“Diplomacy with a human heart”: Canada's governor general in ...

No. 20by Alexander NalenczPHILADELPHIA – A hallowedEuropean academic tradition is to honoroutstanding scholars by publishing a collectionof essays as a tribute to them.Such a collection, known from theGerman as a Festschrift, appeared underthe title “At the Crossroads of Cultures:Essays in Honor of Leonid Rudnytzky”published by the Shevchenko ScientificSociety (Lviv, Ukraine) and threeUkrainian universities.On Tuesday, March 17, this collectionwas officially presented to the public atan academic event held at La SalleUniversity, where Prof. LeonidRudnytzky, who resides in Melrose Park,has taught for many decades. The programof the evening was opened by Dr.Bernhardt G. Blumenthal, chairman ofthe foreign languages department anddirector of Central and Eastern EuropeanStudies at La Salle University, who welcomedthe assembled colleagues, presentand former students of the honoree, membersof the university community and distinguishedguests.Dr. Blumenthal introduced a formerstudent of Dr. Rudnytzky, Dr. VincentTHE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 17, 2009 19Prof. Leonid Rudnytzky of La Salle University honored by colleaguesKling (La Salle University), who spokeabout the book and the honoree.Following Kling’s comments, Dr. AlbertKipa (Muhlenberg College) who, togetherwith Oleh Kupchynsky (ShevchenkoScientific Society) edited the collection,presented pertinent information on theFestschrift. The 749-page work contains39 scholarly articles written in Ukrainian,English, German, Spanish and Polish by43 authors, three essays on Prof.Rudnytzky’s life and works, and 34 photographs.Following Dr. Kipa’s presentation talkswere offered by the individual scholars,contributors to the collection, who attendedthe event. They were: Dr. Franz Birgel(Muhlenberg College), who wrote on theprolific German author Karl May and hisreception in the former GermanDemocratic Republic; Dr. Luis Gómez(La Salle University), who analyzed thefigure of Don Juan in the works of LesiaUkrainka; Dr. Arthur Grugan (HolyFamily University), who contributed anarticle on John Caputo and the responsibilitiesof the philosopher; and Prof.Nicholas Rudnytzky (Manor College),who compiled a bibliography of the honoree.At La Salle University (seated, from left): Dr. Albert Kipa, honoree Dr. LeonidRudnytzky, Dr. Bernhardt Blumenthal, (standing) Prof. Nicholas Rudnytzky, Dr.Luis Gomez, Dr. Franz Birgel, Dr. Vincent Kling and Dr. Arthur Grugan.Each presentation featured reminiscencesabout Dr. Leonid Rudnytzky,focusing mostly on humorous events andanecdotes associated with his life andwork as a teacher-scholar.Dr. Blumenthal brought the evening toa close by thanking the contributors, theguests and the wife of the honoree, IreneRudnytzky, for organizing a “magnificentwine and cheese reception.”Moscow plays...(Continued from page 2)ment of Russian Prime Minister VladimirPutin’s assertive “take-that” foreign policy,launched with the famous “Munichspeech” in February 2007. This policy isstill very popular as it deliberately playson the peculiar mix of superiority andinferiority complexes within an oftencontradictory Russian public opinion.Consequently, Mr. Medvedev dares notto step away from the “down-with-NATO” line. The downward spiralingeconomic crisis, however, inevitablydestroys the foundation of this policy, asEugene Kinasewich...(Continued from page 4)The Ukrainian Weekly on March 20, 2005,by logging on to www.ukrweekly.com.)With Dr. Kinasewich’s approval andinput, his friends and family establishedthe Eugene Kinasewich Fund in order todevelop his concept of cultural exchange.The immediate effort was to sponsor andfund support for the Druzhba hockeyplayers to attend schools in the UnitedStates. By the fall of 2005, all 19 Druzhbaplayers were enrolled in secondaryschools, mostly private boarding schools,in New England.The Eugene Kinasewich Fund is a registered501 (c) (3) non-profit organization inthe United States, and is a registered charitabletrust in Canada.