Once again nailing it as to just how we feel! Shock and horror at the greed, at the lies that those who have such an insatiable greed for power, money, and control that they do NOT even consider the human lives it steals to get even a smidgen of their unsatiated greed touched. The Whole World must put putin in check! I do not capitalize his name as he is undesrving of it right now. I want to diminish his evil in any way I can. We Must Not Repeat hitler's reign of terror!
Thank you both for giving a voice to the truth. Your continuing input helps to ground me in the midst of the noise. As a 76 year old, retired RN, educator, & entrepreneur, I no longer have the same agency to impact society in a positive manner. But, you do it for me. Thank you.
Not once has Putin in all of these years has made a miss-calculated “mistake” In his time, he conducted four wars and won every time.
He doesn’t do anything compulsory.
He doesn’t conduct a war he can’t win.
He doesn’t do things for short time gain.
He calculates down to the very minimum.
This war is not just about nato or Ukraine.
He knows stable, peaceful and prosperous Russians naturally lean westward.
His ultimate fear is domestic pressure for democracy where he will lose his grip on the power.
So he fabricated a non existent threat in order to mobilize Russians to “defend the motherland”.
Every nation in time of war unifies.
The only thing standing on his way to subdue Ukraine by all means (including biological and chemical warfare he used in Chechnya) is the eyes of the world on the ground.
The lesson for the west in all of these:
STOP RELYING ON FOSSIL FUELS.
Putin knows Europe will freeze to death if he stops pumping natural gas into the pipelines.
Not once has Putin in all of these years has made a miss-calculated “mistake” In his time, he conducted four wars and won every time.
He doesn’t do anything compulsory.
He doesn’t conduct a war he can’t win.
He doesn’t do things for short time gain.
He calculates down to the very minimum.
This war is not just about nato or Ukraine.
He knows stable, peaceful and prosperous Russians naturally lean westward.
His ultimate fear is domestic pressure for democracy where he will lose his grip on the power.
So he fabricated a non existent threat in order to mobilize Russians to “defend the motherland”.
Every nation in time of war unifies.
The only thing standing on his way to subdue Ukraine by all means (including biological and chemical warfare he used in Chechnya) is the eyes of the world on the ground.
The lesson for the west in all of these:
STOP RELYING ON FOSSIL FUELS.
Putin knows Europe will freeze to death if he stops pumping natural gas into the pipelines.
Almost no one wants war. And for good reason! Since the world experienced WWI just over a century ago, we have all seen the horrific consequences of war. The loss. The pain. The sheer destruction of all we have worked our lives to build in mere moments. For the vast majority of people in this world, war is not anything they would choose.
Yet here we are again. Yet another unhinged dictator murdering en masse. No shame. No empathy. No humanity. Just the cold eyes of a sociopathic killer to explain it. To justify it.
But this criminal waging war against humanity is not alone. He has sought and has been granted support from other like-minded evil men. They have formed a coalition at war with the very notion that a human being is human, and not some slave to be manipulated as suits their malignant imaginings of power.
In recent years, too many of us who still possess the power of freedom, of self-determination, have been attracted by the allure of the strong-man - selling an attractive tale of propaganda lies to manipulate us into believing in the strong-man as our sole savior. Well! The events this day in Europe are providing a stark contrast to those lies! Our democracies may not be pure, but they are emphatically not that!
Now is the time to take increased devotion to the cause of freedom for all peoples on Earth. Now is the time to reject these lies. We can clearly see where they will lead us. In this we are certainly not alone, but have comrades in this cause around the globe. As allies, we must embrace each other. And for those who choose not to join us? We must invoke the basic question asked by Kentucky coal miners in the 1930s: Which side are you on?
At the core, our sides are these: Do you want freedom and self-determination for all humanity, or do you want subjugation to the hubris and personal vanity of a few powerful sociopaths for all humanity? In the divide between these two positions there can be no compromise. We must join together in a common society all nations who support self-determination. And we must reject from our society nations which choose subjugation over self-determination.
Will this be free of personal costs to ourselves? No.
But it would be shameful if we allowed the notion that we may lose some comforts here at home to daunt us from supporting those who are losing their lives to defend their homes.
I am in daily contact with my friends and former work colleagues in the beautiful city of Kyiv. Together we are all praying for the fighting to stop and for the safety of the people of Ukraine. For many, they cannot just leave, their kids are in school and their parents are elderly - it really is a nightmare for them and their families and many are incredulous as they have family and friends in Russia.
I woke this morning with a sore tongue and with bricks of dread weighing down the muscles of my neck and shoulders. This is the same malady I've had ever since I was living in Germany as a teen during the erection of the Berlin Wall. No amount of positive thinking or optimism has ever prevented this from happening as our world has swung from war to war in my lifetime. I have no doubt that the majority of other people of our world, whether Ukranian or other nationality feel the same. I knew as a kid that this kind of confrontation is bad for all except a very and solves no problems for anyone.
I am sickened by this aggressive act by Putin. He jeopardizes the whole world with his brazen thirst for blood. Let him be on the front line and face the death and destruction he reaps.
I have met Ukrainians and Russians and it's apparent the people are not in favor of this unjustifiable act. Like other leaders, Putin is compelled to show his might by this act. We have seen these child-like ambitions in our own country by politicians but luckily, not on this scale. He is utterly mad.
Where should we turn for the most reliable and up to date information about the Ukraine?
Once again nailing it as to just how we feel! Shock and horror at the greed, at the lies that those who have such an insatiable greed for power, money, and control that they do NOT even consider the human lives it steals to get even a smidgen of their unsatiated greed touched. The Whole World must put putin in check! I do not capitalize his name as he is undesrving of it right now. I want to diminish his evil in any way I can. We Must Not Repeat hitler's reign of terror!
