My Daughter lives in Kiev....her latest message
Last edited Fri Feb 21, 2014, 03:37 PM - Edit history (1)
Copied from her latest posting...
This morning I am sad and proud.
At least three of my friends here in Kyiv have been affected within one degree of separation by the death of a protester. Some of these men leave behind young families, new families, or even entire communities they had a hand in shaping.
I'm sad that those dearest to my friends are suffering these losses. I am also proud that I count such brave and noble people among my acquaintances.
I am inspired and in awe of the will of the Ukrainian people. I feel at home here now more than ever when I see so many people standing up for their human rights and freedoms. Surely every person who values human dignity and freedom feels fraternity and solidarity with the Ukrainians at this time.
The struggle is not over. Please keep Ukraine and all others around the world who are fighting for a better, freer future in your thoughts.
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Yes of course... yet as I have posted in previous threads regarding her, she is an intelligent and competent adult. She is on her own journey of experiencing this world and all it offers. I am very proud that she has always endeavored to make the world a better place and at this time it is with the people of Ukraine.
It is a complex situation.... yet I know from her communications that the majority of those participating in the protests are good and decent people. It is also known some not so good elements of society are using this as an opportunity to show themselves. But I know they do not speak for the majority who only want a free and democratic country.
The good news this morning was parlament voted to release Yulia Tymoshenko 310 to 54. She was imprisoned in 2011 and sentenced to 7 years.
She had lost a run off election in 2010 and then imprisoned by the President Viktor Yanukovych.
Hopefully this will stand and she will again be able to lead the opposition.
She does have a wonderful heart and only wishes to see our world become a more loving and caring place.
Anyone that has really kept a close eye on events there can see there are small factions of not os good people involved. It doesn't take from the fact that the majority are good and decent people only wanting what is right for the citizens of Ukraine.
Response to MysticHuman (Reply #9)
Response to The Magistrate (Reply #35)
Let's hope the separatists don't have their way. Though I suspect in the coming days we'll see people cheering for Ukrainian separatist movements. 
Response to joshcryer (Reply #58)
From what my Daughter has told me there are factions that are extreme right wing. Although they are a small minority they have given the government and excuse (if the needed one) to say the protests are violent. Yet the majority by far restrained from violence.
Thanks for sharing your understanding...it is a complex issue and one must try to understand all points of view.
a social media manager for an international company. I had asked her recently if she had thought about blogging her experiences and her response was... after working all day on the internet she really doesn't feel inspired to continue it at home. She does know of this site from me, however hasn't decided to join atm.
Maybe in the future... but presently I don't think she it's on her agenda.
She has expressed to me how kindhearted the people were. Although they didn't appreciate that she spoke Russian instead of Ukrainian. 
Her friend who was a native to the small town explained that she was trying to learn Ukrainian now and they shouldn't be "offended" to use Russian when trying to converse with her. Once they understood the reasons and that she is now learning Ukrainian they accepted her with open arms.
I will have to check what village she visited last summer. I believe it was in the North...but I am not exactly sure.
It was Kosiv near Kolimiya. Kosiv is the hometown of one of her very close friends.
A town of about 9,000 and looking at the maps of their respect locations ..they are not that far apart. Kosiv is a little south of Lviv.
Most of my ancestry is from Finland. We are descendants of the Saami people of Northern Finland. They also were brutally treated as different factions tried to decimate their culture.
We are also a descendant of Yaakko Illka who raised a rebellion against the brutal king of the time. He is my a grandfather back 15 generations from me. He was found guilty of treason and killed.
The struggles for the common man hasn't changed much over the centuries has it?
Yet we don't stop trying to make the world a better place.
I guess we as Americans can't really grasp the brutality that some humans can inflict on other humans.
I of course I recall the segregated America as a child raised in the 60s but was far removed from it growing up in the rural Upper Peninsula Michigan.
There are really no words to say when you hear stories such as your family has... My Daughter has conveyed to me that much of Ukraine wants nothing to do with Russia and I can see why after hearing your story. No wonder they didn't even want her to speak Russian. I have read up on some of the history of Ukraine and it certainly has a brutal past.
