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- Features of Totalitarianism
21 I had the fortunate opportunity to see the rebirth of my nation — an uplifting for which one could pay with more than just one eyesight. Maybe God deprived me of my eyesight because I saw what few others have been fortunate enough to see. I do not terribly regret that I have lost my sight because after the wonderful things I have already seen, I have no desire to see the foulness which exists around me. It was the same with Edison. When he was already famous, the old man was asked by a correspondent whether his deafness had not interfered with Edison’s career. Edison replied that the opposite was true: thanks to his deafness he did not have to hear the mass of useless advice that was given to him. “It’s the same for me,” states Shukhevych, “now I don’t have to see what I do not want to see.” I would now like to take the opportunity to introduce the panelists who will be offering their own views on the ideas, activities, and interests of youth today. Jorge L. ABREU (Cuba) Features of Totalitarianism My name is Jorge L. Abreu, I am originally from Cuba. I lived in Cuba until the age of eleven. I am a student. My training is in biology and psychology, with four and a half years of Behavioral-Physiological Research. I am currently enrolled at Columbia University in a post graduate, pre medical program. I am also by training and employment a milieu therapist to emotionally disturbed adolescents. However, today is not a day where any of the aforementioned is formally addressed, except insofar as it all relates to human experience. Today, I come in the context of a separate reality. I come in the context of a victim’s ordeal. I speak to you as a fellow in pain. My reality is as sordid as yours, my fellows. From the earliest memories, I came to know the travesties of a system which understood no compassion in its goal to accomplish and actualize Marxist- Leninist reality. This was the system which incarcerated my father and con demned him without due process to forty years of imprisonment; this is the system which at one point reduced my once corpulent father, into a humdh frailty of ninety gasping pounds. This is the system which kept that father away for eighteen years and robbed my childhood of its essence. The pain caused to my family bears no relation to what Marxist-Leninist reality has inflicted upon millions and plans to inflict. It is because of this sadness that I come to address you, as do my peers, to relinquish ideals and to vitalize that which I believe pertinent and present in today’s generations. My work presently, with disturbed youth, allows me to take a glimpse and observe a restricted population, imprisoned by innate mechanisms, existing as institutionalized modes of life in Sino-Soviet dominated lands. I speak of the fragmented homes, of the shattered realities of victimized lives. No realiza 22 tion of purpose; blind faith in vegetative, institutional provision; inability to choose to live as independent beings. These are also Sino-Soviet mandates in a healthy society. This reality is exemplary of Sovietization. As many young people behind the Iron Curtain, I felt the oppressive evil restricting, attempting to dominate the self, my being, to eradicate desires to analyze, develop and grow. In this country, this is all seen as deviant and this is so, since it exterminates the individual. In lands such as Russia, China, Cuba and the nations occupied by Soviet Russia, this phenomenon is a sine qua non. As in my own childhood, young people from behind the Iron Curtain cling to the ideals of a democratic tomorrow, not too distant, effervescent and all too precious. In the Free World we clamor at the despair and relinqush the splendor of our reality. In dealing with such a system, one must be aware of certain salient features; features of totalitarianism. These features should be exonerated of all dema goguery, the purpose being, to rekindle, to establish and unmask the specter of pain and destruction. We must be aware that totalitarianism is unlike any other form of auto cratic-authoritarian rule. Totalitarianism establishes a proscription to inter nationalize domestic policy of command, at the expense of many thousands and millions of lives. Totalitarianism, unlike other non-democracies, will devel op extensive networks of bureaucracy and repression where thousands may be confined or disposed of at times, with all the glorified attributes of torture and self-alienation. Totalitarianism, basically makes the following types of appeals and execu tions in operation: 1) Strong mass appeal and upheaval around social deficits. 2) Amazingly clear statements of horrifying plans (alluding to purges, deviation from standard morality, glorification of war and violence, interna tional mobilization.) 