💙Celebrating Independence💛
And why Zelensky inspires an American ideal of Hope
This is United Ukraine co-founder Adam with your mid-week update on where your donations have helped the most. Since our last update, we’ve distributed an additional $4,990.26 to community leaders and families inside Ukraine. This week, that included deliveries of food and supplies to the territorial defense on the front lines in eastern Ukraine, and fully loaded medical kits to units stationed on the southern front.
This weekend, Americans are celebrating the anniversary of their Independence while Ukraine enters the fifth month of their struggle for independence. This year, I’m celebrating by re-watching my favorite episode of “Servant of the People,” the Ukrainian sitcom starring Volodymyr Zelensky that ultimately launched him into his current role as President of the country. In the show, Zelensky plays a history teacher at a Ukrainian school who has a viral rant about the problems of corruption on Youtube, who is effectively drafted into running for President by the citizens as a protest vote against other establishment candidates.
From there, Servant of the People operates as a cross between Parks and Recreation and the West Wing. It is deeply funny. As President, Zelensky is still only the second coolest dad in his son's third grade class (Ivan's dad owns a Chevy). But it's also profoundly idealistic about the power and meaning of good government.
Zelesnky's character, as a student of history, often lapses into daydreams where he imagines conversations with historical figures. In the series' third episode Zelensky is about to be sworn in as President and he's not sure what kind of President he should be - he's unsure what his goals should be now that he's in a position of power. In that moment, he finds himself in a conversation with Abraham Lincoln. President Lincoln (speaking perfect Russian of course), reminds Zelensky that he freed the slaves. Zelensky asks how he could possibly do the same today because there is no slavery in modern Ukraine. Lincoln responds to Zelensky with a question: "How is oligarchy, with all the wealth of the country going to a select few, any different?" And that moment defines the course of Zelensky's presidency going forward - the goal is to form a more perfect union in the mode of Abraham Lincoln by breaking up the unfair accumulation of power.
I watched this scene almost three years ago, and it's always stuck with me. Zelensky the person was born in the Soviet Union. He would have been raised through his junior high school years with the United States as an adversary. But in his vision of a of a utopian fantasy about good government the model was American: Abraham Lincoln.
This weekend I’m rewatching this episode because it’s a reminder of what the real power of the American ideal is. At our best, we have the power to inspire other people to be the best versions of themselves. And it’s why the people we work with are often not surprised that the organization trying so hard to help them is based out of the United States. Many of them, completely incidentally, happen to be wearing the American flag when we reach them.
Here’s how you can help keep this very American project going:
Via Debit, Credit, or Paypal: At this link
Via Venmo: @UnitedUkraine (under the business tab)
Our Website: http://www.united-ukraine.org
And we accept checks via mail at:
225 Bright Poppy
Irvine, CA 92618
And, of course, we can’t leave you without showing you some of Ukraine’s cutest children you helped this week.
We’ll be back next week with even more examples of who you’ve helped and the projects you’ve funded. This long weekend, enjoy your freedom as we celebrate America’s victory in our own struggle for independence against a colonial power. We’ll keep supporting Ukraine in their struggle to maintain what we too often take for granted.
As always, with love,
Adam