24/08/2013 09:58
We was “given” the independence 22 years ago. Although most Ukrainians did not even understand what it was then and why. Independence was seemed most like some pleasant regard. Like, everything, that had been going to Moscow before, will stay here now – and we will finally live a full life! Frankly, I was 23 -year-old and have the same thoughts.
Of course, there was another less part. People, who sacrificed their lives for the independence of Ukraine – whether in the Carpathian forests or the Siberian camps. These people like Lukyanenko, Stus, Chornovil and others knew that the freedom of the nation must be conquered. And only then it will become a common value. But such people were in the minority. Moreover , their affairs were not supported by the new generations.
Today we came up with the idea that independence as it is does not bring any benefits. Independence is more a possibility than a guarantee. And we, Ukrainians , are still required a huge work on yourself – to become a society of citizens, not the amorphous and passive people that we are now.
In fact, after 22 years, we have the next situation: mature and older people are dipped in nostalgia for Soviet times, times of paternalism, when the state was deciding for you in exchange for your individual liberty. Young people, hopeless, are willing to go abroad and build their life on someone else’s, but established, independence foundations. Of course, such attitudes are not the same for every Ukrainian – but such trend exists.
The main conclusion of this stage – Ukraine needs its own elite. The elite that would be willing to defend the country’s independence in all fields- in the military (if neccessary), but also in economic, cultural, linguistic … Today, we do not have such elite. All power is in the hands of the criminal -oligarchic class, which main aim is not Ukraine but their own welfare by all means. They do not need democracy and the rule of law in Ukraine because it would mean political death of this class.
So I would not dare to call this day a celebration. And furthermore , it is not a holiday of a post -Soviet officious cult, which we see every year – with pompous speeches and demonstration activities “to date” against the degradation of public institutions. Rather, today we should think what we should do to make the independence of Ukraine a real value, how to make Ukraine the state that our children could be proud of , so that a guy who died in the Carpathian forest knew that his sacrifice was not in vain.
I personally – as a citizen and a politician – see my main task: to create a genuine national elite and to dismantle the criminal- oligarchic class , which now takes its place. This is not a quick process , but we should not despair. If we all strive – we will celebrate 25th Anniversary of the Independence of Ukraine in completely different country.
Mykola Katerynchuk