Earth to Washington! Earth to Brussels!
No matter how much they oppose each other, no matter how much they pay their lobbyists, the truth is out there. Over-reliance on oligarchs and elites that lack grassroots support only takes you so far.
If you’re looking for a crash course in comparing Mother’s Day to International Women’s Day, look here.
In the West, it’s about people honoring their mothers and discussing women’s rights.
In Ukraine, it’s a about flowers, champagne, sexism and sweet nothings. Welcome to the traditional gender stereotypefest 2010! Let the Macho-in-Chief speak.
President Yanukovych: Dear women, our lovely, responsive, cherished, and always wonderful ones! It’s the holiday of spring again and we greet the better half of Ukraine: our mothers, wives, daughters and sisters, the keepers of our household fireplace. We love you. We’re enchanted by you, dear women! We honor you for your patience, wisdom, faithfulness, and for the love in your hearts. There’s nothing holier in this world than a woman who gave life to children and taught them their first steps. It is by no accident that treatment of women, they say, defines a society’s level of culture. We are all indebted to you, dear women. The state owes you, but we will rectify the situation. May you have love, wisdom, health, joy and may all your dreams come true. Be happy, dear women! Greetings to you!
On March 8, Ukraine celebrated International Women's Day, the rough equivalent of Mother's Day.
On such days, Western women often talk about rights. By contrast, post-Soviet men always talk about romance.
After calling in sick for weeks and getting his extraterrestrial initiatives killed by President Yushchenko, Kyiv Mayor Leonid “Kosmos” Chernovetsky delivered a short address.
Alas, he spoke Ukrainian, albeit with a comic Russian accent.
Kyiv Mayor Leonid “Kosmos” Chernovetsky: My dear beloved women, no matter how old you are, you’re always wonderful! It is with you that spring comes into the souls of all men on earth. You’re always the symbol of new life. You give us kids, and we, men, give you beautiful flowers. Allow me today, on the 8th of March, to express my words of tender love. And I want my kiss to reach every one of you. Happiness, love, joy and peace to you, my dear women of Kyivites!
Do Ya Think I’m Stable? ‘Stabilnist Daddy’ Parcels Out Flowers on Women’s Day
The Party of Regions celebrates International Women’s Day in a special way. Witness a “go-for-it” approach to gender:
Opposition Leader Yanukovych: May you always be as beautiful as you are today…
MP Hanna Herman, PRU: Thank you, Viktor Fedorovych [in Ukraine, the formal address includes a patronymic.]
Yanukovych: …yes, with that smile you’ve got.
Yanukovych: Innochka… [diminutive for Inna]
MP Inna Bohoslovska, PRU: You are so beautiful! There’s so much warmth coming from you. Thank you so much! Thank you!
Yanukovych: Lenochka… You look so worried today. You’re worrying.
MP Olena Lukash, PRU: Hahaha!
Yanukovych: What agenda? Today’s a holiday!
Yanukovych, speaking in surzhyk: Can you…can you see what…what’s happening today? Again and again, we congratulate women, right from the very morning today. Let’s get to work. Yes, we’ll be working.
