Tuesday, December 28, 2004
Democracy in Orange
An orange Christmas in Ukraine - The Washington Times: Editorials/OP-ED - December 28, 2004: "The people of Ukraine have been blessed this Christmas and New Year's season with one of the most precious gifts of all: democracy. On Sunday, the day after Christmas, Ukraine held again a presidential election that was notably freer and fairer than the presidential run-off of Nov. 21.
The results of the election are dramatically different than the past vote which was deemed illegitimate by Ukraine's Supreme Court. With 99.5 percent of the vote counted, Viktor Yushchenko won about 52 percent of the vote, and his challenger, Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, who was said to win the previous tainted vote, lost with about 44 percent of the vote."
I just get giddy on this topic. I am lazy and despise the cold, but these devoted citizens braved the cold for days to let the powers there know that it would be messy if they did not arrange for a clean election. Remember that it was peaceful, probably more so than a normal Friday night on Times Square. They stood and sang, chanted, and showed that their mere presence there was enough to change their country's history. We glorify the sixties for such sights, but this deserves a much grander kudo. They literally sat-in for Democracy. They sat-in so they wouldn't lose freedom. Americans can do something now to support these brilliant. strong people. They can give them the gift of tourism. We have seen, in one of the best uses of the color orange (that's jus funny to me), their intent on being free. We need to show our support by being there, spending money, and helping them make a success of that freedom. Thank goodness that our freedom is secure, because I can't imagine having to sit out in the cold of Los Angeles in the winter to fight for my freedoms. :)
The results of the election are dramatically different than the past vote which was deemed illegitimate by Ukraine's Supreme Court. With 99.5 percent of the vote counted, Viktor Yushchenko won about 52 percent of the vote, and his challenger, Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, who was said to win the previous tainted vote, lost with about 44 percent of the vote."
I just get giddy on this topic. I am lazy and despise the cold, but these devoted citizens braved the cold for days to let the powers there know that it would be messy if they did not arrange for a clean election. Remember that it was peaceful, probably more so than a normal Friday night on Times Square. They stood and sang, chanted, and showed that their mere presence there was enough to change their country's history. We glorify the sixties for such sights, but this deserves a much grander kudo. They literally sat-in for Democracy. They sat-in so they wouldn't lose freedom. Americans can do something now to support these brilliant. strong people. They can give them the gift of tourism. We have seen, in one of the best uses of the color orange (that's jus funny to me), their intent on being free. We need to show our support by being there, spending money, and helping them make a success of that freedom. Thank goodness that our freedom is secure, because I can't imagine having to sit out in the cold of Los Angeles in the winter to fight for my freedoms. :)
