Sex and Politics on International Women’s Day

Mental Callisthenics with Vujko Ilko

 
By Oksana Bashuk Hepburn

Uncle Ilko seems incredibly agitated as he sits down to my favourite lunch: borscht with mushroom-stuffed wontons and kholodets, pulled pork in aspic.

“There is no end to the stupidity some of those yahoos are capable of,” he announces.  I know that he is referring to Ukraine’s power elite but wait for him to elaborate via mental callisthenics - discussions on things Ukrainian.  However, he compliments me on lunch and asks about the family, a strong indication that he is worried.  Eventually, he begins.

“Now more than ever, I’m troubled about Ukraine.  Soon, Mr. Yanukovych and company won’t have any manoeuvrability left at their disposal.”  Manoeuvrability is everything in politics as in every bargaining situation.  I wait to hear what Vujko Ilko has on his mind.

“They are fools.  No question.  Look at the corner they’ve painted themselves into.  First, Yulia gets arrested.  The advice from the democratic world is: let her go.  Instead, she gets seven years.  Again, democrats say: find a way to let her go.  But no.  She gets transferred out into the outlaying perimeter of the country.  All this to keep her out of sight and out of mind.”

“But it’s not working out for the government, Vujku.  She’s becoming an international star.”

“Yes, a star for the protesters.  Like the Danish Prime Minister said, “she’s a symbol that they’re afraid of.”  Fear is a very dangerous state of mind.  It makes for bad decision-making.”

“You think she’s in danger of her life?”

“Don’t go there.  Think of where they’re going with her.”

“Okay.  I’m listening.”

“But they’re not.  Neither the Europeans, nor Canada, not even the Americans can impress upon Yanukovych the absolute political foolishness of his actions.  Instead of letting her go, Canadian doctors, others too, are allowed to see her, and report that the situation is ‘grave’.  Ukraine’s doctors say no, the situation is normal.  The farce is gathering steam.”

“What about Yuriy Lutsenko?”

“Exactly!  Now the regime adds even more ammunition; they sentence Yuriy to four years.  And for what?  Abuse of power?  Giving his driver an apartment that witnesses say didn’t happen?  Political smoke and mirrors.  Kafka at his best.”

“Does the World care about all this injustice Vujku?”

“You mean while Netanyahu comes to North America to convince us that bombing Iran is in our interest, and while Putin is crowning himself as the Czar of Russia again, and while our Canadian election shenanigans dominate the news, the situation in Ukraine is news?”

“Yup.”

“My view is that it is and it isn’t.  And it only matters that it must be news.  Why?  First of all, a democratic Ukraine is a counterbalance to Russia.  Just like little Georgia is; except Ukraine is much more important.  This is a stability-in-the-region issue. Second, the West goofed in playing its eternal same sold song about Ukraine: yes we want you, but in fact we don’t want you.  Europe’s anti-Slav mentality by the likes of Sarkozy and others belong to the Middle Ages, but the mindset exists and undermines, again, stability and progress in Europe.”

“I bet I know what your number three is going to be Uncle.”

“Tell me.”

“It’s the fact that by thumping his nose at the Europeans and not letting the opposition leaders go, Yanukovych has incensed them and they are not in a forgiving mood.”

“You got it.  And if this attitude of theirs continues, he may just have to back off.  You know, as incredible as it may seem, the Lytvyn fiasco is God sent.”

“Sorry, I must have missed it.  Do you mean Volodymyr Lytvyn the Rada Speaker?”

“Oh yes.  The man did it.  He opened a hornet’s nest by stating that women are inferior to men because Adam was created first and they are but from his rib!”

“Are you serious?  This is political suicide.  Is he resigning?”

“No way! ‘Quoted out of context’, he says, but the damage has been done.  Even Hanna Herman is asking for a public apology, women in the US and elsewhere are up in arms.”

“This is remarkable coming just as Rush Limbaugh stepped into pooh-pooh too; on the very same subject; on the eve of International Women’s Day.” [March 8]

“You’ve made an excellent connection: women of the world unite against ‘Neanderthals’ like Yanukovych et al.  Because, my dear, the link is this: Yulia is in prison because she is a feisty woman; Mr. Yanukovych declared some time ago that a woman’s place is not in politics.  See how widespread the primitive mindset is?  Go telephone your friends in high places in the Ukrainian diaspora organizations to get Aung San Suu Kyi to endorse Yulia for the Nobel Peace Prize and for Time’s Person of the Year.”

“Vujku, you’re smiling.”

“Yup, I’m not as worried as I was earlier.  Sex and politics can be a great way forward.  And your borscht is great.”