The Readers' Question from July'03 was:
Premise: Ukraine, or most of the present day territory of the nation Ukraine will, in the not too distant future, again become a part of Russia.
Question: Is such a happening a possibility? Yes or No. Comment: Ridiculous, not likely, a foregone conclusion, etc.
It is my honest opinion that Ukraine is indeed moving towards becoming part of Russia or at least an entity that will include Russia in a major role and Ukraine in a minor one. The only reason why this has not happened to date is that the present "ruling" clans would be out of a job under Russian rule and they certainly would not be able to accumulate the massive wealth that they have to date.
However, should this ruling position be threatened, they (the present rulers and oligarchs) would simply make an amnesty deal and sell out to Russia. I do not see any of the present rulers having any loyalty to Ukraine as a nation, or to the Ukrainian population as a viable national entity.
A few nationalists would certainly raise protests, but they would quickly be silenced. In the meanwhile, the Ukrainian Diaspora is so very comfortable in its "Second Ukraine" position that they would not make any overt moves to challenge the new order.
I know that I will be cursed and branded for this unpopular position, but unfortunately this is my pessimistic view of today's reality.
After almost 12 years of independence, Ukraine has yet to show determination in shedding the chains that Shevchenko so eloquently and passionately lamented.
- Walter Prochorenko
Ukraine, of most of the present day territory of the nation Ukraine, will in the not too distant future again become a part of Russia.
Question: Is such a happening a possibility?
A: If you are referring to a return to the USSR then, no. NO empire has ever returned in history.
- Kelly Hoodikoff, Canada
Another Reader comment on an article:
I guess I'm a "world citizen", so I will respond to Dan Miner-Nordstrom's "Top Ten Reasons Why Ukraine is a Better Place to Live than the United States." (June, 2003). I read the article while flying from Kiev via Frankfurt and Paris to Kinshasa (Congo). I had visited my son who lives in Donetsk and am now teaching in a missionary school here.
I grew up in Canada but have lived three years in Scotland, five in Germany and fifteen in the United States. Indeed "the grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence." My brief visit to the Ukraine convinced me that many of Dan's 10 points are valid (especially numbers 2,3 and 6 through 10). Now I'm in a war-torn country (Congo) in a city (Kinshasa) with more the 90 per cent unemployment. But even here there is "green grass." There are friendly, generous people with an undying hope that with God's help and the support of the international community, peace and economic stability can be restored. If everyone could learn to share their country's "green grass" this world would be a better place.
- Dr. Tim Geddert
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