Second-hand information from Kiev

[DoNotRefill]

I just got off the phone with a friend of mine who is currently in Kiev, Ukraine. Here's what he has to say. The crowds are currently up to 800K+. He describes the atmosphere as "surreal". He's been talking with people on both sides, and is astounded with how polite and "comradely" everybody is. He gave me two examples of what he had seen: First, there was a parade of Easterners that had been bussed in and was going to march through an area controlled by the Western groups. The Opposition got on loudspeakers, told their supporters not to confront them, and to make space for them to pass. They did, and the group marched through without incident, and without police interference. Secondly, the Opposition has apparently been supplying "comfort" items to the Easterners, distributing them under signs that say "You are not our enemy". There's apparently a LOT of homespun charity going on...with "normal" people bringing in free food for the demonstrators to help support them.

My friend said that it was a shockingly friendly atmosphere, and that he has seen no real animosity displayed between the opposing groups. He also said that if something like this happened in the US, we'd be killing each other in short order, and that the fact that they aren't is a testimonial to the character of the Ukrainian people. He says he's seen people exchange signs from opposing groups for photos (western holding up eastern signs and vice versa).

Oh, and apparently the police academy cadets defected to the western side. Otherwise, the Military and Police are basically sitting it out.

Just thought y'all would like to know...

[JennC]

1. Exactly! I have an on line friend who has lived in Kiev for 3 years

and she said she is dismayed by the coverage in the US saying they are on the brink of civil war. Said the crowds are friendly and enthusiastic and she isn't afraid to have her 4 children out with her. Amazing : )

[Shopaholic]

2. Same here--we have friends in Kiev who've been e-mailing updates

to everybody back home. They say that the crowds are all very friendly---and that they feel perfectly safe strolling around down there and taking their kids to see the protests. They also said that the people are just refusing to go anywhere--that they are determined to take back their government and not let their election be stolen.

[Tsiyu]

3. This is how EVOLVED humans handle themselves

But you know somebody will throw some instigators in the mix if you try this in the US.

These people have my admiration...