www.byzcath.org

Gentlemen,

Frankly, I read both Interfax and RISU with the same grain of salt that I keep handy as a flavor-enhancer for news reports by any media that has ties which mark its content as potentially biased in one direction or another - and that includes L'Osservatore,, Zenit, AsiaNews, and every other religious-based news outlet - Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, Jewish, Muslim, or otherwise - on-line or elsewhere, print or electronic.

Sad to say, none of them has a perfect record when it comes to avoiding instances of allowing their doctrinal attitudes to get in the way of objectivity or fair-mindedness. Anyone who thinks otherwise might be well-advised to read through the reports periodically written out of places like Columbia University's journalism program and other entities engaged in media watchdogging or devoted to monitoring ethics, accuracy, and objectivity in the media.

That said, personalizing debate sets a tone that mars objectivity in discussion here as well. While opposing points of view are both expected and welcome, the expectation is that discussion and argumentation will be on a higher plane than "what do you know?" Please take it there and keep it there.

Many years,

Neil

Nicely stated. In fact,whether or not the "ties" are acknowledged or evident, one can be quite sure that no media is dereft of bias. Any interpretation of events is colored by experience, education, perspective. "Trust but verify."

-Pustinik
----------------
"Acquire a peaceful spirit, and thousands around you will be saved." �St. Serafim of Sarov

I was in the Philippines just over a year ago, and had the opportunity of visiting the the Annunciation Orthodox Cathedral in Paraque, Metro Manila. What a lovely parish, both people and temple. Most cogregants were in fact Roman Catholics who simply attended the Orthodox Cathedral but never actually converted. I'm not sure why.

I was invited to lunch by one of the parishoners, Ed, whom I had formerly known here in the United States. He is psychiatrist and his wife a nurse and they have their own 'hospital' in Manila. They were doing well here in the USA, but over there they seem to have a much more prominent position in society. They certainly do appreciate American trained medical professionals.

It' worth noting that Ed and Lucinda have attended both Ukrainian Orthodox and Ukrainian Catholic Churches with me. From the moment they entered he temples here in New York, they were ready to convert. I'm still working on it.

During my lunch with Ed and Lucinda we discussed the Ukrainian Patriarchate - both Greek Catholic and Orthodox. At no time did friends think that I was "anti-Russian", but rather simply articulating a centuries old need and desire of the Ukrainian people to rid themselves of their colonial masters. Taras Shevchenko articulated it best in the verse I previously posted.

I called Ed last night and asked him to meet with you at the Orthodox Cathedral in Manila. He said that there were in fact Ukrainians who attended because they did not have their own church. Ed asked that I invite you to their Divine Liturgy and have the opportunity of speaking to the Ukrainians who attend the Cathedral. Their views tend to be identical to mine.

Would you be available to meet with them in Manila ?

I.F.

Thanks for the information from Ukrainian sites about the 1020th anniversary celebrations of the Baptism of Rus' Jean Francois. I do read Ukrainian. I learned what we call "Kitchen Ukrainian" from my parents and grandparents at home, then Rida Shkola at Church of course and SUMK activities.
This was greatly helped by taking Ukrainian when I got to university.
I think I am like many "old wave" Ukrainians in Canada.

I hope you can continue to update us on events in Kyiv

Indeed. It is interesting that the KP discussion groups I belong to or read are all very positive about this.

Halia - I had the pleasure during a Ukrainian Independance Day banquet of sitting next to the daughter of the Ukrainian Ambassador to Canada. This was about 10 years ago and his daughter was probably about 15 or 16. She was absolutely facinated with Ukrainian-Canadian vocabulary which she said (a) was closer to what their grandparents speak / spoke, (b) contained words completely unfamiliar to them, and (c) had no Russian in it at all. She was interested in noting down every word which the diaspora had developed (or invented) to reflect the culture, technology, philosophy, (etc..) of a land which was different to the 'old country'. For example: (a) Holodnyk (a Fridge), (b) Kosarka (a lawn mower), (c) Televizia (a TV), and many more. "Kitchen Ukrainian" can be very fashionable among the younger Ukrainians living in Ukraine.

I.F.