Gov't update

I walked down Kreschatyk (main street) to check out the coup-related action, thinking that maybe I shouldn't be carrying a long duffel bag full of swords (props for the school play).

It's a polite low-key revolution so far. Communist/Socialist Party with their red flags on one side of the street, Our Ukraine party with blue flags on the other side. I was looking for Julia Tymoshenko's flags, white with a red heart, but they weren't around.

The crowds on the red side of the street were listening to a woman singing in Russian, which is the division here---Yanukovich, eastern Ukraine, pro-Russia; Yushchenko, western Ukraine, pro-Ukraine.

But my friend Roman, of Ukrainian descent, says that nationalism is not the real issue. "Everyone here knows who they are." People in Ukraine want to end corruption and bribery in government and private industry. They hoped the Orange Revolution of 2004 would bring about changes, but not so far.

I just got off the phone with friends whose son is in the same class as the president's daughter. Tomorrow is the day for parent conferences. In grade 2, the Yushchenkos' conference was scheduled first, and theirs was second. They were mildly thrilled to be after the president, knowing that they'd probably get to meet him. Not likely now.