3) Eradication of party system of politics. Eradication of civic endeavor by citizen groups. A movement such as the Civil Rights movement here in the United States, in the decades of the fifties and sixties, may not even be conceived with its protests, legal battles and ultimate accomplishments, in Stalin’s Russia, or Mao’s China. These systems rely on vast imprisonment, Gulag and concentration camp machinery to implement the sadistic plans. Thus, totalitarianism in its effective grim reality remains unparalled in the history of humanity as the single most detrimental agent forged to destroy with full volition. These facts, free from philosophy of any sort, become distorted by ad vocates of totalitaran rule and before long the dust of time settles upon the graves and the new generations fall prey to inanition before reocurring evils and murder. The human mind is capable of justifying the basest of con ceptions and deeds, allows passive apathy before “final solutions”, massive purges, impending chaos. A new generation must bear the blood of the fallen and the tears of the suffering as the greatest testament to an egalitarian state. 23 ABN AND EFC CONFERENCE, 1. Panel in session. At the podium: Mr. Habib Mayar (Afghanistan). 2. Rt. Hon. Sir Frederic Bennett addressing the conference. 3. Left to right: Gen. J. K. Singlaub (USA), Mr. G. Tamsons (Latvia), Mr. Y. Stetsko (Ukraine), Dr. A. Suga (Rumania). 4. Conference dinner. 1. Press Conference. Left to right: Mr S. Stetsko, Hon. G. Kirkpatrick, M.P. Hon. Y. Stetsko, Hon. J. 'Wilkinson, M Gen. J. K. Singlaub. 2. Hon. Stefan Terlezky, M.P. 3. General Singlaub being presented with an Award of Merit. 24 LONDON, NOVEMBER 21-24, 1985 1. Participants at press conference. Hon. Yaroslav Stetsko delivering his address. 3. Afghan, Vietnamese and Ukrainian delegates. 4. Presidium table at the banquet. 1. Youth panel. Standing: Roman Scuplak — moderator. 2. Overview of conference hall. 3. Demonstration outside the Soviet Russian Embassy. 25 Are the annexations of Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Ukraine into the Soviet Union to go without struggle? In our hemisphere we now see the threat of totalitarian spread with Cuba cementing Bolshevik gains by any and all means possible. The means may appear convoluted but the result is unilateral: conquest. Case in point may be the recent debate over monetary non-military support for the opponents to the increasingly communistic rule in Nicaragua. Through the constituency pressure, including a sympathetic media, such aid never came to pass through our legislative body where support also exists for the oppressive Nicaraguan regime. We must come to terms with the reality that such monumental efforts exist as a function of the interested parties, namely an organized Left. Any philo sophical argument regarding an isolation measure from the United States from World/Latin American affairs, must contain the premise of Soviet involvement. As young interested people our campaign to bring awareness in very com petitive arenas must be concerted about the fabric of the suffering of neigh boring countries; such as my native Cuba where now men lie covered with fungal infection, dying of malnutrition and starvation, without medical as sistance or elementary human regard. These men committed the “crime” of proposing, believing in principles echoing those of the federalist papers. These men are the Cuban political prisoners. The ideals of democracy, the practice of pluralism, the aspiration to equality in a dynamic society where the pursuit to happiness in accordance to a legal system is accessible to all; these are the goals of freedom-longing people across the globe. However, we come to encounter opposition to such a state of existence. It is not a mere philosophical objection, we come to see carnage as a means of contention, total disregard for the most essential of human necessities. We come to know pain, desolation, despair... Out of necessity we, the suffering, delineate definitions, come to set a domain for democratic practice, to fix the limits on a non-desirable, called totalitarianism. It is completely carved across the face of time with the sacrifice of lives. The burden falls on us, the defenders of days to come. The burden falls on us to seek the leadership in a struggle toward freedom. It becomes imperative to study, analyse history, placate a present and future by practicing the ideal. Let us look at our world today, that is, our homes, our selves, our neigh borhoods; and stretch out their setting: 1) political climate, 2) demographic being, 3) internal feelings, biases, ideals and practices. How do these rhyme with their national and international parallels? This meditation may elucidate our place in the loftiness of ideals. The inspiration to me, and others like me comes from looking at a past, a not too distant past, where the horrors of radicalism at work brought about the merciless demise of eight million Ukrainians within the span of one year. In spiration comes from the equally horrifying attempt to exterminate Jews in continental Europe. 