Aug 22

Aug 22 Flag Raising

Demonstrations, Donald J. Trump, Performance, Protest, Public Declarations

On August 24, 1991, Ukraine declared its independence from the Soviet Union. Today, Chicago’s Ukrainian Community kicked off a celebratory weekend with a flag raising ceremony in Daley Plaza. In a sense, the ceremony was nothing unusual. Other groups celebrate their national identities with similar flag raising events. The City of Chicago encourages and accommodates such celebrations. If done during the weekday over the noon hour, the city does not charge a facilities fee. Chicago’s Indian, Srebrenica, Filipino, Greek, Pakistani, and Israeli communities have each celebrated their respective heritages with similar ceremonies this year, with several more flag raisings scheduled for September.

For Chicago’s Ukrainians, the event is a particularly solemn one after three and half years of what has become a never-ending war following Vladimir Putin’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. For evidence of that fact, I only had to look toward the seats in front of the speaker’s platform. Several now disabled Ukrainian soldiers were visible, seated in a place of honor so that the community could acknowledge their valor and sacrifice. While Chicago Ukrainians may not be on the frontlines, they have stepped up to the plate, bringing wounded war veterans to Chicago for advanced medical treatments. Whether that will continue is open to question given Donald J. Trump’s hatred of foreigners—as if most Americans can’t trace their familial lineage back to a distant land.

I was a little disappointed by the low turnout, but Friday is a workday. Moreover, the waning days of summer, particularly during the 10 days prior to Labor Day, suit themselves to family vacations. Excluding the performers, only 100 or so people turned out, many filling the seven or eight rows of chairs in front of the stage. On Sunday, the Ukrainians are staging what they term a Mega March—not to be confused with a MAGA March—in celebration of Ukrainian Independence Day. I expect the turnout will be much larger.

Today’s event was delayed. Shortly after noon, the Ukrainian flag was supposed to make its ascent up one of three flag poles on Daley Plaza’s eastern edge. Unfortunately, something came up, so the event was pushed back to 1:30 PM, which was not a big deal because the sun warmed the now early arrivals. Anyone who was hungry could grab a taco or hot dog from one of the nearby food trucks. I finished Norman Mailer’s Armies of the Night, an excellent account of the 1967 protest at the Pentagon against the Vietnam War.

When the time came to begin the ceremony, the Most Reverend Bishop Venedykt (Aleksiychuk), Bishop of Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Chicago, stepped to the podium, offering a few words and then a prayer for Ukraine. As I recall, the bishop was more outspoken about what is happening in Ukraine than he has been at prior events. Normally, his focus is simply spiritual.

Two notables then made speeches: Serhiy Koledov, Consul General of Ukraine in Chicago, and Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas. The Consul General thanked everyone for their continuing support for Ukraine. Pappas was exuberant in her support for Ukraine.

Following the first round of speeches, the Ethnos Dance Ensemble took the stage in colorful traditional dress. Today’s Master of Ceremonies, Maria Bandriwsky, who is Pavlo Bandriwsky’s lovely daughter, indicated that the ensemble would be performing several regional Ukrainian dances.

Normally, I find ethnic or heritage dancing a bit hokey. In the case of Ethnos, I was knocked out. The ensemble’s movements were fluid and flawless. Each member obviously had spent long hours rehearsing. Toward the end, two women in very elegant blue and white outfits took center stage. I thought I heard Bandriwsky refer to them as the Crimean Ta Tas—any relation to Taylor Swift? Whatever their name, the two dancers gracefully moved about the stage. The sunlight illuminated their rich blue velvet dresses, which were embroidered with gold piping. The colors popped.

Following the dances, Deputy Mayor of Immigrant, Migrant, and Refugee Rights, Beatriz Ponce De León, spoke about protecting immigrant rights. She also emphasized that her office stood ready to provide needed assistance. She then read a proclamation from Mayor Brandon Johnson declaring August the Month of Ukraine in Chicago.

Following the reading of the mayor’s proclamation, Ukrainian Congress Committee of America—Illinois Division President Dr. Mariya Dmytriv-Kapeniak took the stage. To define the true meaning of independence, Dmytriv-Kapeniak asked rhetorically:

But what does independence and freedom really mean? For Ukraine, freedom is measured in lives that are lost every day and have been for many years. Now, not just three years, eight and a half years, but 10 years. It's measured in tears of mothers and fathers, orphans of the war. It's measured in mass graves in Bucha. It's measured by ruins of Mariupol. The price tag of freedom is tremendous. We should never, never forget this.

She then led the crowd in a series of chants. “Ukraine is Not for Sale;” “Crimea is Ukraine;” Donetsk is Ukraine;” “Luhansk is Ukraine;” “Zaporizhzhya is Ukraine.” In wrapping up, Dmytriv-Kapeniak offered the West what began as an ominous admonition:

Make no mistake, if Ukraine falls, the tyrant will be allowed to advance further. . . . If Ukraine stands, freedom will stand, liberty will stand.

Following Dmytriv-Kapeniak’s hopeful warning, Retired Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman took the stage, at first sounding an optimistic note about Ukraine’s centuries-long struggle for independence from Russia. Vindman, who was bullied by Trump because of Vindman’s congressional testimony during Trump’s impeachment hearings, then offered encouragement, although at times his verbiage vacillated:

Now unfortunately, Russia feeling its strength, has attempted to attack Ukraine, which is the ultimate seed of Russia’s own destruction. Because Ukraine will survive. Ukraine will persevere, in part because of the heroic actions of its soldiers serving on the frontlines, and the resilient population that will be there to bolster and support those troops. And the West.

We are now faltering. Certainly, our own Administration is faltering in our support of Ukraine. . . . This current Administration is looking to abandon Ukraine. But the citizens here and citizens across America are continuing to show their support for Ukraine. World leaders continue to show their support for Ukraine. This is how we will ultimately persevere.

To bring the day to a more uplifting end, the organizers closed the program with Leonard Cohen’s classic, Hallelujah. The male trio did an outstanding job in delivering what is popularly perceived as Cohen’s universal message of joy—the “Hallelujahs” being the only words people discern when they hear the song. The lyrics—rather than the refrain—focus on a conflicted love affair, one that is dark, possibly physically abusive or masochistic. Notwithstanding my cynical interpretation, the “Hallelujahs” ended the day on a joyful or orgasmic note.

As far as physical flag raisings go, today’s was somewhat of a disappointment. There were breezes at ground level, but at the top of the flagpole, the winds were sporadic. Once the flag was aloft, it hung limply, which does not make for dramatic imagery. The weatherman always wins out.

[Click on an Image to Enlarge It. The Images Are Not Necessarily in Exact Chronological Order]