The Birth of the Ukrainian Nation

The Birth of the Nation

This post may seem a bit idealistic for many people, especially in tough realist Eastern European society, but in my view it is necessary to mention that idea.

I would like first to declare the main thesis of this post: Ukraine has its climax years now, considering the revolution and national consolidation. In my life I have never seen such consolidation of people in one country - that seemed to be non-essential for nowadays' pessimistic epoch. However, such an event took place.

I think, that Ukrainian revolution has the same sense as the Great French Revolution of 1789-99. I know that most Russians will sceptically laugh of this point. My father, who is a firm critic of Ukraine and has pro-Russian and pro-Soviet views, tells that Ukraine is not a country but "a territory". You know, I feel enraged by such stance. Maybe Ukraine had been a territory without common identity, but everything changed with the revolution. Ukrainians finally became a single nation.

During the French Revolution there were foreign intervention, period of state terror, of civil wars and separatism, of gross human rights' violations. Then was the era of maximum French grandeur under Napoleon. The French Empire was defeated, but nevertheless France became the worldwide example of a state of liberty, justice and democracy. The main motto of the Great French Revolution - Libertè, Égalitè, Fraternitè - became the consolidating motto of the French people, just like the modern Ukrainian motto Слава Україні! (Slava Ukraini!; Glory to Ukraine!). Yes, Ukraine will go through the toughest years in its contemporary history during the next ten years but those years will create a powerful, united nation, that will be absolutely different from the Ukraine we have known before.

I sincerely believe in the success of the Great Ukrainian Revolution. During the French Revolution, there were also a lot of scepticism and irony considering the idealistic republican movement. Today, the Great French Revolution is studied in all schools in every country as the moment, when the modern political era began. Ukrainian events may not have such a global character but it is a decisive moment for the country. The main gain of that revolution is not "European Ukraine", "Democratic Ukraine" or "Nationalist Ukraine". The main gain is THE BIRTH OF THE UKRAINIAN NATION! And those, who are sceptic about it now will think twice, when Ukraine will become an example of modern struggle.