Replies

I have tried my best to clarify because I thought very insightful. I have tried to divide.. but it seems to clump together. You can copy & make a simple word document dividing by the lback lines... I think it is well worth the effort. Please enjoy! Taras Boyko is the Director of the Christian Publishing House "Knigonoša" and organizer of the International Festival of Christian books was interviewed because he had recently returned from U.S. Question 1. How does America perceive the Ukrainian events: "I think over the last six months, Americans have learned about Ukraine than the 23 years of our independence. They even began to distinguish the Ukraine from Russia. In general, Fox, CBS, gave objective picture of events. However, Russian emigrants watch Russian programs with slant which caused conflict in Slavic churches." ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Tell us about these cases. "In Sacramento, a huge community of Evangelical Christians,have always been peaceful. However, verbal arguments in the parking lot. He was askedto give interviews on local radio radio broadcasts for local radio, churches and local Slavonic and American newspapers. I have been asked to talk about Independence and the role of Christians." ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. When you told the Maidan, if they learned something new did it change their perception? "Most Ukrainians do not see Russians as enemies, knowing that Russian society assessment is a result of the propaganda war that our country, unfortunately,is losing. Ukrainians understand that Russia is not Putin. Speaking about the source of the conflict, we mean the only place - Moscow, the Kremlin. People are absolutely have no understanding of chronological event order: what happened, when, and why. Their perception of independence are joined with Molotov cocktails, burning by fire, and black smoke from tires. But few people even knew of dictatorial politics or that two months before were thousands of peaceful meetings! I told about the need for the presence of Ukrainian Christians on Independence was obvious: the Church should not be isolated from society, its place where people are. Especially to give the truth about Maidan, and Christians should testify about the truth: priests that stood between the troops and the protestors, 100 thousands of the Gospel of John distributed among the protesters, tents of prayer that prayed every hour for three months "Our Father" and walked the ministry. For believers, from a spiritual point of view, such facts were serious arguments in assessing what was happening. I hope I was able to help someone understand the intricacies of Ukrainian realities. However, some [U.S.] Slavic Churches made it a rule never to talk about Ukraine.. even at home." ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4. Even at home? "They were extremely saturated with propaganda, but did not want to be particularly bothered with alternative information. Their position was to ensure that all [both Russian and Ukrainian] media lies and still do not know the truth! Also quite popular in America "conspiracy theory" and other other conspiracy ideas. Many Russians-emigrants are in fact "fifth column" in the Statesthat have moved to a foreign country, enjoying its benefits and truly despise it." ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5. Then why are they still there? "I also asked this question. Their answer was almost all the same: "We have nothing there, we left during the Soviet era , we have nowhere to go back." But America - is evil, they want war, they organized Maidana. What sources is this information drawn, it is not difficult to guess - the effects of Russian TV. I think the FBI would be interested in this Russian diaspora in the context of terrorism. I see people as material ready for subversive activities inside the country - they have citizenship, they know the language, but their hearts are in the hand of Putin." ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6. What is the situation now in American churches, are they divided along ethnic lines? How do the priests respond? "Mostly, Slavic Evangelical churches in the United States are divided on ethnic grounds due to the language of the sermons and Bible translation not just for theological and doctrinal differences, but also on subculture and formal grounds. If this church is Ukrainian, then at least they have prayed for peace. In Russian churches, people tend not to talk about it during the service. In one of these churches, I heard people stood aside and spoke very negatively about Ukrainian events. "Bandera", "right sector" - the rhetoric of Russian media. During worship all pretended nothing happens. We better not talk about it, that does not make trouble. Two months later in May, all had became more clear." ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7. In churches also do they continue to pray for peace? "Yes, in the churches pray constantly. Help financially, clothing and told that boxes of things were sent to the Maidan. But, nevertheless, many are confused." ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8. What is the confusion? "How would you explain this? My old friend who lived in the States for about 20 years, said America is a country in which a person comes to turn into a horse 70% of the time not sleeping U.S. residents devote to some work. Life goes by in a fairly steady pace. Life is at a pretty stable rhythm. But we, the citizens of Ukraine, take change as a reality to participate together in building the future of our country, even at the cost of victims. And being on the Maidan, in the epicenter of events, our perception of Ukraine was formed as an individual to the General, as from the bottom up. People began to understand the role of each person in the history of a large country: their personal role. But when you're trying to understand what is happening remotely, without knowing "original source" details, not taking this personal involvement, analysis occurs in principle from the General to the particular. So, you try to be objective with information from a variety of sources, but the role for the majority of Ukrainian immigrants individually is not defined. They think that all is big politics, and the individual has not able to influence, everything is decided by someone that the individuals not able to influence. And, of course, this raises uncertainty and fear. But even so, we should not forget that everything is in God's hands. And even if his plans may not be apparent, the Bible repeatedly shows us that God has changed his plans for people. Why? Probably because the person endowed with free will of the Creator, at some point changed, received his sight, and his path had changed. This is what is happening now in Ukraine. People began to realize the importance of participation of the individual in society. Americans long ago realized and even had time to forget. What is civil society for Americans? They live in it, but do not understand the essence. Expatriates U.S. is a normal country because they came after the Union, and on what principles it was shaped- so in this no one is personally involved. They [Expatriates] will pray, support finance, but I would call it a narrow-minded patriotism." ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9. And there was not one person who came to Ukraine to see all in person? "During 'euromaydan events,' I did not seen any of "our" Americans [Expatriates] that made a special trip to Kiev, but have learned on Facebook of some visits. And, just two days ago, I met a brother from Florida, who in October last year, arrived in Kiev on business and after the start of the Maidan was handed a ticket to Kiev. Now, he has a ministry as a missionary. This once again illustrates the importance of the source of information." ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10. Tell us about the souvenirs that you brought from Kiev. What exactly? "The souvenirs were magnets, flags, ribbons, purchased in independence, but the most precious is black pavers burnt from tires. Multiple bulyžničkov I brought for Kiev friends. All gifts were received with joy, and this offset the excessive severity of my luggage." ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11. In both States [Ukraine & U.S.], what is the outlook for development? What are waiting on? "For our countrymen in America the concern and future of Ukraine ais to a much lesser extent than us living here [Ukraine.] Once they have left and will not return, so their roots are there [U.S,] their future and the future of their children they associate with America. Whether someone is ready to leave, my new friend, living across the ocean and return to Ukraine "the soul pulling the body" to be with us in our freedom, time will tell. But I know that many were disappointed with the results of Yushchenko and believe that to cleanse this "hohlâckoe swamp» is impossible without God's intervention. But it seems to me that no one will argue with this."