We can only hope this is the time.... this is where the Ukrainians finally break from their past and move forward.
Thank you so much for sharing your history. Every little bit helps me understand the culture where my Daughter lives.
This time in her life will be a very influential moment. She will never be the same now that she has witnessed people willing to die for their freedom.
Cheers to all the good Ukrainians!
Your appreciation is much appreciated!
There hasn't been much progress over there this past century. 
Your words are speak truth for many people. I just know my Daughter and what she stands for and she stands for all that is right. She has lived there now for nearly 4 years and I trust her point of view without question.
Last edited Sat Feb 22, 2014, 04:53 AM - Edit history (1)
Yes.. there is concern and of course I would be devastated should harm come her way. Yet as I have stated in other threads.... she is intelligent and competent. She is exactly where she needs to be at this time on her journey. I raised her to listen to her heart and blaze her own trail. The above message shows me that she has done just that. We are the creators of our world and we choose the path we follow. Her path lead to Ukraine of all places...I am just happy that she is doing what she feels is the right thing. Not what her mother or I think is the right thing. I trust her judgement.
I guided her to adulthood with as little baggage as I could manage.... now she is free.
This experience will most likely define much of her life. Seeing people willing to die for their freedom cannot not change you. You can feel it in her words.
When she comes back to the United States she will be ready to be a leader also.
At one point in her life she had visions of being a politician. She would make an outstanding one if she ever decides to give it a try. But where ever or whatever she decides it will be good.
have to ignore the fact that the bottom 70% of the world have benefited even more than the top 5% in the last 25 years.
The 1% do just fine in country's with relatively little trade. Indeed, they do better there than anywhere else.
Response to MysticHuman (Original post)
I trust my Daughter and although she does say there are factions of violent people...by far the majority are peaceful but determined.
Thanks for your kind words... they are much appreciated.
She has been low profile for several weeks now. Early on she and her friends did go and give food and water to those protesting in Independence Square...but she stopped quite awhile ago. Although some of her male friends have continued to help as they can.
Her employer has allowed her to work from her apartment so she really doesn't have to go out much atm.
We can only hope the "truce" and compromise ends the stand off.
Peace...
She is... and she messages me daily!
Amazing events over the last 24 hours.... she is still safe and says there is a celebratory energy being felt by all who stood for the cause.
The police and military refused to take action from the President.
It is a step in the right direction. I haven't heard from my Daughter since early this morning...I am anxious to hear how things went for her and her friends today.
Response to MysticHuman (Original post)
I am a Ukrainian who just had the most heart-wrenching discussion with my family. My Father and his family were all Ukrainian freedom fighters for decades and my Mother and her family (parents, brother) fled the night they were told they were being deported to Siberia. I'm Ukrainian to the core and I'm doing something about it. My husband's distant family came from Galicia, consider themselves Polish, although I have convinced my husband that there might be some Ukie blood in him (and he's come to accept it). 
In about a month I'll be in the homeland doing what I can do. I realize it's the last time my family might see me alive and they hate my decision, but they understand. I can't just watch. I pray I do not encounter violence, that I can be of some help, but we'll see what happens. I'll be mostly in the Western part but will travel where I must. I plan to stay a few months but that might change. With God's help, I can do some good. Sadly, I have friends and family that have been killed.
We Ukrainians just want one thing -- to be treated as humans. We want the dignity of having a homeland, being able to speak our own language, and live as proud beings. We are sick of being lied to, used, murdered. Peaceful protests have done no good. This passion goes back hundreds, over a thousand years through the yolk of tyranny of Russia, Mongols, Tatars, Polish, Germans, whomever. We've always been a stepping stone or useful in other ways. We've sided with the devil we didn't know because the devil we did know was too unbearable. Now we need to look within. I pray we don't find another devil but I fear we might.
May 25th will be interesting but it's a long way until that date, and sadly, I fear mostly May 26th. . .
Prayers for you, your daughter, and all involved.