feldman20130214KyivPost.html

Svoboda promoting hatred in Ukraine

[W.Z. This article by Oleksandr Feldman is identical to the ones that appeared in the Algeheimer and Kyiv Post on 06Feb2013, wherein I note that Mr. Feldman and his Party of Regions obviously support continued Russification and enslavement of Ukraine under the domination of the Muscovite dictatorship, rather than supporting the Ukrainian language and an independent Ukraine with aspirations towards democratic European values. The Mila Kunis zhyd/yevrei controversy was initiated by Yulia McGuffie in a 05Dec2012 article in the Kyiv Post. The comments therein (by Roman Serbyn and others) explain the usage and historical evolution of the Ukrainian word zhyd and the Russian word yevrei. The comments reproduced below chastise Mr. Feldman for his bigotry and hate mongering Ukrainophobia.]

One of the most recognizable figures of Ukrainian Jewish descent, the beautiful and talented actress Mila Kunis, recently fell victim to the hatred of a member of the Ukrainian parliament from the far-right Svoboda Party -- a party which is notorious for regularly injecting anti-Semitism into their speeches and public pronouncements.

He sneeringly proclaimed that she was not “Ukrainian but a zhydovka.” This deeply hurtful slur for a Jew was an alarming gutter effort to inject Jew-hatred into the acceptable bounds of mainstream Ukrainian discourse.

Despite the widely accepted notion that we live in an ever-more globalized world, too many people are skeptical that what happens in the halls of some far-off parliament on the other side of the world bears any impact on our way of life. On the contrary, I fear that events now developing here in Ukraine should remind us that our world is now inextricably intertwined. Every person who dreams of a more tolerant and peaceful international community is obliged to sit bolt upright and take notice.

I speak directly to this growing trend, wherein an anti-Semitic collection of hate-mongers are abusing the democratic Parliament of Ukraine to spew messages and incite violence, in ways that we had hoped were relegated to the distant past. In our recent elections, I was horrified to witness Svododa gain over 10 percent of the national vote. Like all ultra-nationalist parties, they campaigned and were elected on a message intended to inject fear into society. They shrilly warn that foreigners and minorities are positioned to take over the country. Idolizing some of the most virulently anti-freedom icons of generations past, including most prominently the architect of Nazi propaganda, Joseph Goebbels, Svoboda works hard to make hatred commonplace -- and acceptable -- throughout Ukrainian society.

Regrettably, Svoboda Party leaders realize that they have fertile ground on which to harvest such a dangerous agenda. While it has been on the decline in recent decades, there is no disputing that anti-Semitism, particularly among the less educated sectors of our society, remains ingrained in the minds of all too many. Svoboda has rallied behind this recognition and exploited mistrust of Jews to gain popularity among some in the lower class who painfully welcomed the chance to be a part of campaigns of hate.

I am wholly aware of the fact that if Svoboda’s growing popularity goes unnoticed outside of my country’s borders, we may quickly reach a point of no return. At that time, the idea of the party enjoying broad legislative powers to limit freedoms of expression amongst those who think unlike them would serve to reduce or prevent completely any immigration from nations they view as un-Ukrainian. All this could happen despite the decisive steps of the current government in Kyiv to staunchly oppose inroads made by Svoboda. One would have to be utterly ignorant of the history of this region to be unaware that campaigns born ostensibly in the guise of populism and democracy can quickly decline into mass chaos, violence and yes, even genocide.

Thankfully, we are not anywhere near that point and I don’t intend to call for panic. I am in fact confident that the international institutions in place in the 21st century are strong enough to notice the rise of this devil at an early stage. Once not long ago in history, the international community looked on in silence as Hitler and the Nazis deluded the world into thinking that their Jew-hatred was not worthy or “dangerous enough” to warrant global condemnation.

When the world finally did take notice, it was too late.

That is the lesson that I feel strongly IS worthy of taking notice. Anti-Semitism and xenophobia are the most insidiously contagious social diseases humanity has ever experienced. Civilized societies become infected with these sicknesses before they even pause and assess the damages that the illness is sure to impose.

This is an issue that cries out for the sincere attention of the international community, and most notably the leadership of the American Jewish community and the government of the United States of America. Ukraine and the USA have developed a strong alliance defined by economic partnerships and a specific diplomatic vision that there is much that unites us in how to work together to address threats and cultivate opportunities. Should Svoboda continue to expand, let no one deny this will harm regional and international agreements and impose instability on our mutual markets.

If history has taught us anything it is that hatred never ends with speech but will soon escalate to far more violent expressions. Nor can hatred be contained to any national borders, particularly in today’s world of social media and instant communication.

I appeal to all peaceful and caring leaders around the world to notice this phenomenon and join me in opposing everything that Svoboda represents. Because we all know that the stakes are far too high for the world to be able to say, “We did not know and therefore we did not act.”

Oleksandr Feldman is a member of the parliament of Ukraine and President of the Ukrainian Jewish Committee.This article was originally published by the Gatestone Institute.

COMMENTS:

Roman Serbyn: 14Feb2013 at 7:07pm
As I recall it, some time ago the Kyiv Post referred its readers to this article, published in another online periodical. Posting it now seems to me to be most inappropriate, if only because St. Valentine's day should be celebrated with notes on love and not articles on hatred. Unfortunately, wittingly or unwittingly, Feldman himself promotes hatred with his political treatise, written in the form of inverted anti-Semitism. Thus the article itself solicits enmity if not outright hatred towards each other, of the Jewish and Ukrainian ethnic groups.

