You Can’t Win With a Loser
Mental Callisthenics with Vujko Ilko
By Oksana Bashuk Hepburn
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Uncle Ilko is ticked-off with events in Ukraine. No way would he consider attending an embassy or consulate celebration: they have a job to do and so do democrats, especially Ukrainian Canadians and that is not “to give comfort to the enemy”. We attended the UCC’s 21st Anniversary of Independence event to hear Canada’s politicians.
The Conservatives came out in force - the Minister of Foreign Affairs, his Parliamentary Secretary, Chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Ukraine. Clearly, they want Ted Opitz, who won over Borys Wrzesnewskyj by 26 votes, to win should there be a bi-election in Etobicoke Centre. He, too, attended. The ruling is expected later this fall.
“How were they, Vujku?”
“Good. Politicians understand the issue in Ukraine: it’s one law for President Viktor Yanukovych and his cronies; another for Ukrainians, especially the Opposition. I applaud Canada’s position: no free opposition; no trade.”
“What about Canada’s interest in trade with Russia and the camaraderie in Vladivostok?”
“Let’s talk about that. Canada’s message needs tightening. We can’t expect to get anywhere by talking out of both sides of our mouth. Putin (President) sees through this and expects trade to trump law and justice. We must keep up the pressure.”
Alas, it was missing this summer. The Kyiv Patriarch was shunned by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada. Rationalized as adherence to rules, it was seen by most as kowtowing to Moscow’s demands: no independent church for Ukraine.
Nor were there demonstrations in support of the Canadian government’s call to free Ukraine’s political opposition leaders. Other than statements, the Ukrainian Canadian Congress has failed to hold or endorse demonstrations fearing, apparently, that “mixed messages” would undermine “good relations” with Canada’s government. Ludicrous! Such demos would put pressure on President Yanukovych and support Canada’s, indeed, the West’s position: the incarceration of opposition leaders in Ukraine is politically motivated. Yes, there was a demo protesting Russian as a regional state language, but as any Political Science 101 student knows, a government in power can legislate whatever it wants. It did: wrong, but legal. However, failure to abide by the rule of law, as in the case of the incarcerated, is illegal. Somehow, the distinction was lost on diaspora thinkers.
“Watch them. They will continue ‘legally’ legislating the end of Ukraine and march with Russia towards an empire that will make the Cold War seem like dress rehearsal. The diaspora has done too little too late. Yuriy Lutsenko is going to the penal colony for nada! Yulia Tymoshenko is being toyed with. Strong leaders are being disabled one after the other. And we’re afraid of “mixed messages”! The disapora leadership is bereft of nation-building knowledge; not quite the same thing as mounting a kid’s summer camp or writing up contracts in legal offices.
“Look! We could have created an investment fund and bought out some of the media. Lvivska Gazetta was going for a song 15 years ago. We failed them: couldn’t even deliver mass English language programs for them. Now, the last vestiges of free information. Just the other day, TVi was closed and Ukrajinsaka Pravda, has been pushed to the wall. What do you think will stop Russia’s lackeys from going all the way? Greetings by national and global diaspora leaders that fail to state in their communiqus that the Government of Ukraine is crucifying its sovereignty by incarcerating the Opposition? Read their greetings! Unbelievable!”
Vujko is in his mental callisthenics state about things Ukrainian and his views are dark.
“Can you lift your spirits Vujku?”
“Yes. By singing the new words to the Ukrainian anthem with that group, Egoist. Their Novyj Hymn Ukrajiny on YouTube has changed the national focus with one word. Listen: ‘Sche ne vmerla v Ukrajini ni slava ni volja’. Get it? ‘V Ukrajini’ not ‘Ukrajina’!”
“That’s brilliant.”
“Ukraine is not homogeneous. It’s thinking; going forward; protesting. Except that Yushchenko! He’s determined to pull away votes with that other habitual loser Kostenko. And why did KUN join them? Can these patriots not see that the ex-hero is using their sacred symbols - OUN, UPA freedom fighters - to his, the Party of Region’s and Russia’s ends? Why are diaspora leaders seeing Ukraine’s reality through that optic rather than a democratic one?”
“Which is?”
“You don’t win with a loser regardless of past achievements. Look at Ignatieff or Charest. They’re gone.”
“You’re right. Democratic values can steer us through the confusion caused by those religion or national symbol abusers to destroy Ukraine’s freedom.”
“They’re the foundation. The Communists have 10% of the vote. If Yushchenko can keep his miserable 5% away from the United Opposition, the Party of Regions wins.”
“But 30% are undecided.”
“And the disapora must not ruin that by idolizing Yushchenko, supporting Moscow’s Patriarch or undermining the incarceration of the Opposition. The United Opposition is the only force that can win. Diaspora leaders - political and church - that don’t get this endanger Ukraine. They’re working for Russia whether they know it or not. Just like Yushchenko.”
Oksana Bashuk Hepburn ia columnist and international commentator