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Music and Art at the Ukrainian Institute of America
Posted by chris on August 26, 2005 at 14:25:38:
In Reply to: Re: Mark Seidner planning to leave Ukraine posted by Petunia on August 26, 2005 at 13:48:20:
Our struggle for identity and for independence is not a parlor game, as some people seem to think. Speaking out loud and clear about tough issues, such as Ukr-Jewish relations, among others, is not easy, and if taken to extremes, or stupidly handled only backfires. Those who unjustly keep on accusing us of being nazis, because we want to celebrate our culture and traditions must be challanged, lest they think we just don't know any better or are too stupid to speak out. Yet we must not fall into the trap of overreacting and thus only confirming their accusations. The issue of Ukr-Jewish relations will not go away, unless both Jews and Ukrainians are honestly willing to talk about the problems. I don't seem many former Soviet Jews doing that, and few are willing to admit that a large number of Jews collaborated with the Soviet government, what resulted in thousands and thousands of Ukrainians being murdered or exiled. We must be open minded and keep up a dialogue, but we also must be firm. Nobody respects sheep.