It would take a long article to analyze Feldman's unscrupulous manipulation of facts and to refute his irresponsible allegations. Let me point out just two objections to the text.

1) Feldman accuses a Svoboda M.P., of "sneeringly” proclaiming that Kunis was “a zhydovka”, a term which he calls a “deeply hurtful slur for a Jew.” Feldman errs on two points -- the MP, Ihor Myroshnychenko, wrote in Ukrainian and not Russian and used the term Ukrainian "zhydivka", not the Russian "zhydovka". The Russian term was recognized as pejorative in the mid-19th century, but even the Jewish literary journal "Sion" (Odesa) accepted a bit later that the Ukrainian term was the normal designation of that people. It is hard to believe that Feldman does not know this, and/or that this was not pointed out to him by Ukrainian politicians and linguists. Feldman does not name the "culprit" and identifies him only as a member of “a party, which is notoriously known for regularly injecting anti-Semitism into their speeches and public pronouncements." Miroshnychenko's entry, qualified by Feldman as "an alarming gutter effort to inject Jew-hatred into the acceptable bounds of mainstrean Ukrainian discourse," is meant to smear not just Miroshnychenko but the whole political party to which he belongs.

2) Feldman's accusation reaches beyond the party he hates: it extends to the Ukrainian ethnic population in general. I quote: "Svoboda works hard to make hatred commonplace -- and acceptable -- throughout Ukrainian society... Party leaders realize that they have fertile ground on which to harvest such a dangerous agenda.... anti-Semitism, particularly among the less educated sectors of our society, remains ingrained in the minds of all too many. Svoboda has rallied behind this recognition and exploited mistrust of Jews to gain popularity among some in the lower class who painfully welcomed the chance to be a part of campaigns of hate." And so it continues till the end of the article: bold strokes with a wide brush! Such sweeping insinuations against the common Ukrainian population is highly insulting to their moral integrity and Feldman should apologize for his statement.

Feldman left BYuT to join the Party of Regions and his attack on Svoboda is in now line with the political agenda pursued by the kleptoractic regime against the opposition, especially Svoboda. Feldman's smearing attack, to which he has regrettably added a Jewish dimension, is not just against Svoboda but against the broader Ukrainian patriotic electorate. Unscrupulously branding Svoboda, Feldman also takes his anti-Ukrainian campaign outside country, appealing to the world, especially to the American Jewish community and the US government: "I appeal to all peaceful and caring leaders around the world to notice this phenomenon and join me in opposing everything that Svoboda represents." The leaders of Svoboda have made many mistakes and have said irresponsible things for which they should be held accountable. But Svoboda is also in the in the forefront of the efforts of the Ukrainian patriotic population to preserve and develop Ukrainian independence, its culture, language, and everything that makes Ukraine Ukrainian. Feldman's condemnation of "EVERYTHING that Svoboda represents", attacks the Ukrainian character of the Ukrainian state and society, and deserves to be criticized and condemned.

Elmer Mack: 15Feb2013 at ???
Regrettably, Feldman has more money than brains.

He shrilly warns everyone that Svoboda and Ukrainians are coming to take him and Mila Kunis away, based on a Russian word that Mr. Myroshnychenko did not use.

Regrettably, he suffers from the "I see anti-Semitism everywhere" disease, even where it doesn't exist.

And he engages in flights of fancy and inflammatory rhetoric that would do Hitler and Stalin proud.

If history has taught us anything, especially in Ukraine, it is that people shouldn't lie - not even rich Jews like Mr. Feldman.

The sovoks did enough lying to last eons and eons. Now the sovok mafia, which Mr. Feldman supports, and of which he is a wealthy member.

Noone's coming to get Mila Kunis.

However -------

I appeal to all peaceful and caring people around the world to come and get Feldman and put him out of everyone's misery.

And tell him to stop spreading lies.

Tom McCall: 14Feb2013 at 12:36pm
Was this opinion piece published a couple of weeks ago? If so, why print it again?

Graham Siebert: 14Feb2013 at 10:07pm
This is the third time around for this tired old piece. In football they would call it "piling on." Mila Kunis emigrated to the United States at the age of seven, more than twenty years ago. I have not heard that she has expressed much opinion on this matter. She is probably slightly bemused.

The United States has been greatly enriched by Jewish emigrants from Ukraine from the tsarist and communist times. Argentina, Canada and many other nations, one might add. At those points in history both the Russians/Soviets and the Jews themselves did regard the Jews as a quite separate people, as noted in internal passports and certainly in their regard for one another.

It should not be a surprise that some of the population retains this sense of separateness. Not as a matter of political suppression, but simply a historical fact. I am happy to say that although a proud sense of self-identity remains, people I know here in Kyiv see themselves, and are seen, as firmly Ukrainian.

Kyiv Post, I write for the second time, please stop attempting to stir up trouble where there is none. You do a disservice to political diversity in Ukraine, to the Ukrainian people, and to the Jews here as well. Just shut up!

Dirk Smith: 15Feb2013 at ???
Published again to fulfill the weekly POR/Communist Party propaganda obligation. Get some new material (lies), please.