The Past Creates the Present, the Present Creates the Future

(Here is something I wrote almost 9 years ago on May 9, 2005 concerning Victory Day celebrations in Gorlovka, Ukraine. It seems pertinent to me today as we are awaiting the "vote" in Crimea concerning succession from Ukraine and intergration into Russia. Please keep praying for Ukraine.)


Today is May 9, 2005 - the 60th Anniversary of VE Day. Sitting in Gorlovka, Ukraine, today is the revered holiday "Victory Day." All day long I have been watching the news and reading some email journals about the differing opinions concerning Victory Day. The Baltic States do not count it as Victory Day because years of Nazi oppression were replaced by decades of Soviet oppression. In Ukraine there are mixed feelings - in the Russian leaning East (where I live) the day is celebrated with gusto. In the nationalist West there is less gusto because of perceived domination by the Soviet Union (some in the West welcomed Hitler's troops as liberators from the Communists). The Baltic States are demanding that Russia offers an apology for the nearly 50 years of communist oppression - and with President Bush's visit to Latvia, the international press is making a lot of their demands. Russian President Putin, however, is saying that the USSR already apologized in 1989 and will not do so again. "Will we have to do this every year? Every day?" And Putin refuses to grant an apology - even putting the world on notice that a great debt is owed the Soviet Union for their costly role in defeating Hitler. The Soviet Union lost nearly 25 million people during the War.

In my city of Gorlovka there is a monument to the fallen soldiers of the Great Patriotic War (what the Soviets call WWII). More than 10 years ago I saw some elderly women laying flowers at this monument in respect for the dead (maybe their husbands, fathers or brothers). The kids loved to play on this monument for it was built to create a hill and it was rather large (in Soviet fashion). Seeing the elderly ladies fussing at the children for playing on the monument I remember writing in my journal about the tension between a "sacred memorial" and a "sacred playground." The past always creates the present and new generations do not understand the past well. I wrote then that those who died paid such a high price so that their children would be free to play in parks like the one where this memorial was located. By playing on this monument, these kids were unknowingly paying tribute to the sacrifices given for them. When does the past give way to the future?

There is a lot of tension right now about how exactly to talk about the past - particularly the events of May 1945. It seems to me that everyone needs to ask for and/or offer forgiveness. If we keep seeking to blame others and shame people we will never move forward. The Germans offered the people of Ukraine an apology for the events of those years and it was graciously accepted. Perhaps if more leaders would humble themselves and reach out to those they have hurt the world could move closer to healing.

Forgiveness is the answer. Repentance is the key.

My Thoughts Concerning Ukraine

            Some of my friends have suggested that I produce an explanation, from my perspective, of what is happening in Ukraine. I am reticent to write about it because the situation is very complex and trying to sum it all up invariably leads to oversimplifications that may not be helpful. But noting that there is danger here, I will wade in and share my thoughts.

            I have been connected with Ukraine since I visited there in October of 1991. I have been on the ground in Ukraine as they moved from part of the USSR to an independent nation, as they held various elections, as their national currency changed (twice), and through various protests and “revolutions.” I have struggled alongside Ukrainians to live through “deficits,” corruption, and a myriad of social problems. I have spent endless hours discussing Ukrainian political life and problems with my friends there. I can’t count the hours I have spent in prayer for Ukraine. I love Ukraine deeply.

             The events of the recent protests, known as “EuroMaidan” (Euro for European, Maidan for Square as in Independence Square where the protest started in Kiev) began as a response to President Yanukovich’s refusal to sign an agreement with the European Union and change the policy of Ukraine from moving towards integration in the EU towards closer ties with Russia. As the protests grew the president resisted them with a show of force, hastily changed laws concerning protests, and finally violence and shooting by snipers. This led to a “compromise” of sorts that would have led to a return to the 2004 Ukrainian Constitution, early presidential elections and the admission to parliament of opposition leaders from EuroMaidan. It looked like a deal that all would accept and none would appreciate (the essence of compromise). The protestors did not like the agreement because it allowed Yanukovich to remain in power – something totally abhorrent to the protestors after he ordered the slaughter of his own people. Russia refused to sign – although they had a representative there – because they despise the opposition and are not willing to work with them as legitimate governmental representatives. The president did not like it because returning to the 2004 Constitution removed powers that he had consolidated due to his control of parliament.

            Regardless of how all the parties felt about the compromise it became a moot issue only hours later as President Yanukovich fled Ukraine and eventually ended up in Russia. The new parliament of Ukraine passed legislation with clear majorities, including the impeachment of Victor Yanukovich. Unfortunately they also passed a bill about suppression of the Russian language. This led to greater tension between the eastern Ukraine and western Ukraine. Seeking a pretext to protect their legitimate interests in the Crimea, Russia acted swiftly to secure the Crimean peninsula. Russia has a paid up lease for military bases at the Port of Sevastopol (pronounced Sev–a-stopol). It is still under debate if they are within the legal terms of their lease, or if their actions are well beyond those allowed by their lease. It is also still a live question as to whether Russia will scale back their aggression or increase it to include the eastern portion of Ukraine, or even the entire nation. As you know, this is a continuing story (I am writing on March 5, 2014). I am praying for peace.

            What about the people of Eastern Ukraine? How do they feel? This is a question without an easy answer for many people live there. Some of my friends support the aims of the EuroMaidan protests and see the current government as legitimate. Other friends wonder if this is not just more of the same corruption they have lived with all their lives. Still others think that siding with Russia might be the best path to peace and security. I can understand all three reactions.

            My friends and neighbors prefer peace to war. They would like to live in a world without governmental corruption. They want to know that their pensions are secure. They want better roads and other government provisions. They do not want higher taxes. They want a higher standard of living. They want their families to be secure and free. They do not want to live in fear. And they do not know which “side” can provide all these wants – the new Ukrainian government, Russia, the EU?  I have my own questions about these issues as well. I know that a political solution must be found or there will be more violence. I doubt that any political solution can make everyone happy.

            I am praying for a mighty redemptive act of God in Ukraine, resulting in peace and security in the entire region. I am sure that for a win-win solution to arise, all parties are going to have to “love their neighbors as themselves” as Jesus said. I invite you to pray as well.     

 

Letter from Vanya Litvinov concerning the situation in Ukraine

An appeal to all my Russian friends!

I am Ukrainian, I am from Donetsk and I want everybody to hear my words and share them with others. There is no other danger in Ukraine right now than the danger of a war with Russia! Inside our country we have no confrontation among our citizens, Ukrainians, Russians, Tartars, or any other nationalities. I live in the East of ...the country but travel a lot around Ukraine. Do not believe the lies of Russian mass media that people of western Ukraine hate and threaten those who live in the east, south, the Crimea. This is disinformation and an outright lie! We are one country, one people, and the only threat we face now is the undisguised aggression from our northern neighbour in the face of the Russian President! WE ARE NOT ASKING HIM FOR HELP, WE CAN DEAL WITH ALL OF OUR DIFFICULTIES IN OUR COUNTRY ON OUR OWN!
I read Russian news, I spoke with my friends in Russia over the phone and it's obvious that your are being lied to by your own government. Make your own conclusion as to why Putin wants his troops in Ukraine but don't believe that we, Ukrainians, need it!
We want peace, we want to live in our own country and solve our problems with our own efforts! And the biggest problem we have now - is the Russian threat to invade my country!

Do not let this happen - tell the truth to everyone who doesn't know it yet!

By Vanya Litvinov