Day of Unity, 22 January 2012
A greeting for the day that marks the 1919 act joining the two Ukrainian republics, and what the human chain is actually doing.
A good Day of Unity to everyone.
The day marks the act of January 1919 that joined the Ukrainian People's Republic and the West Ukrainian People's Republic into one state. That union did not survive the years that followed, which is well known and which the day does not hide.
What I find interesting is how the day is kept: people join hands across a bridge, or along a street, forming a chain. It is a strange and rather beautiful way to observe an anniversary, because it cannot be done alone and it cannot be done by a small number of people. The gesture only works if enough of you turn up.
A commemoration that requires participation to exist at all is doing something a speech cannot.
A good day to you and yours.
Share this analysis
Comments