General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsAs a Ukrainian American, I thank you all. . .
Honestly, I don't know how to begin sharing what's in my heart. Well. . . let's start with a deep "thank you".
Thank you for remembering Ukraine. Thank you for caring. Thank you for your in-depth analysis. Everything has kept me and others going, especially since we have faced decades of hearing "That's Russia, right?" We Ukrainians are a kind, jovial, stubborn group with a dark sense of humor. But it's caring and not being forgotten that keeps us going, answers the question: Why bother? Who cares?
You see, even though my brother and I were fortunate enough to be born in the US, it was only because my parent were forced to flee Ukraine in the early 1940s. My Mother was 10 when Soviet solders came knocking on her parent's door, telling them that the next day, they will be transported to Siberia. All of them: my Mother (10 years old at the time), her 8 year old brother, and her parents, in their late 20's/early 30's. Their crime? They owned land. A whole acre (or probably less). That night, the 4 of them left, on foot, west, though Slovakia, Poland, Czech republic, Hungary, and finally, 10 years later, in a DP camp in Germany. Mother always cried when she spoke of those days. G-d knows what horrors a 10 year old child faced.
Meanwhile, about 200 miles north, around the same time, other soldiers came to my Father's house, looking for him and his family. These soldiers weren't so kind. My Father (around 21 at the time) was out with friends for a few days, so they took his two brothers (about 25 years old) and shot them in front of their parents' home. And left them for "others to sweep up the garbage". Then they went to my aunt's home (she was about 22 years old), took her, her husband, and their 3 children to Siberia for 25 years' hard labor. Their "crime"? They had university educations and were professors in literature, history, and math. When my Father came home, he was told what happened, and he and his two friends packed up and left to lands west. All on foot.
Yes, my parents faced horrors of war but also the kindness of strangers. Just as many stories of joy and laughter were told as stories of terror and horror. My Father also had a true visitation from the Virgin Mary who showed him and his friends the only passage through the mountain. But through it all my Parents impressed one thing on me: Do not forget who you are & where you came from, and be prepared for anything by learning about everything you can (including automotive, woodworking, cooking, sewing -- you never know.)
Our Parents are gone now but my Brother and I have family back in Ukraine, fighting for their land, their freedom. They remember what their families went though and their cry is "Never Again".
So know, that your posts, your support, your interest all bring me and others with similar stories comfort that someone out there cares. We, as a nation, haven't been dismissed.
Again, I thank you from the bottom of my heart
Paula
Nevilledog
(51,026 posts)Paula Sims
(877 posts)BigmanPigman
(51,567 posts)"Do not forget who you are & where you came from, and be prepared for anything by learning about everything you can (including automotive, woodworking, cooking, sewing -- you never know".
onecaliberal
(32,783 posts)ismnotwasm
(41,967 posts)summer_in_TX
(2,710 posts)Now they are known and loved for their amazing character, pluck, humor, stubbornness, cleverness, love of country, and much more.
NJCher
(35,622 posts)Being told you are being sent to Siberia, and being told this by soldiers. And having no recourse.
We are so used to the courts as a recourse here that its hard to wrap ones mind around this.
This is why we have to continue our fight against republicans until they are transferred back into a decent opposition party. Instant runoff voting preferred.
I am sorry your family had to go through such horrible experiences. Glad you are here.
blue-wave
(4,344 posts)they survived and we have you and your brother because of their struggles. My family too, suffered through ethnic cleansing back in WWII where there are no Ukrainians living any more. As one relative who visited the village where they once lived said "there is nothing there anymore." The courage and fortitude our ancestors exhibited is amazing to me. Where and how did they ever find the strength?
lucca18
(1,239 posts)The Ukrainian people are truly amazing, and are fighting so hard together, to save and protect their country.
I am in awe.
My heart is with Ukraine.
PEACE ❤️🙏
Hekate
(90,562 posts)🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻 🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻. 🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻
alwaysinasnit
(5,059 posts)cilla4progress
(24,718 posts)🙏🇺🇦
pnwmom
(108,959 posts)Everyone who reads this here will hold them in their hearts.
monkeyman1
(5,109 posts)Karadeniz
(22,474 posts)Silver Gaia
(4,541 posts)Your story inspires us. Your people are inspiring the world!
Our 💛hearts💙 are with you! 🌻🇺🇦🌻
brer cat
(24,524 posts)Bless you all.
highplainsdem
(48,917 posts)dalton99a
(81,404 posts)Thank you for posting!
virgdem
(2,124 posts)I send with you, your family and Ukraine. 🇺🇦
Roy Rolling
(6,908 posts)I was ignorant of the Ukraine people, their love of freedom, dislike of Russians, and sense of humor. Your heroism and sacrifice is worth our support.
I think, what would the world have done in 1939 when Hitler made his first move, knowing what we do now?
I dont know the answer, I just hope its what Biden and the world are doing now.
orwell
(7,769 posts)...but none more moving than those.
Thank you of reminding us that the beauty of the human spirit can still rise from such great evil.
You give us all hope in these very dark times...
sprinkleeninow
(20,217 posts)☮🌻🕊💙🇺🇦💛🕊🌻☮
"Slava Ukraini!" "Slava Na Viki!"
