that USA or Canada can afford separatism. Conversely, I see a special need for these countries Ukrainian Communities to provide leadership for the rest of the world.

 

Why is Ukraine not known in the western world? As a nation and country, Ukraine has a history as old as any other country in Europe and her ancient history has beginnings with the earliest civilizations. Why is it such a secret to the rest of world?

The answer lies in the 17th century, when after a 30 year battle the Ukrainians suffered a decisive defeat at the battle of Berestechko, the Hetman of the Cossacks, Khmelnytskyy signs a treaty with the Russian Tsar for help. In 1709 (some 30 years later) Hetman Ivan Mazepa defects and with Sweden loses the catastrophic Battle of Poltava. The King of Russia Peter decides that to consolidate and modernize Russia's political and economic power he must do away with the Ukrainian “hetmanate”.

 

After this there are countless times in Ukraine’s history where it would almost succumb to her northern neighbor and landlord. Ukraine’s language would be suppressed, writers and poets and bards came and went but Ukrainian language and culture persisted. In 1932-33 the Holodomor (death by enforced starvation) witnessed another 7 to 10 million Ukrainians; perish because of Stalin and his regime. Little is known about this mass extermination even today!

 

In 1945 after WW2, Ukraine was geographically defined by Stalin and the Ukrainian Socialist Republic came into being and existed until the decline of the Soviet state on December 26, 1991 when Mikhail Gorbachev resigned and declared his office extinct.

The Ukrainian parliament accepted the Declaration of the State Sovereignty in July 1990 and after a failed coup by the communist party to depose Gorbachev; and Ukraine adopts the Act of Independence on August 24, 1991.

 

Thus Ukraine struggles as an infant struggles to find her feet, to find her real path in life whilst her past keeps her bound to the former “soviet bloc” countries and business deals. Partnerships and business deals are difficult to break and there are those who do not want relationships damaged or severed (especially in the East). So Ukraine’s road to the EU and the “western world has taken longer than expected; and as she moved closer to securing these relationships - the strain was obvious from the other side.

 

Ukraine was and is a European country, and has the potential to not be a “fledgling” country for long. Ukraine’s agricultural potential is enormous. Ukraine’s black soil has always been called the “bread basket” of Europe. Ukraine is the 5th largest exporter of wheat and the 2nd largest exporter of feedstock crops (after USA), notwithstanding Ukraine exports more sunflower (doubling the tonnage of the 2nd place getter, Argentina!)

 

Ukraine’s iron and steel industry is the dominant heavy industry in Ukraine. Ukraine is a major producer of manganese ore and ferroalloys and a significant producer of aluminum. Most industry is centered between Dnipropetrovsk through to the Donbas Basin. The production in the past years has been crippled due to the ongoing war. But certainly it would be at its best if peace were given a chance.

 

When Ukrainian soldiers are fighting for the existence of Ukraine against the Russian Federation they do not ask each other what Ukraine oblast they are from; what religion confession they belong to; which armies their parents served in WW2; or what language they speak in their home! They support each other as bothers-in-arms fighting one enemy - Russia. These young men and women are creating a new unified nation which is based on new principles and new loyalties.

 

I urge Ukrainians everywhere in the world to recognize this. To fully support our brothers who are fighting in Ukraine we need to be united; we need to have a bond which transcends old social structures. Be it may from what confession, or languagel or oblast, or what army your parents fought in, the red army or UPA, whether they were banderivstsi, melnykivtsi, or petlurivtsi, believe me, today none of the above matters anymore!

 

Ukrainians in the diaspora wherever you live US, Canada, Australia, EU, other countries of the world and Ukrainians in Ukraine all need to be united like never before in our history. It is a good reference to look at the resilience of the Jewish people and their resolve and unity within their communities in the diaspora. The Jewish history is a useful lesson for us all and one which we can learn from.

 

Ukrainians in diaspora and in Ukraine will be a proud and united and free nation when we all stand behind this one objective and one motto –We are one, we are family and we are indivisible - Ми є одним, ми сім'я, і ми нероздільні!!

 

All Ukrainians are asking – Give us a chance!  Give Ukraine a chance!

Help Ukraine and Europe and the whole world be a in a better place!

 

Mykola Mowczan

 

http://euromaidanpress.com/2015/01/24/the-real-birth-of-the-ukrainian-nation/#arvlbdata

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