“We are trying to raise $300,000 so thatwe can keep our commitment to these currentstudents until they graduate from college.We must find a way to continue withthese students who have accomplished somuch,” commented Janet Kinasewich, Dr.Kinasewich’s widow, in an e-mail messageto The Ukrainian Weekly.She added that it costs approximatelyRussia does not have any justification tosee itself as a rising power, even in comparisonwith “ungovernable Georgia” or“forever-squabbling Ukraine.”The reckoning with this unpleasantreality can be postponed for only so long,and President Medvedev’s smart tacticsof advancing a limited “liberalization” athome and demonstrating toughnessabroad cannot be sustained throughoutthe second year of his accidental presidency.The article above is reprinted fromEurasia Daily Monitor with permissionfrom its publisher, the JamestownFoundation, www.jamestown.org.$10,000 to pay for one student for one year.“Your newspaper will reach manyUkrainians in both the U.S. and Canada, andmaybe we will find donors who are interestedin helping,” she said.Since its establishment in 2005 the fundhas raised over $700,000, and, by obtainingscholarship aid from secondary schoolsand colleges, has leveraged more than $2million of tuition payments. Thanks to thefund’s board and other volunteers, everydollar raised goes toward the goal of seeingthe initial group of student-athletesgraduate from college, and become disciplesof, and proponents for, culturalexchange and personal developmentthrough education.With continued support from donorsand educational institutions, the first of Dr.Kinasewich’s dreams is becoming a reality.The long-term goal is to create a permanentendowment of $1 million in order tosupport yearly awards to worthy studentswho aspire to the vision and dreams of Dr.Kinasewich.Donations to the fund may be sent to:Eugene Kinasewich Fund Inc., c/o ArthurB. Page, Esq., Hemenway & Barnes LLP,60 State St., Boston, MA 02109-1899.Diplomacy...(Continued from page 13)table discussion with governmental and educationalstakeholders and NGOs on the topicof inclusive education and the integrationinto society of children with disabilities.Oksana Kunanetz, current director ofDzherelo, Oksana Wynnycky, honorary consulgeneral of Canada in Lviv, and architectVolodymyr Luciw – all Canadians fromToronto of Ukrainian origin – were recognizedas pillars instrumental to the foundingof this innovative project. The InclusiveEducation for Children with Disabilitiesproject is funded by the CanadianInternational Development Agency (CIDA).The last public engagement in Ukrainethe governor general was an incrediblywell-arranged discussion in Lviv with representativesfrom NGOs aimed at obtainingan overview of the situation of women inUkraine related to the challenges and opportunitiesthey face in the political, economicand health environments. About 20 wellversedand eloquent speakers presentedtheir views on various aspects of a woman’slife in Ukraine.One gentleman described his small organization’sactivities related to victims ofinternational trafficking: “Five hundredyears ago our Kozaks travelled many milesto the Black Sea to rescue Ukrainian womenfrom Turkish slavery. Today we feel thatthere is a need to do the same. We follow upleads on missing women in Ukraine and wetravel abroad to find these women and rescuethem from their misery.” The groupreceives travel funding and camera gearfrom television stations in Ukraine in supportfor its activities.Prior to her departure for Norway, Ms.Jean gave her impressions of the state visit:“We were incredibly well received at alllevels. It is such a pleasure to be here inUkraine to celebrate the great friendshipbetween our two countries, Canada andUkraine. We are very happy to examine howare we making a difference and how wemay learn to cooperate even better.“We worked at every occasion and weused creative diplomacy – diplomacy with ahuman heart – we examined many aspectsof cultural and civil life, we spoke withdecision-makers and stakeholders, welaunched a new chamber of commerce and Ifound civic life here to be very dynamic atevery turn.”Joseph Terelya...(Continued from page 4)object of attacks and destruction” whenUkraine was occupied by Russia and, later,the Soviet Union. Nonetheless, he underscored,“our Church continues to live andour people hope that someday we will haveour day in the sun.”Mr. Terelya documented his experiencesin the autobiography “Witness to Apparitionsand Persecution in the USSR” and the book“In the Kingdom of the Spirit.”Surviving are Mr. Terelya’s partner,Alexandra, his children Kalyna, Pavlo,Mariana and Ryan, and his sister Natalia. Hewas predeceased by his wife, Olena.