Anxious and hopeful times in Ukraine

Dear Family and Friends, Ukraine has been in the news of late.  The following is an editorial piece that has been circulating in several of the internet places I frequent.  Please pray for Ukraine and her people that this present crisis will resolve peaceably and that the country will be able to move forward  into a new future.  Bless you all.  Jennie

Long Live Ukraine! (Slava Ukrainy!)
by Valeriy Panyushkin
Special correspondent for Kommersant(Moscow)
26 November 2004
posted on gazeta.ru
[translated by Lisa Koriouchkina for UKL]


I am in Kiev. I saw people rejoicing. I saw a
city square full of people wearing orange scarves
and jackets. One cannot glance over a sea of
people . I saw cars honking in rhythm with the
slogan "Yushchenko! Yushchenko!" It is happening
not only downtown but also on any street of the
city. And it happens not only to encourage one's
supporters but to express one's joy as well.
There are people on top of cars waving flags and
shouting. My feelings of joy of revolution were
mixed with jealousy over the fact that I would
never see anything like that happening in Moscow.
And I prayed to God that I would live a little
longer to see something similar to what is
happening in Kiev take place in Moscow.

Exuberant city. Peaceful, smiling, kind, united
people. But most importantly - they are free.
Free! Free! I experienced jealousy and pride for
the fact that I am standing among these free and
peaceful people. And these people were not
forcing me out despite the fact that I came from
Russia, a country whose minister of Foreign
affairs is low enough to make an official
statement about NATO's geopolitical claims to
Ukraine.

Listen, you, minister, come here, to Kiev. Go to
Maidan and despite any orders from Kremlin, you
would not be able to utter a word about NATO's
geopolitical claims. There are many more of these
people - young men and women, children and
elders, - than a Minister or a President of
Russia could ever imagine in their wildest dreams
when they think about a category "people". They
might be fragile in body, but they are strong in
spirit. And do not deceive me that there are no
Russian troops in Ukraine. They are here. But if
even one of them ever makes a single shot, as a
citizen of Russia I could never clear myself from
shame and will never be pardoned for this sin.

Yes, I realize that my statements are full of
pathos. And pathos is not used in Russian
journalism. But you should understand me because
I am in the heart of a revolution while you are
stuck in boring Moscow offices. Come here, go to
Maidan - and you will understand me.

For the last five days every meeting at Maidan
begins with a prayer. And they sincerely pray to
God to grant them freedom. This is a revolution
that neither Vladimir Putin nor Viktor Yushchenko
can stop. Only God can.

Vladimir Putin can spill blood here. He can spill
a lot of blood. But before giving an order about
military actions, a president of Russia should
have come to Kiev, to Maidan and breathed in this
air. It is stronger than any army. One could send
even the most cynical bastard from President
administration to Kiev and he would return
wearing an orange scarf.

With his genuine soft-heartedness and inclination
towards compromise, Viktor Yushchenko could
consent to negotiate with Leonid Kuchma or
Russian representatives. However, Maidan will not
accept negotiations. People will not leave Maidan
until and unless Viktor Yushchenko is pronounced
President of Ukraine. The fact of the matter is
that it is not about Yushchenko. It is about
freedom.

No, I very well understand that politicians in
Moscow cannot comprehend how the whole people
could be drawn to the city square not due to the
PR technologies but to defend their freedom. But
do come to Kiev, go to Maidan and you will
believe it.

I have not been happier in my entire life. I have
not experienced greater love than the feeling I
experience towards every single person I meet on
Kreshchatik.

G-d damn it, how can I make the officials in
Russia believe that they cannot win here in Kiev
but can only cover themselves with shame? How can
I make them believe that freedom does indeed
exist if they believe TV anchor Mikhail
Leontiev's lies whom they paid to lie in the
first place? There is no way I can make the
officials in Russia believe that freedom exists.
But come to Kiev, go to Maidan before Manezh
Square turns into Maidan.

I understand that my enthusiastic words are not
in line with Russian journalistic style, but you
should try to understand me. I stopped by the
hotel to write this column while the city is
rejoicing behind the windows of my hotel. I am
sitting in the hotel room scared that some
bastard in Moscow gives an order to shoot.

But I will finish this article, go back to
Maidan and will stop being afraid.