26 Inspiration also comes from the irresponsible treatment bordering on geno cide of American Indians and blacks in this hemisphere. It pains me to see how the United States becomes the scapegoat and ultimate culprit to violations of human rights to various ethnic peoples, when unabashed efforts to suppress black and Miskito populations in the Northern and Caribbean regions of Nica ragua by the so called Sandinista government, escapes totally unnoticed. It is the sentiment of biases and discrimination which has promoted much of the unrest fruitful to totalitarian advocates, today, in many, or all of the Third World nations as perhaps the world. It is most curious to see how in a country such as Cuba where intense con demnation of America exists, particularly around the treatment of blacks, one finds that less than 1% of high cabinet personnel is black. This, on an island where a vast percentage of the population is at least of mixed heritage. We may not be able to actualize our dreams of freedom for all, in our days, unless we look incisively at our surroundings and their painful realities; not to exploit them but to expand democracy in correspondence to our founding principles. It is not an accident that the state of Mississippi where the largest population ratio of blacks reside, is the poorest state of the Union; sharing infant mortality rates, and illiteracy statistics with countries of the Third World. As young people of today we must come to address central issues of our sur rounding medium with the same fervor as we do and must address travesties from abroad. It is most important to communicate to the world community that out side the Iron Curtain social justice may be achieved without the institutionalized condemnation and cruel reprisal that occurs in Eastern Bloc Countries, Cuba, and shamefully occupied lands like Afghanistan. We, in the Free World must come to understand that not all enjoying free dom as a happenstance are always free to be free. Not all are always of clear vision, or principle. It is always important to clarify, and expand the continuing reaches of democracy. This, even though established entities in our society such as a heterogeneous press media, may fail to effectively communicate responsibly, or perhaps trendy leanings which obscure events of yesteryears. In our plurality, vacuums still exist. The empiricism of life under totalitarian rule presents a painfully interesting paradox. To know radicalism and totali tarianism means only to live it. For the horrors which occur under the oppres sion of the Soviet Union and its international puppets may not be imagined. However how does one prevent, teach about such horrors, to a vast number who thankfully have never experienced such reality? This is a task for us. Our greatest testimonial to OUR FREE societies, is to conserve that free dom. Not to be afraid to question, voice, and represent as our Constitution facilitates the realization of freedom toward all. Civic activism in this land comes to be the greatest proposition and in vitation to all people to eradicate totalitarianism. Exposition of the violations of totalitarian systems and non-cooperation with the oppressors are the only way to effectively remove the vessels of ideas which ferment totalitarian rule. It is important to know that ultimately such rule is dependent on people and their ability to applaud immorality, turn away from arrests in the streets, choose rather to sacrifice life and soul. 27 Luba SZKAMBARA (Ukraine) Ukrainian Youth Promoting the Cause of Freedom Ukraine, like every other occupied country, has always strived to attain its independence. In its struggle to become a sovereign nation, Ukraine has sacrificed its prized possession — its youth. Throughout our history, it has been the young people who have been the driving force behind the struggle lor independence. They all had one idea, one objective in mind and that was to liberate the Ukrainian people from the yoke of communism and Russian imperialism. Many times Ukrainians have tried to proclaim their indepen dence — on the 22nd of January 1918, in 1938 and on the 30th of June 1941. The Independent Ukrainian State — re-established in 1941, with the Hon. Yaroslav Stetsko as Prime Minister, was quickly destroyed by Nazi Germany and Ukraine was once again forced to fight on two fronts, one against Nazi Germany and the other against the Red Army. It is this ideology and philosophy that is the basis of many Ukrainian youth organizations in Canada. Although we cannot fight the enemy in face to face combat, we can, nevertheless, continue to advance the cause of Ukrainian freedom. In 1984, during the Los Angeles Olympic Games, the World Jamboree of the Ukrainian Youth Association was held in Lcs Angeles. The young Ukrain ians gathered there, lit a flame in honour of the Free Olympiad which was taking place in Toronto, Ontario, at the same time. This Olympiad was held as a demonstration against the inability of Ukraine, and other subjugated na tions, to compete in the Olympic Games under their own flags. This symbol of dedication to the freedom of Ukraine