The Євромайдан; Euromaidan, is the aspiration of protest to set Ukraine free from Russia. The Iron Curtain may have feel in 1991 but like other Slavic nations impacted by socialism Ukraine continues to struggle to escape the grip of Russian influence. The Euromaidan hopefully loosen that grip and finally drop the hammer and sickle.

The ongoing protesting in Kiev has brought much media attention to Ukraine, for much of the general American population most are likely unfamiliar with Ukraine. With all the global attention that the protest is receiving the Ukrainian people have displayed new forms of protest as well as historical forms — all while the streets burn.

New forms of protest — Send the babushka ladies with mirrors!

The babushka ladies are not the only Ukrainians surprising the media. The Orthodox priests of Ukraine have become very active in voicing their distrust with the current Ukrainian politicians and have became active representatives in peaceful protests in praying on the front-line and housing activists from harm in the nearby churches.

I believe the most important act that the Ukrainians have performed is the destruction of the statue of Lenin in Kiev. The fall of the statue is a common historical act of protest often observed against government regimes. Writer Jonathan Jones stated it the best in his article for the Guardian titled:

Why smashing statues can be the sweetest revenge

The destruction of the Lenin statue is a necessity for the Ukrainian people to move forward as a county. The Ukrainian people have surly not forgotten the horror provoke by Lenin and socialism as their country was torn, the Ukrainian language banned and the use of Russian forced, Churches destroyed, priest killed, and the overall identity lost for generations.