The Biggest Story of 2013 That You Haven't Heard About
It's time for everyone to offer up their "biggest stories of 2013" so why not jump on the bandwagon? Except our story will be one that few of you have even heard of, or if you have, it's probably a cursory acknowledgment by a few media channels, without any real follow-up or in-depth analysis. Not that we're putting it out there just to be different, mind you. The fact is, we're going to talk about this because I believe it is the biggest, as in most important, story of the year - and it's still going on. What is our biggest story? The Ukrainian people.
Notice, I'm not saying just the demonstrations taking place in a square in Kiev, whose name if officially Maidan Nezelezhnosti, translated as "Independence Square." (We'll get back to the origin of name of the square later, as it has relevance to our story.) I am specifically saying, again, the Ukrainian people. Let's spend some time uncovering the facts behind the demonstrations, as well as some facts about the Ukrainian people.
(Disclosure: First, I'm neither an expert on Ukrainian history, nor can I claim great knowledge or understanding of "the Ukrainian people" - unless, of course, you consider that my wife is Ukrainian American, which has given me at least some personal insight into what's going on (the demonstrations) and those who are involved (the people).)
Right now, demonstrations continue, which have been going on without pause for days on end and which are scheduled to end on December 17th, just four days from today. And that "scheduled" ending of the demonstrations gives us our first indication of what makes these demonstrations different from all the others we've witnessed lately, for example the "Arab Spring" demonstrations over the last few years. It also helps explain why the story here lies in the Ukrainian people themselves, not just the fact that they are demonstrating against the current regime.
So let's wrap our minds first around the decision to demonstrate until December 17th. It's been announced by those representing the people in the square in Kiev. We note here that those in the square are not organized under any one political party or any other single group, as far as I've been able to determine. However, those who have spoken from the stage set up in the square and those Ukrainian media outlets who have reported these events have put it out that the 17th will be the last day of gathering in the square. Whether it is or not, we'll just have to wait and see. I suspect it may depend to a great degree on the actions of the current regime in the coming four days (Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday). Will the government roll out the "big guns" now that those gatherings have significantly united the people of the country against them? Will they send in massive security forces to end the peaceful gatherings we've seen (with the exception of some minor incidents or pushing and shoving between security forces and people)? Again, we'll have to see.
For now, just know that the regime, which was never loved by all the people of Ukraine, but was supported by a portion of the population, is the cause of today's events. When the regime took specific measures to stop the process of Ukraine's developing closer ties to the EU - rather than develop even closer ties to Russia's new economic confederation, people objected. Their initial expression of that objection was demonstrating in the Maidan. During those initial demonstrations, government security forces reacted with some serious beatings, which eventually roused the people of Ukraine who were able to witness these beatings when they were posted on the Internet for all to see. Those initial beatings caused the only serious injuries that I'm aware of to date. The demonstrations that followed - which involved thousands, tens of thousands, sometimes hundreds of thousands of people, have been, as I said, for the most part extraordinarily peaceful. In fact, watching the live feeds, much of the time there's much singing, even dancing. The folks on stage have purposely toned down their speeches in order not to inflame the crowds. No one wants violence. More remarkably, everyone seems conscious of the fact that all involved - those protesting, and the government security forces, are human beings. You don't hear much rancor, if any at all. Next time we'll look at why that's so.
For now, rumors have it that large contingents of thugs are being transported to Kiev - provocateurs - who will mingle with the demonstrators and attack the security forces - known as the Berkut, translated in English as Golden Eagles - in order to incite violence. It this is true and they succeed, their actions will constitute an injustice and potentially a great tragedy. More to come...
Notice, I'm not saying just the demonstrations taking place in a square in Kiev, whose name if officially Maidan Nezelezhnosti, translated as "Independence Square." (We'll get back to the origin of name of the square later, as it has relevance to our story.) I am specifically saying, again, the Ukrainian people. Let's spend some time uncovering the facts behind the demonstrations, as well as some facts about the Ukrainian people.
(Disclosure: First, I'm neither an expert on Ukrainian history, nor can I claim great knowledge or understanding of "the Ukrainian people" - unless, of course, you consider that my wife is Ukrainian American, which has given me at least some personal insight into what's going on (the demonstrations) and those who are involved (the people).)
Right now, demonstrations continue, which have been going on without pause for days on end and which are scheduled to end on December 17th, just four days from today. And that "scheduled" ending of the demonstrations gives us our first indication of what makes these demonstrations different from all the others we've witnessed lately, for example the "Arab Spring" demonstrations over the last few years. It also helps explain why the story here lies in the Ukrainian people themselves, not just the fact that they are demonstrating against the current regime.
So let's wrap our minds first around the decision to demonstrate until December 17th. It's been announced by those representing the people in the square in Kiev. We note here that those in the square are not organized under any one political party or any other single group, as far as I've been able to determine. However, those who have spoken from the stage set up in the square and those Ukrainian media outlets who have reported these events have put it out that the 17th will be the last day of gathering in the square. Whether it is or not, we'll just have to wait and see. I suspect it may depend to a great degree on the actions of the current regime in the coming four days (Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday). Will the government roll out the "big guns" now that those gatherings have significantly united the people of the country against them? Will they send in massive security forces to end the peaceful gatherings we've seen (with the exception of some minor incidents or pushing and shoving between security forces and people)? Again, we'll have to see.
For now, just know that the regime, which was never loved by all the people of Ukraine, but was supported by a portion of the population, is the cause of today's events. When the regime took specific measures to stop the process of Ukraine's developing closer ties to the EU - rather than develop even closer ties to Russia's new economic confederation, people objected. Their initial expression of that objection was demonstrating in the Maidan. During those initial demonstrations, government security forces reacted with some serious beatings, which eventually roused the people of Ukraine who were able to witness these beatings when they were posted on the Internet for all to see. Those initial beatings caused the only serious injuries that I'm aware of to date. The demonstrations that followed - which involved thousands, tens of thousands, sometimes hundreds of thousands of people, have been, as I said, for the most part extraordinarily peaceful. In fact, watching the live feeds, much of the time there's much singing, even dancing. The folks on stage have purposely toned down their speeches in order not to inflame the crowds. No one wants violence. More remarkably, everyone seems conscious of the fact that all involved - those protesting, and the government security forces, are human beings. You don't hear much rancor, if any at all. Next time we'll look at why that's so.
For now, rumors have it that large contingents of thugs are being transported to Kiev - provocateurs - who will mingle with the demonstrators and attack the security forces - known as the Berkut, translated in English as Golden Eagles - in order to incite violence. It this is true and they succeed, their actions will constitute an injustice and potentially a great tragedy. More to come...
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