(If you’re more of a “direct action” person and don’t give a hoot about what I have to say this week, click here, here, or here to directly help Ukrainians.)

 

Last week, I spoke with Sofia Kovalenko, a Ukrainian-American student from the Seattle area. She still has family in Ukraine, and said that some of her relatives- including her grandpa- were taking up arms and preparing to defend their country:

“My grandpa […] is 70 years old, he has one kidney, and he has other health problems. He was telling us that he has signed up to join the local militia, and he’s ready to fight and do whatever he needs to do so that the other kids can have a chance at freedom.”

As a second-generation Ukrainian-American myself, I’ve gotten a lot of questions about people like Sofia’s grandfather: Why stay? At this point, you’re safer evacuating, why fight?

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The Ukrainian national anthem includes the following line:

“Душу й тіло ми положим за нашу свободу”

Translation: “We’ll lay down our souls and bodies to attain our freedom”

Many Ukrainians both within the country as well as the diaspora were raised to embody that phrase. And many more are using it now to combat those same questions that I’ve been getting. One of the Ukrainian youth organizations I was a part of upheld its members to the mantra: “Гартуйсь”, or “Always Be Prepared.” Even without being a part of an organization, I’ve met dozens of other Ukrainians that are always on guard, ready for whatever comes their way. Perpetually prepared, if you will.

Also, worth mentioning- the very first line of the anthem:

“Ще не вмерла України і слава, і воля”

Translation: “Ukraine’s glory hasn’t perished, nor freedom, nor will”

I’ve often interpreted this opening line as “Ukraine has not yet died,” in a more literal sense. The country, like many other parts of the world, has seen its share of hardships. But there has never been a doubt in my mind that my ancestral country would ever cease to exist. You simply can’t take an entire country off the map at will. That country lives on through its language, customs, traditions, beliefs, and art that- spoiler alert!- has already been spreading globally through its emigrants. And- wow, who’d’ve thunk it!- those traditions and customs are still going to be held in other parts of the world.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t include this other part:

“Згинуть наші воріженьки, як роса на сонці. Запануєм і ми, браття, у своїй сторонці.”

Translation: “Our enemies will vanish, like dew in the morning sun, and we too shall rule, brothers, in a free land of our own.”

After immigrating to the States in the 1950’s, my great-grandparents continued to celebrate holidays “by the old calendar,” teaching their children the traditions of the “old country” so that they would never be forgotten. Good news- it worked out pretty well in the long run. And they got to do so without the fear of their identity being erased on their own, free land.

So- if anyone should ask you about the character of Ukraine’s people, please refer them to the national anthem.

 

(You can still click here, here, or here to directly help Ukrainians.)