revolution

so, the past few days have been quite tense here in ukraine. yesterday with so so many deaths. may their memory be eternal and may they rest in peace. i am quite far removed from Kyiv here in pidhaisti. but even here there are barricades set up with men waiting there as a checkstop. they are waiting here because the word is that people (bandits- former inmates of prisons) were sent to Ivano-frankibsk to beat the protesters there into behaving. we drove to zarvanetsya today (perhaps for another post) and there were similar checkstops along the way. there seems to be a sentiment accross the country of people coming together. at supper today, we toated firstly to the fact that there is peace today in maidan, and also to the fact that the government seems to be really making some positive decisions.to my understanding, they have voted to restore the constitution to as it was in 2004, limiting the presidents power; also to quicken the date of a presidential election to prior to december. in my opinion, he needs to go right now. and hopefully thatll happen soon. december is a long while away yet. especially for the pople in maidan. at supper, we also toasted that one day ukraine would be as such as canada (and we laughed that that include the roads-the roads here are bloosy awful). but it really hit me deep to think that the freedoms and the life that i enjoy in canada everyday-- these people in ukraine have never seen or enjoyed. is it really so much to ask? the first time i came to ukraine, i was very idealistic and naive.i had such a wonderful experience; i came to canada and told people that i would love to live in ukraine. i remember one ukrainian friend of mine in canada got very upset with me for saying that. she moved to canada for a better life. in this, my second visit, with 6 more years under my belt, i have a very different impression of ukraine. i guess i am seeing the corruption and the wffects of poor government, lack of trust, and even perhaps lack of hope. these are a people with a difficult life; and yet they recognise that life must go on. these are such a beautiul people here; but i am so much more thankful today for the basic things that i enjoy in canada that passed me by before. i really and desperately hope for the best for ukraine. that they can follow suite like poland and join the EU, and distance iittself from russia. because that seems to result o.ly in oppression and deception. the soviet must be kept as part of ukraines past, and not in is future. May God's will be done, and may God speedily hear the cries of this poor and long suffering people.