CHARACTER FLAWS - HISTORY's BAGGAGE

[LippyChick]

The question is what are you looking for us to say. Are you looking for us to pick holes in Ukraine, discuss the appearance of un-willingness of Ukrainians to change the status-quo?

We know Ukraine is in a terrible state, economically, politically and environmentally. Who will argue that?

The Diaspora is focused to some extent on internal issues as a community abroad, for better or worse it's a community with good and bad.

If you're looking for Ukrainians from Ukraine on this board then there hasn't ever been many of them. Another issue of Ukraine is the lack of access to information technology, likewise all the former Soviet Union. There are internet bars in all major cities, but of course that does nothing for the rural populous.

LippyChick


P.S. Your always going to get less post over the weekend.

[NORRYM]

Insofar as WHO, WHERE and WHAT {leaving the WHY aside for now}, the answers are partially covered or implied in the preceding posts. Recall the phrase 'at any sphere, at any level, anywhere' - that answers WHO and WHERE. If this needs to be expanded, I will wait for additional comments. As to WHAT, a clue was given by citing some pervading and damaging flaws. Any comments/questions on those are invited. Naturally, any flaws, not mentioned so far {and there are many} should become uncovered on this forum.

The question WHY is both, philosophical and pragmatic in nature. Philosophically speaking, we need to be honest with ourselves, individually and as a group of any size, up to the inclusion of the whole nation. Unless we do that, we are deluding ourself into a make-believe world which distorts the true state of affairs, and makes us commit irreversible damages to our cause. Ultimately we find ourselves in a blind corner or at a deadend. These are not just empty words, to sound good, they can be backed up and expanded, during further discussions.

This leads us to the pragmatic part. To be dramatic, RUYINA is the answer, if we do not wake up. The preceding post, elaborated on that aspect to some degree - so I will defer futher expansion, until this subject comes up in a debate.

emkay/02/26/01

[Edited by NORRYM on 26th February 2001 at 18:37]

[steve_vlasenko]

Silence is a killer and it appears to be the present Ukrainian disease. Or is it? There are mass demonstrations, even without payment and have been since Independence.

In 1994 150,000 teachers marched through Kyiv as a protest at pay and conditions, $10-15 dollars a month for a 40 hour+ week.

In 1996 Gays and Lesbians demonstrated in Kyiv, protesting against discrimination.

These never made the western news. Lack of media coverage of the positive plagues Ukraine. Here lies one of the problems.

Patriots, Nationalist call them what you will are forced to take a defensive position when news from the front is always negative. This I▓ll agree detracts from the debate, as Ukrainians can appear to be living in the proverbial cloud cookoo land, this then leads to further entrenchment. A self fulfilling prophecy for the nationalist:-

Nothing but negativity about Ukraine / defensive entrenchment.
Unwillingness to face reality, / negative media.

Where Ukrainians are used to political activity there is more decent, but a nation battered continually to its knees will take time to stand up.

Now the Diaspora, that is a different story.

Take care

Vlas

[NORRYM]

Next, it is encumbent on us, who took the first step, to define the process and the boundaries. This preliminary delineation, when done, should put us on a course to surfacing the characteristic deficiencies in our society here in Ukraine and in the diasporas, at large. We can narrow or broaden the scope, as our experience shall dictate. At first, I propose the process to take us across several societal spheres and at various levels.

I envision the spheres to be: {a} political. {b} socio-economic, {c} religious, {d} other. The levels, associated with the spheres, should cover from formal groups/organizations up to the whole nation or ghetto.

The process itself should involve these elements: {1} naming and defining the flaw, {2} providing an anecdotal example or a semi-formal reference/source, {3} ascribing a weight or gravity yardstick to the flaw, {4} suggesting a remedy.

All of the above is subject to a debate.

emkay/02/27/01

[Edited by NORRYM on 28th February 2001 at 13:27]

[NORRYM]

A fear of confronting an issue, results in self-defeating conformity. MOYA KHATA SKRAYU NYICHOHOH NEH ZNAYU - A well known, folksy bit of Ukrainian wisdom, unfortunately pacticed too often, and by too many Ukrainians in Ukraine and in the Ukrainian diasporas.

One may look good, in the eyes of the misguided majority, by tacitly conforming to the prevalent thinking. However, the silence, borne of conformity, leads to stagnation and ultimate collapse of a society. Something to make one, ponder about.

emkay/03/01/01

[NORRYM]

FEAR and APPREHENSION, to undertake an unpleasant task, spell STAGNATION. The unpleasant task is - POINTING OUT OUR FLAWS. Avoiding this task, because of a FEAR OF RETRIBUTION, is a sign of how urgent is the need to root out the FLAW OF SINGLE-MINDEDNESS or MASS MENTALITY.

Single-mindedness is the quality cultivated by a totalitarian regime. It is a HISTORICAL BAGGAGE from our past. Do we want it, to rule our lives now, as a FREE SOCIETY? Recall the times, when the Party dictated what to think - do we want to submit to the 'budding dictators', among us, blindly now?

SINGLE-MINDEDNESS DOES NOT EQUATE TO THE UNITY OF PURPOSE - IT IS ITS ANTIPODE.

Why the APPREHENSION to engage in pointing out our flaws? For the religious ones, it may be easy to answer, by recalling the apprehension ruling one's mind, before seeing the priest at the confessional. At any rate, the point is made.

So, this thread is waiting for the couragious ones to step up to the task of digging ourself out of the ruinous state, overcome by our flaws.

Shevchenko appealed to his nation: SKHAMENYIT'SYA DOBREE LYUDY BO LYKHO VAHM BUHDE! His anniversary is fast approaching - it brings to us a solemn occasion to contemplate.

emkay/03/02/01

[Edited by NORRYM on 3rd March 2001 at 07:31]

[StormFront]

You lot only have one 'flaw'.
You're Slavs.

Stick an E between V and S. Problem solved.