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Conservative vs Liberal
   Beliefs

     The Ukrainian word holota is such a neat word which is difficult to translate and could have any of several meanings.  It could be used to describe a rabble, mob, hooligans, trailer trash, or just plain idiots but basically refers to an individual or group that has no concept of or consideration for the common courtesies of a civilized society.  

     Stemming from either lousy parenting or an inherent biological deficiency, holota seem to think that they are the only ones in the world and they need not be concerned with following decent social behavior.  Holota is the guy in a row home who plays music way too loud or throws his whiney kids out on the street to annoy the neighbors.   It's the kid who spends hours bouncing a basketball on the asphalt outside your window.  It's the guy whose car stereo can be heard a mile away who will probably be run over by a fire truck since he can't hear the siren.

     Thanks to a largely European upbringing which emphasized respect for rules, authority, and the rights of others, we Ukrainians in America didn't seem to have this problem but apparently peer pressure from non Ukrainians has forced us to import our own holota.  Those of us who remember the push in the 60's to "Free Soviet Jews", found ourselves saying "you'll be sorry if it comes true."  Today, listening to American Jews bemoaning the Soviet Jews who arrived with their anti-social  attitudes, we try to refrain from saying "I told you so."  Yet we seem to not have learned from their experience.

     Although there have always been those who think they can do whatever they want, a new wave of holota has landed in our communities over  the past ten years.  Complaints from various Ukrainian centers around the country are similar in their description of those Ukrainian immigrants who choose not to adhere to common social standards or obey established community rules and procedures.  While certainly not in the majority, holota give the rest of Ukrainian immigrants a bad reputation.  After sixty years of struggling for their freedom, it is sad that a holota minority can ruin everything for the majority.  Yet we seem to not want to prosecute those who violate our rules because they are fellow Ukrainians.

    Social standards and acceptable behavior were set up to allow us to live in groups.  Those who play loud music in public or conduct themselves without regard to those around them are basically holota.  They do not deserve to share in the community and should be evicted.  If the only thing they understand is the soviet model of control, we should accommodate them by calling on the police to evict them from our places.