These are only few of the latest entries in the Ukrainian Book of Records. “In Yalta, a newspaper has been made up under water… A giant bar of soap made in Sevastopol… The world’s first Fatback Museum exhibits the biggest heart-shaped piece of fatback…”
About a dozen records collected from all over Ukraine and entered on August 24, including the largest group photograph of people sporting vyshyvanka (hand-embroidered hirts/blouses), the longest chain of people wearing vyshyvankas, the largest number of people clad in national costumes and singing the National Anthem.
There are times when such “gigantomania” doesn’t seem to make sense, as in the case of the heart-shaped piece of fatback, but there are also times when such projects pay back in terms of proceeds that are transferred to various benevolent bank accounts. Thus all the money used for making the largest coin tryzub (national emblem of Ukraine) in Rivne will be directed for the treatment of an ill boy from Radyvyliv. These records may also serve as proof of global social processes – for example, an effort to get united to achieve what is good for this world. The largest bar of soap in Ukraine, made using ingredients provided by a Ternopil on-line shop was cut into 500 smaller bars and given to the children at Sevastopol orphanages.
Owing to such events the society put into Spartan conditions realizes its aspiration to the leadership and success, its ability to work in order to achieve ambitious goals and its desire to unite.
BLITZ INTERVIEW
Below is an interview with The Day’s veteran expert, Dr. Yevhen HOLOVAKHA, Ph.D. (Philosophy), head of the History, Theory and Methodology Department, Institute of Social Studies at the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.
We’ve often heard of Ukrainians beating various records of late, of local records entered into the Ukrainian Book of Records. The latest was broadcast by Channel 5, about the longest-lasting telethon. How would a sociologist explain this trend?
“I won’t explain it from the sociological point of view, I’ll just offer my own opinion. There is a lot of information about Ukraine being at the bottom of various rating lists. Yes, we’re lagging behind in many fields of endeavor. Meanwhile, our people have a healthy desire to be the first doing something the best way. This is only natural. People implement their desires where they are less dependent on the government and macroeconomics – where one is dogged by bad luck. I think that this desire to be the first in the world, in Europe, is evidence of healthy ambitions. Of course, all these records have the backdrop of little progress on the macro [economic] level.”
We often hear about our society being sick, lacking healthy ambitions, incapable of assuming responsibilities. But then we have all these records. Isn’t this proof of something positive going on?
“There are certainly such positive trends. They aren’t systematic but very significant; people are getting increasingly adaptive to the new social environment and prepared to live in a different world, within an information society. For example, the Internet is quickly spreading throughout Ukraine. People need to enter the new modern world and to be known there. It is a normal need. I think it is a healthy attitude toward the life.”
We can be champions cooking pyrohy dumplings, holding telethons, why can’t we have all political power in our own country?
“Because shaping a big dumpling is easier. It takes sparse knowledge and skill. Transforming a society systematically takes vast systematic knowledge and skills that are very difficult to acquire. This also requires a higher integration level. Making a huge dumpling takes several cooks. Transforming a society takes lots of individuals who have to combine efforts. A very difficult task. Sociologists refer to it as an integration and solidarity issue. Regrettably, we can’t adequately handle this issue, not now.”
But we are learning, aren’t we?
“Yes, we are. We’re learning to break records making pyrohy, staging telethons. So we can finally shape and cook the final, biggest dumpling, our nation state. A distant but nonetheless enticing future.”
