ArchivesDay of solidarity in New York.
It was Sunday, March 19th. An alarm clock ringed around 8:30 am and at first, I could not realize what was going on. 8:30 am? Sunday?
Under normal circumstances, I would spend a whole day doing nothing; however, this particular Sunday was different. On this day, my friends and I found ourselves standing in front of the United Nations in New York, holding Belarusian Flags and chanting slogans, demanding freedom for Belarus.
Freedom? For Belarus? In New York? Don’t you have something better to do?
You can view video from here or download it(~9mb)
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The answer is: Yes and No.
Yes, it would be easier to stay at home and watch television or play games. It seemed more practical rather than to demonstrate and demand things over which you did not have control being thousands miles away from Belarus.
No, because for too long we had a “practical approach”. We had it since 1994. We followed critics and skeptics who were insisting: forget about it, do not waste your time, do something better. Thus we came to think that nothing will ever shatter Lukashenka’s throne, a resurrected Soviet State is done deal and a fate of a country is sealed. That is, Belarus does not have important geopolitical situation, nobody cares about it and Russia is too dominant.
And that Sunday, walking to the United Nations I had a suspicion that not many will show up there to show their solidarity with Belarusians who do not see Lukashenka as future. I thought that “practical” side would prevail and I was wrong.
As soon as we made left from the 42nd street, we faced not just UN but a wall of waving white-red-white flags. Not one, not two or three…Dozen of them along with a crowd that according to some exceeded all expectations. No, our demonstration did not change much in terms of political resolution but it changed our attitudes toward an idea that together we will prevail despite of brutal police, tear gas and prisons and skepticism.
I know that some of you will consider these lines naïve and “impractical”. But come on, sitting at home, watching TV and thinking that raising your voice is naïve and senseless…
Looking at you, your neighbors think the same way, their neighbors think the same way…And in the end, at the decisive moment for your country you become an expert sitting on your couch, chewing pizza and saying: nothing will change.
Maybe we did not change anything by coming and shouting slogans in New York. But we did come and it was a step forward. We came there to show our solidarity with our people. People, who in spite of numerous skeptics took their cause on the streets of Minsk People who decided that “practical” side does not necessarily works better for them. And walking down the streets of New York, holding the white-red-white flag that represents centuries of pride and glory makes you proud. No question about it.
March 22nd, 2006 at 12:40 pm
EXCELLENT! THIS VIDEO IS WHAT I EXPECTED FOR! YOU ARE ALIVE!
while i was watching at your movie i realized that i know almost nothing about your people and country. in Romania 50% of people didn’t hear about Belarus and 40% of the rest think that Belarus is a part of russia. 80% of romanians have heard about the Minsk motorcycles…
i think you should put on the site a short history of your country with representing images.
IF I TRANSLATE IN ROMANIAN the word Belarus means BEAUTIFUL RUSSIA!?…
March 22nd, 2006 at 2:36 pm
Interesting translation…
‘Bela’ - means white and ‘rus’ is russia so it is White Russia literally. Sometimes it is translated like that…for example in Deutsch it will be Weissrusland…which is white russia. however I don’t have much knowledge about it, I know from history that there was White and Black russia, and old White Russia was quite a big country…but I guess Islander can tell you more. He is the guy who likes discoveries on history here
March 22nd, 2006 at 3:32 pm
PUT DOWN THAT PIZZA!
Nice post. Thanks for sharing your experience and feelings on trying to foster a little support from such a long distance. I’m not from Belarus, nor in Belarus… and yet I can’t help but be disappointed that people still need to be shaken awake from the TV-induced sleep.
What’s going on in Belarus is great. From what I understand, the 3rd night had more supporters than the 2nd night despite the freezing weather, cut power, and other problems.
It’s my understanding that people leave the square (partly) in order to go back to their neighborhoods and spread the word that the revolution is still alive. It may very well be working.
We’ll find out what the folks can muster on Saturday. Crunch time!
(Incidentally, there is no word “bela” in Romaneste. The closest possibility would be a distant cousin of “bella” in Italian, but…)
March 23rd, 2006 at 4:47 am
at the beginning of xx century the word “bela” was used in high classes in romania. it is true, nobody is using it today. you have to study more about Romania mr. Romerican (si daca esti roman mai citeste si tu ba)
March 23rd, 2006 at 10:16 am
Wow! I love your video! I was there and I know how cold it was that Sunday morning…But I LIKE your video! Watching it you realize all the pain of belarusien people right away. Thank you.
March 23rd, 2006 at 10:35 am
Nope, thank You for coming…
March 23rd, 2006 at 10:39 am
nope? nope what? Am I missing something?
March 23rd, 2006 at 5:22 pm
Ребята,так держать!!!! я с вами!!!! Минск
March 24th, 2006 at 7:01 am
we want to understand you , Nikolaj!
March 24th, 2006 at 9:18 am
unfortunately the demonstraters have been arrested this night, the police destroyed the capm of Freedom:(
March 24th, 2006 at 9:22 am
but we’ll fight and belive…thank for Day of solidarity in New York.
March 26th, 2006 at 12:29 am
will there be more demonstrations in new-york? Please inform me here
March 26th, 2006 at 1:01 am
Yes, there will be more demonstrations in New York. “When and how”, will depend on who is going to organize it. On Saturday, we had another protest. More are promised…Perhaps it makes sense to visit a web page of Belarusian-American Association since they are leaders in organizing such events. But, if somebody wants to organize something on their own, let us know. Maybe we will be able to help in one way or another…