Western Ukraine: monuments, memory and unconsciousness
In my opinion, the soul and heart of Ukraine live in villages and small towns, where people still care what their neighbors think of them. Where the patriarchal way of life and thinking still clearly separates "black" and "white". In each such settlement there is a place (or several) that connects the present day with the events of the past. As a rule, these are preserved or restored architectural forms, temples or obelisks. It is about the latter, dedicated to those who died and won in the Great Patriotic War, that I want to tell you. All of them are located in Western Ukraine. Lviv, Ternopil and Khmelnytsky regions are practically nearby. They are separated by 30-50 km, no more. This is roughly the same as at different ends of a big city.
Ozernaya
Ozernaya - a village in the Ternopil region. There is a large memorial, a mass grave in which 391 people are buried. I do not write "soldiers of the Red Army." First of all, they people... And if it is important for anyone, there are plenty of Ukrainian surnames there. They died during the liberation of Ukraine from the Nazis in 1944. The memorial monument is located right next to the highway. It was built in the early 50s. And he was always in excellent condition. Until very recently. Now it is being intensively destroyed. I suppose, under the influence of some local tectonic and weather anomalies. Well, I can't believe that the inhabitants of the village of Ozernoye, who have planted a bunch of shops, bars and a mega superfood with a holy spring 200 meters from the memorial, do not find the means and conscience to maintain the memorial in a decent condition.
Heaters
Literally next to the village Heaters... The same Ternopil region. There is a small alley in the depths of the road and a solemn monument guarded by huge Christmas trees. To the right and to the left of it, two small neat churches emphasize the frailty of our life and the greatness of the deeds of the fallen. The Ukrainian flag is adjacent to the words "Great Patriotic War" - now banned in Ukraine. And the years of war are indicated in 1941-1945, and not since 1939, as recommended by the "Vyatrovichi" from the Kiev "Institute of National Unconsciousness."
Chervone
The village of Chervone Zolochevsky district of Lviv region. During the war years - a place of torment and death of many people. This village was called Lyatske in the past. It has an interesting history... And the Soviet period is not particularly revered there by the locals. But nevertheless, there is a small alley and albeit unkempt, but a preserved monument to the dead. Fir-trees along the path to the monument do not feel very well. And I understand them ... Someone from the local decided for some reason that the star on the soldier's helmet should be blue? The lack of the necessary paint or education is difficult to say. There is no special love for the monument, but there is a minimum of respect. Which is also not enough.
Again Lviv region. Adjunction of the N-02 highway to the Lviv bypass. Near the road there is a monument to the soldiers who died during the reunification of Western Ukraine with the greater Ukraine in 1939. Looks like there are still enough sane people in our Ukrainian Piedmont. Those who understand that the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact together with the Pereyaslav Rada are the origins of the emergence of the current conventionally conciliar and, though formally, but notdependent Ukraine. The monument is unkempt, but also unkempt.
Korystova
Fast forward to the west of the Khmelnytsky region. Small village Korystova, in fact, merged with the provincial, but industrialized town of Volochisk. Monument to the soldiers who died during the liberation of the village, on the rise and bend of the road. I think you can see everything in the photographs. Except for words - it should be so everywhere. Nothing comes to my mind. A tiny "drop of tar" on the monument is an attempt to scratch and paint over a small star.
Сonclusion
I will summarize my short review. Everything described and shown is located side by side. But the differences are huge and obvious. I dare to say - you can be a convinced nationalist, love and honor only certain periods and leaders of your state and at the same time remain a decent, civilized person. And what to be like for you, your village or settlement - is decided not in Kiev or Washington, but you yourself and your neighbors. There are human concepts that stand above politics and laws.
We are really very different... Finding ourselves on the territory given to us with statehood - like a child with a rattle - we do not know what to do and where to go. All of today's great nations have been in the same situation, but centuries ago. All today's assessments of what is happening in Ukraine sin with primitiveness and simplification. Like "there is fascism" or "there is no fascism." I would answer that it exists, but this is not fascism.
Ukraine, in my opinion, will not be destroyed by the collapse of industry or the civil war in the east. And the degradation of the education system. The rising generation of consumers - "non-knowledges" and "ignoramuses" - is not something that will not increase, but will destroy what they got. We have almost become a country that not respect, not afraid and not love
The March of the fans of the 14th SS Division in Kiev is not so much a disgrace for Ukraine and not even so much for Kiev. It is a shame on the parents and teachers of these "cargo cult" supporters. Let them live with it. In my opinion, such deviations are present in all countries. I believe that we just have more freedom.
The next anniversary of the Great Victory will put everything in its place. Simply by its very historical fact.
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