Deuxcents
(16,087 posts)There more I learn of your home country n the people, the more I am in love with their love for their land, their freedom n strong resolve to keep fighting for it. My hope is help is on the way n the invaders are vanquished for good. I think we will all feel differently about what we did not know and give the respect due. Thank you, Paula
KS Toronado
(17,155 posts)Ordered a Ukrainian flag (3x5) few days ago, when it arrives I'll fly it every day.
love_katz
(2,578 posts)BlueBassLines
(17 posts)From the menu of Velseka restaurant in the East Village of NYC, (the largest Ukrainian population in the US)
Much ❤️ to u + all of Ukraine
MustLoveBeagles
(11,583 posts)fierywoman
(7,671 posts)SleeplessinSoCal
(9,087 posts)... for not denouncing actions of Putin, expose an arrogant and callous heart. They seem to be medals warn on the puffed chest of the dictator and his craven disregard for humanity.
I want to tell them this to their faces. I'm so angry. They can bury their brains in music, but they support atrocities unbound by the Russian Pig Putin.
P.s. the musicians are Valery Gergiev and Anna Netrebko.
catrose
(5,060 posts)SleeplessinSoCal
(9,087 posts)And Valery Gergiev by a decent Russian at La Scala. .
argyl
(3,064 posts)We'll certainly never quit remembering or caring what the courageous Ukrainians are going through. Your indomitable courage, your relentless resistance against against an evil little man is noticed, to say the least.
The whole world is behind you and proud of you. You will undergo a period of hopefullly short suffering and then will be fully welcomed as a full fledged member of NATO and of the West as well. I hope we deserve you.
And the despicable little man who started this? He was in serious trouble before he pulled this and if he lasts the Summer he'll be lucky. If he's simply removed, if a bullet to the back of the head, or polonium is used I'm good with any of them.
The whole world is on your side.
Hekate
(90,562 posts)Donkees
(31,340 posts)This channel delivers videos on American life, culture & foreign policy. Produced by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Global Public Affairs, the videos illustrate values that underlie U.S. policies & explore interests shared by Americans & people around the world.
SheltieLover
(57,073 posts)Like many others, I have come to absolutely love the Ukranian people for their bravery, dedication to their country and each other, and their creativity in the face of great danger.
I am also in admiration for the apparent lack of toxic masculinity in the Ukranian culture.
My ancestors' stories are similar.
🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦
Raine
(30,540 posts)hope and belief in the goodness of people, a belief that I had lost and now regained.
🌻 💙 ❤ 💛🌻
BlueBassLines
(17 posts)Last edited Mon Mar 7, 2022, 10:51 AM - Edit history (1)
From the menu of Veselka restaurant in the East Village of NYC, (the largest Ukrainian population in the US)
Much ❤️ to u + all of Ukraine
WhiskeyGrinder
(22,308 posts)calimary
(81,125 posts)And may many a Velseka adorn your path!
AmBlue
(3,104 posts)I am so sorry for what your family has experienced. My in-laws were born in Austria and Romania and survived atrocities committed by Hitler. They lost many family members during that conflict, with the survivors ultimately emigrating to Panama.
My heart breaks for all of Ukraine and what is happening there right now. It is the last thought before I sleep and the first thought when I wake up every morning. Ukraine is in my constant thoughts and fervent prayers.
There is a bright line between good and evil in this world, and the Ukrainian people and your courageous President Zelensky are shining examples of goodness for ALL the world. Ukraine gives me hope. I just have to believe somehow Ukraine will win and this evil cannot succeed. We all must do all we can to help. The world cannot allow this evil.
🇺🇦🌻🇺🇦 🌻🇺🇦 🌻🇺🇦
SLAVA UKRAINI!!
denbot
(9,898 posts)mcar
(42,278 posts)Thank you for this report.
Tommy Carcetti
(43,155 posts)My grandparents were being pestered by the Soviet authorities. Some of their family was deported to Siberia.
Where abouts is your family from and have you been back to visit?
dixiechiken1
(2,113 posts)I_UndergroundPanther
(12,462 posts)Ukraine lives in our hearts now. Thank you for being in this world. You and all the Ukrainan people.
💛💙🌻🌻🌻❤️
Lonestarblue
(9,958 posts)I did not have an opinion about Ukrainians prior to Putins illegal attack, but I am so impressed with their fighting spirit, their creativity in attacking the Russians, and their determination to defeat Putin and save their democracy. Your forbears are a brave people, and it is my fervent hope that Putin will be forced to leave Ukraine very soon. It breaks my heart that people are dying and suffering there.
Stay strong, Paula. We are all rooting for Ukraine. After Islamist terrorists attacked the office of the publisher Charlie Hebdo in Paris, the phrase We are all Charlie Hebdo symbolized the solidarity of the world for the French. Tonight, tomorrow, and the days after, We are all Ukrainian.
FakeNoose
(32,596 posts)My best friend Kay became a refugee after World War II, along with her mother and brother. She was born in Yugoslavia but after the war was over, Russians came and shot her father. My friend Kay was about 12, her brother was a year older, and her mom was in her mid-30s. Yugoslavia got taken over by communists and they all had to leave after their property was confiscated. Luckily they got out of the holding camp, and they walked all the way to Austria. This was in 1947 or 48. Through the help of International Red Cross, they contacted relatives in Pittsburgh, and were lucky to be sponsored to come over to Pittsburgh. This was the best thing that could have happened, and they've always been grateful for the chance to come to America and start over.
It's hard to come to a new country, not knowing the language or where to turn for help. We Americans need to open our eyes and our hearts, and help however we can. Ukraine is a good country with stout-hearted people. It doesn't deserve this horrible treatment by Putin. We must stand by Ukraine and help however we can.
MLAA
(17,252 posts)Ive sent $$ to military and humanitarian efforts, but I feel Im not doing enough. I put a Ukrainian flag on the front of my house. Finally I say this mantra multiple times a day: Ukraine strong, strong Ukraine.
My heart breaks and I will do more ❤️.
Xoxo