[forgive my ramblings, it's getting very late and I'm very tired after a long emotional day]
Discussions in social networks (both Russian-speaking and English-speaking) showed me that lots of people out there misunderstand what's the whole point of ... well... unrest in this country.
They think it's about the EU deal. Hm, yeah, it is. But it isn't JUST about that.
If you had to live here you'd know what living here is like. Since 'declaration of independence' Ukraine struggles with widespread corruption, organized and/or violent crime, lack of social services, poor medical service, "insolence of office", extreme bureaucracy, inefficient and corrupt judiciary system, high taxes... I could go on and on.
[ Still, if you look at our 'beloved' neighbor Russia, people there are having it a lot worse. If it wasn't for oil, I doubt Russia would be around today. And please - I'm not talking about Moscow - even Russians joke that Russia and Moscow are two completely different things. ]
Since 1991 when USSR era ended and Ukraine became independent, at first our parents, and then we - young generations of Ukrainians - were promised 'improvements in the quality of life'. Instead, politicians and organized crime units robbed the state and stuffed their pockets with money, disregarding anythings that stood in the way and resorting to anything.
I have no idea how many of us survived 1991-1998. Even for my family those years brought days of hunger because we sometimes had no money for food (despite the fact that both of my parents were constantly employed). I remember a huge wave of assassinations in 90's - it touched even my middle school - parents of students were killed, some in broad daylight. When Ukrainian currency was going through high inflation and hyperinflation (1992-1996) most people lost everything, all savings and money. It really was a period of time when only the 'smart' survived.
Some made millions, given access to state resources or having right 'connections'. Most didn't. When we entered year 2000, a solid layer of wealthy people formed in Ukraine. Some chose to forget how they made their fortunes. Some kept to the same methods.
Years 2000-2004 didn't make life easier for 'commoners'. We were dealing with same old s#%@. Only people who were becoming adults didn't remember that much about the 'great USSR' and were starting to think they shouldn't be treated like slaves just because they were born here. Some sort of 'national pride' and self-esteem started to evolve in younger generation. As well as mentions of such things as 'human rights' and 'freedom of speech'. People were watching life in other countries and started thinking why can't we live that way? Sadly, majority still kept to pro-USSR mentality or was too used to 'our way' that no change was deemed necessary. I don't even mention those who enjoyed living in crime.
Year 2004 and Orange Revolution was the first attempt to change something in this country. Then people tried to rally against crime lords gaining even more power. Because, strangely, lords in Ukraine don't understand that if you don't let people make money, there'd be nothing to steal. There's a joke in our country, that "in Ukraine, to get twice the amount of milk from the cow, you must milk that cow twice as often". No mention of letting the poor animal eat, ever. Let alone eat better.
That's the whole essence of people that's been ruling this country: they don't give a damn about people, even if they get richer because of them. They don't see a connection between well-being of people and their well-being.
After setback that followed Orange Revolution (people thought that new head of state would magically change everything for the better, hah, like that's possible without long hard work) people started losing faith something is ever going to change. The smartest from young generation were leaving and people who gave up on this country or had means to escape still leave.
Playing disappointment card and economic crisis card (not only that, but let's not go into greasy details), our dear current president got to hold the office. Strangely, some people really voted for him and believed that he can make their life easier. After several years of his presidency everyone came to realize (well, almost everyone), that he's doing worse than his predecessor, elected in 2004, whose 'failures' were so widely advertised by opponents. But if years 2004-2009 brought some sort of relief, at least a vision of improvement glimmering in the dark, years 2010-2013 had seen nothing but fast degradation.
Why do I bring it up now?
Because in years 2010-2013 we started to see the return of 'golden' 90's. Young adults started to experience the same things their parents had to endure: corruption, drastic change in quality of life, rise of organized crime - hell, even killings in the broad light of the day returned. We had seen atrocious crimes committed by people related to 'power hungry', police or rich, and horrendous attempts of cover-ups. We had seen that human life here is valued 0 coins. Deja vu at its worst.
And all accompanied by smiley promises of 'bright future' always awaiting just a little further away. Young people started to realize that they - and their children - will have no future in this country. Their hope for better life is being stolen - right here, right now.
And as we see this, we see Russia turning into a repressed criminal monarchy, going down even faster (though it's economic state is better than ours, social affairs are much, much worse - just read about cases of 'suicides' in their army, when suicide victims' bodies arrive patched up after organs had been removed). And that it's trying to swallow us.
That's why this EU deal was the last straw, or rather a mug of alcohol spilled into the fire. People are very tired of being exploited, abused and disregarded. I hope more are willing to work towards achievement of their goals instead of waiting for someone to magically 'fix' everything.
Many foreigners are misunderstanding, stating that Ukrainians think that EU deal was Ukraine actually joining the EU. We get it, no one said Ukraine will be joining the EU anytime soon, or ever. It's just that we're tired of being lied to and tricked out of our expectations without any consequences. We're tired that those who hold power are treating us like @#$%.
So, it's about the EU and it's not about the EU.
To people who face their own troubles in the US, or in the EU, or elsewhere, such way of thinking may look naive, but let me remind you that this country was historically independent only for 20-something years. Before that, Ukrainians never had their own country to rule or lead somewhere. Before that, we all lived in totalitarian society of the USSR that controlled almost everything and denied the need to think and choose; everyone was safely shrouded from politics and economic realities.
I don't know what's going to happen next and have no courage to predict anything, but I'd like to think that this 'uprise' wasn't in vain.
