At a recent birthday celebration at which I was an invited guest, an interesting conversation developed that says a lot about the present and future state of Ukraine's national identity. It concerned whether independent Ukraine's culture can develop independent of the economy, or whether the development of a cultural identity is contingent on Ukrainians first becoming more comfortable financially.
The festivities took place in a cozy, upscale restaurant on the outskirts of Kyiv. Among the guests were direct relatives, colleagues, former university acquaintances and children, ranging in age from 7 to 40. The bunch included both members of Ukraine's newly well-to-do business class, as well as members of Ukraine's future generation. As in most informal events outside of Western Ukraine, the language of choice was definitively Russian.
The toasts began – first to the health of the birthday boy, then to their children, then to their beloved, nourishing and independent Ukraine. Well into the meal, one of the guests remarked on how their children – whose studies are conducted in Ukrainian – write their homework in Russian using the Ukrainian alphabet. The parents in attendance began humoring each other with respect to the status of their children's current linguistic skills. But when I broke in with a serious question about the long-term consequences of what they were saying, they suddenly grew serious.
It turns out that they, as parents, were concerned that their children might not develop either perfect Ukrainian or perfect Russian, and instead might adapt some sort of pseudo concoction of the two. As our conversation unraveled (entirely in Russian), I tempted them with the notion that perhaps the Ukrainian language is not necessary at all.
Somewhat to my surprise, they were taken aback by my suggestion. They continued – albeit in Russian – to defend their language with comments like, 'No, this is our independent Ukraine and our children must speak Ukrainian. This is Ukraine and we have our own language and history.'
I pressed them on the issue of why, in the course of this conversation and in the direct presence of their children, they continue to support the implementation and rebirth of the Ukrainian language, but that they, themselves continue to converse in Russian – especially while I was addressing them from the very beginning in Ukrainian.
Suddenly they began speaking surprisingly perfect Ukrainian. 'Oh, you must understand, we grew up solely in a Russian-speaking society.' I pressed further, inquiring as to how they daily address their children – in Russian or Ukrainian? One of them answered, again in beautiful Ukrainian, 'We normally talk to our children in Russian, the television commonly broadcasts Russian-language programs and music, but you are right, we should start using more Ukrainian.'
I immediately went for the jugular: 'Ukraine should be independent because it has its own language and nationality?' 'No,' was the reply. 'It is not a question of nationality, we simply do not want to be ruled by Moscow anymore. We can make our own decisions and govern ourselves. There would be too much bureaucracy through Moscow. Moscow has reaped the harvests of Ukraine far too many times.'
In an effort to clarify, I asked if that meant that their reasons for independence were purely economical. Not necessarily, it turned out, they just want more control over their lives, without Moscow making decisions for them.
Somewhat confused about what was being said, I asked – 'OK, so you want independence for merely economical reasons?' 'No,' they replied. 'We have our own culture, we are Ukrainian and we want to be independent.' I asked them to clarify whether their priority was independence for cultural or economic reasons. They answered in the affirmative to both. 'You give the population bread first, then the culture will develop.' So, although I fiercely disagreed with this concept, for the next five minutes, until the topic turned elsewhere, they spoke Ukrainian.
In western Ukraine, things are a bit more straightforward. Several years back, when then-President Leonid Kravchuk visited the region, he mentioned to the crowd that he was startled that they, unlike the rest of Ukraine, did not ask questions about the economic status of Ukraine. Their questions were centered on securing Ukrainian independence and culture. Western Ukraine is undoubtedly bent on independence for patriotic and cultural reasons first.
What an interesting question – In a newly developing and economically transforming nation, do you improve the economy first or establish a rule of law and order associated and supported by a clear and present culture? The development of both simultaneously is probably ideal. However, that is easier said that done. Just look at Ukraine and virtually all other countries of the former Soviet Union. The money always comes first, but it ended up in the hands of oligarchs. That is bound to happen when a country attempts to develop its economy before – or without – a sound cultural and ethical revival.
The Latin root of the word schizophrenia literally translates into 'split brain.' Do you go left or do you go right? That is my diagnosis for Ukraine. Communism against Capitalism; Ukrainian versus Russian; eastern versus western Ukraine; the newly rich versus the lowering class. These are questions that define today's Ukraine.
Now another presidential election is at hand, and those issues are even more at the forefront. But those questions, ironically, might not matter at all on election day. No matter who wins, the oligarchs that will end up on top – again.
Roman Olearchyk is the Post's assistant editor