and other subjugated nations is re presentative of the spirit which is evident in the work of young Ukrainians in Canada. The activity of Ukrainian youth associations touches many areas of importance. Political actions, as for example, demonstrations on behalf of po litical prisoners in the USSR are often organized by Ukrainian youth and stu dent groups. Efforts to bring the plight of Ukraine and other nations under Russian domination, into the eye of the Canadian public, are also being made. The importance of future generations of Ukrainians in Canada cannot be overlooked. The young people who moved through the ranks of various Ukrain ian organizations are those who are now taking responsibility for insuring that the next generation of young Ukrainians receives the educational foundations needed for the development of active and dedicated members of the Ukrainian community. In the past years, student and youth organizations have taken an active role in the organization of demonstrations in defence of political prisoners in the USSR. Some of these actions take place in front of the Soviet Embassy in Ottawa, but many were staged by organization branches in their respective cities. A week in March is annually set aside to devote to the defence of Yurij Shukhevych, son of the legendary leader of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, Roman Shukhevych — Taras Chuprynka. Yurij has been in Soviet concentra tion camps since the age of 14 and is now blind. In Toronto an information booth is set out for a petition demanding the release of Shukhevych. This action has been particularly successful, by bringing Shukhevych’s plight to the atten 28 tion of the Toronto public and media. This week-long action is undertaken by groups of young people from the Ukrainian Youth Association (SUM). The Winnipeg branch of TUSM (Ukrainian Student Association of My- kola Mikhnowsky) also staged a demonstration in defence of Shukhevych in March of this year. This demontsration was successful in receiving attention in Winnipeg’s English press. Although TUSM has been and is very active in the United States, the organization has only recently undergone a renewal of activity in Canada. This is a welcomed development in the Ukrainian student community. The organization has already made valuable contributions to the work of the Ukrainian community. The Toronto branch of TUSM held a seminar at the University of Toronto last February. The goal of this seminar was to develop an awareness within the university community of the situation in the USSR and point out the differences which exist between the USSR and Russia. As a result of the carefully organized event, a great deal of interest was generated among non-Ukrainian University students. Many young people have become involved in the Committee for the Release of Political Prisoners and many of them were involved in staging an extremely successful demonstration in Ottawa on May 4th, 1985, during the Human Rights Conference. In the past few months many of the youth organizations were involved in defending the Ukrainian nation and its people against the unsubstantiated ac cusations in the media regarding the harbouring of war criminals by the Ukrain ian Canadian community. Members of the Ukrainian Youth Association have appeared before the Deschenes Commission and presented a brief attempting to clarify recent distortions and misinformed allegations made against many Ukrainians. We are well aware that the Soviet Embassy in Ottawa is playing a prominent role in what has developed into a major campaign against the Ukrainian community in Canada. One aspect of life which has always been particularly problematic in Ca nada is the problem of educating future generations of Ukrainians in a spirit of Ukrainian nationalism in order for them to become active in the Ukrainian organizational structure in Canada. Two of the Ukrainian Youth Organiza tions, SUM (Ukrainian Youth Association) and PLAST (Ukrainian Scouts) have been fulfilling this duty since their founding in Canada. But, as the years go by the task becomes more and more difficult to accomplish. Young people, who had previously gone through the ranks of a Ukrainian youth organization should now take over in educating and providing leadership for the next genera tion. It is becoming more difficult to instill a nationalistic ideology in a young person, who, growing up in a Canadian society may not feel a close tie to Ukraine. Canada, as a multi-cultural country encourages the preservation of ethnic heritage, however, once entering the realm of everyday life, ethnicity must be cast aside in order to become successful in the professional world. As a result, the only type of ethnicity that is truly accepted is the superficial one which consists of dance, food, and national costume. Although these things are part of one’s identity, a very important factor, the political aspect, is forgotten, Download Do'stlaringiz bilan baham: |
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