Thank you both for giving a voice to the truth. Your continuing input helps to ground me in the midst of the noise. As a 76 year old, retired RN, educator, & entrepreneur, I no longer have the same agency to impact society in a positive manner. But, you do it for me. Thank you.
Not once has Putin in all of these years has made a miss-calculated “mistake” In his time, he conducted four wars and won every time.
He doesn’t do anything compulsory.
He doesn’t conduct a war he can’t win.
He doesn’t do things for short time gain.
He calculates down to the very minimum.
This war is not just about nato or Ukraine.
He knows stable, peaceful and prosperous Russians naturally lean westward.
His ultimate fear is domestic pressure for democracy where he will lose his grip on the power.
So he fabricated a non existent threat in order to mobilize Russians to “defend the motherland”.
Every nation in time of war unifies.
The only thing standing on his way to subdue Ukraine by all means (including biological and chemical warfare he used in Chechnya) is the eyes of the world on the ground.
The lesson for the west in all of these:
STOP RELYING ON FOSSIL FUELS.
Putin knows Europe will freeze to death if he stops pumping natural gas into the pipelines.
What other leverage does he have?
Designer Gucci bag?
Levi jeans?
Porsche and Lamborghini?
iPhone?
Not once has Putin in all of these years has made a miss-calculated “mistake” In his time, he conducted four wars and won every time.
He doesn’t do anything compulsory.
He doesn’t conduct a war he can’t win.
He doesn’t do things for short time gain.
He calculates down to the very minimum.
This war is not just about nato or Ukraine.
He knows stable, peaceful and prosperous Russians naturally lean westward.
His ultimate fear is domestic pressure for democracy where he will lose his grip on the power.
So he fabricated a non existent threat in order to mobilize Russians to “defend the motherland”.
Every nation in time of war unifies.
The only thing standing on his way to subdue Ukraine by all means (including biological and chemical warfare he used in Chechnya) is the eyes of the world on the ground.
The lesson for the west in all of these:
STOP RELYING ON FOSSIL FUELS.
Putin knows Europe will freeze to death if he stops pumping natural gas into the pipelines.
What other leverage does he have?
Designer Gucci bag?
Levi jeans?
Porsche and Lamborghini?
iPhone?
Almost no one wants war. And for good reason! Since the world experienced WWI just over a century ago, we have all seen the horrific consequences of war. The loss. The pain. The sheer destruction of all we have worked our lives to build in mere moments. For the vast majority of people in this world, war is not anything they would choose.
Yet here we are again. Yet another unhinged dictator murdering en masse. No shame. No empathy. No humanity. Just the cold eyes of a sociopathic killer to explain it. To justify it.
But this criminal waging war against humanity is not alone. He has sought and has been granted support from other like-minded evil men. They have formed a coalition at war with the very notion that a human being is human, and not some slave to be manipulated as suits their malignant imaginings of power.
In recent years, too many of us who still possess the power of freedom, of self-determination, have been attracted by the allure of the strong-man - selling an attractive tale of propaganda lies to manipulate us into believing in the strong-man as our sole savior. Well! The events this day in Europe are providing a stark contrast to those lies! Our democracies may not be pure, but they are emphatically not that!
Now is the time to take increased devotion to the cause of freedom for all peoples on Earth. Now is the time to reject these lies. We can clearly see where they will lead us. In this we are certainly not alone, but have comrades in this cause around the globe. As allies, we must embrace each other. And for those who choose not to join us? We must invoke the basic question asked by Kentucky coal miners in the 1930s: Which side are you on?
At the core, our sides are these: Do you want freedom and self-determination for all humanity, or do you want subjugation to the hubris and personal vanity of a few powerful sociopaths for all humanity? In the divide between these two positions there can be no compromise. We must join together in a common society all nations who support self-determination. And we must reject from our society nations which choose subjugation over self-determination.
Will this be free of personal costs to ourselves? No.
But it would be shameful if we allowed the notion that we may lose some comforts here at home to daunt us from supporting those who are losing their lives to defend their homes.
War Really? Killing and destruction is barbaric in our advanced society, including Russia. These strongmen need to be outlawed and unrecognised.
Sure, but then who would the CIA use to overturn foreign governments for regime change?
Amen! And thank you.
Beautifully put.
I am in daily contact with my friends and former work colleagues in the beautiful city of Kyiv. Together we are all praying for the fighting to stop and for the safety of the people of Ukraine. For many, they cannot just leave, their kids are in school and their parents are elderly - it really is a nightmare for them and their families and many are incredulous as they have family and friends in Russia.
As always your words are incisive and perfectly targeted. I wonder if anything short of war can stop Putin...
Thank you for sharing this song,
especially now during this difficult time.
I woke this morning with a sore tongue and with bricks of dread weighing down the muscles of my neck and shoulders. This is the same malady I've had ever since I was living in Germany as a teen during the erection of the Berlin Wall. No amount of positive thinking or optimism has ever prevented this from happening as our world has swung from war to war in my lifetime. I have no doubt that the majority of other people of our world, whether Ukranian or other nationality feel the same. I knew as a kid that this kind of confrontation is bad for all except a very and solves no problems for anyone.
Why isn't the Russian invasion of Ukraine a war crime and Putin a war criminal?
I fee like we are reliving all the tragedies and atrocities of the 20th century in this decade. I pray for the people of the Ukraine.
I am sickened by this aggressive act by Putin. He jeopardizes the whole world with his brazen thirst for blood. Let him be on the front line and face the death and destruction he reaps.
I have met Ukrainians and Russians and it's apparent the people are not in favor of this unjustifiable act. Like other leaders, Putin is compelled to show his might by this act. We have seen these child-like ambitions in our own country by politicians but luckily, not on this scale. He is utterly mad.