May we all find a just peace one day.
Monday, 25 December 2023
Where are you, Christmas?
Sometimes when I look out at the world I wonder who we are? I see only fighting and discord. This is the season where we should be coming together and working toward a better world. I am sending this message to all of those on the frontlines, both near and far, who are fighting for their homes.
May we all find a just peace one day.
May we all find a just peace one day.
Saturday, 16 December 2023
Putin's Puppets
If there is one thing the United States has stood for it is freedom. That a significant segment of our population is ignoring a country that is so desperately fighting for it is a sad statement to the state of our politics today. The Ukraine/Russia war will have far reaching consequences if Putin is allowed to prevail. Those who would use aid to Ukraine as a tool of blackmail do not belong in our government, because they are no better than Putin’s puppets.
I will tell you in advance that I stole this…
To all my fellow Americans here: This is a critical point in this conflict, not just because the Russians are attacking, but because Congress is playing games with Ukraine support. This Russian offensive isn't actually meant to achieve a military goal, it's aimed at a political goal - to try to convince Western skeptics that supporting Ukraine is a waste of time. We cannot let them succeed with their longer term perverted idea of geopolitics, that Russia is superior to all other cultures and deserves to rule the world. Please pick up the phone and call your elected representatives in Washington and let them know how you feel. You don't need to try to convince the staffer of anything, just let them know what your opinion is and let them know how strong that opinion is. Most of their calls are from political busybodies. If they get calls from new sources, they pay attention. All of them are very interested in keeping their cushy job. We need to collectively ensure Ukraine receives the support it so deserves. Ukraine has shown over and over that they are indeed a worthy ally and friend. Thank you in advance for your cooperation. Slava Ukraini!
I found it in a comments section on a Ukrainian vlog and felt it needed more publicity, even if only my small blog, so I stole it and posted it hear for you to see. Because he or she is right and I am tired of the Republicans who are working to advance Putin’s goal and stymie the cause of freedom in Ukraine. Our border problems are peanuts compared to the problems Putin can cause us.
Listen.
Sunday, 3 December 2023
Screaming in the Darkness
Do you ever have the feeling that you are talking but no one is listening? Seriously disappointing. I have been wanting to write something in this space for some time, but between fall clean up and the depressing turn of world events, and those closer to home, I have found myself without words.
The world seems to be turning in the wrong direction. We continue to see the war between Israel and Hamas hemorrhaging lives both near and far. The horrendous attack by Hamas has only enraged those who see only the victims of Oct. 7. In turn the sledgehammer that Israel has used to try to destroy Hamas and its military infrastructure has only enraged those who see only the suffering of Gazans. In the United States we have seen attacks on Palestinians leading to the death of a little boy and the paralysis of a young man. We have seen hacking of a water facility in the name of those who support the Palestinians as well as threats to individual Jewish people. To put it simply this conflict has encouraged the extreme actions of those who seem to think extreme action is the only solution. Innocent people are the ones to suffer. If violence worked this conflict would have been solved a long time ago.
In the United States House of Representatives we have seen a vote taken to expel a member, George Santos, on ethics, if not criminal, violations. The Republican leadership in the guise of Mike Johnson chose to support this member. It was abundantly clear through the investigation by the Ethics Commission that this GOP member lied about his credentials and was voted in on false pretenses. As we saw down in Texas where the state attorney general, Ken Paxton, survived an impeachment effort by his own party with the support of MAGA Republicans we see at the national level the effort by Republicans to save their more sleazy members, because it is expedient for them. This behavior by House GOP leadership should be a wake up call to the venal character of that leadership. Beyond policy issues integrity and character matter. Yet the far right Republicans have managed to attain power in the House that causes dysfunction and chaos.
In Ukraine the war with Russia rages on. This is what happens when an autocrat, Vladimir Putin, is in control of a country. His actions are not checked. The Ukrainians have been fighting bravely and are waiting for much needed continued support from the United States. Support which has been blocked by the far right Republicans in the House. Their methods of “compromise” are not to compromise but to blackmail and use force to to push through their agenda, which in the long run supports Vladimir Putin. That the United States has come to this pass is because many voters have supported Donald Trump and his self centered agenda. They have chosen to believe his lies. They have fallen for the far right’s propaganda which has focused on social issues like abortion and gender identity. They have allowed themselves to ignore the dangers that forcing people to bend to the far right’s beliefs will have.
Are we to continue to be the beacon of democracy we have striven to be? Or are we going to fall into the trap of the extremists who exist in all countries? Will we devolve down to an autocracy controlled by Donald Trump? As long as there are those who believe his lies we will need to stand up and be heard. All of us. This goes beyond social or economic issues. It is our existence as a nation.
The world seems to be turning in the wrong direction. We continue to see the war between Israel and Hamas hemorrhaging lives both near and far. The horrendous attack by Hamas has only enraged those who see only the victims of Oct. 7. In turn the sledgehammer that Israel has used to try to destroy Hamas and its military infrastructure has only enraged those who see only the suffering of Gazans. In the United States we have seen attacks on Palestinians leading to the death of a little boy and the paralysis of a young man. We have seen hacking of a water facility in the name of those who support the Palestinians as well as threats to individual Jewish people. To put it simply this conflict has encouraged the extreme actions of those who seem to think extreme action is the only solution. Innocent people are the ones to suffer. If violence worked this conflict would have been solved a long time ago.
In the United States House of Representatives we have seen a vote taken to expel a member, George Santos, on ethics, if not criminal, violations. The Republican leadership in the guise of Mike Johnson chose to support this member. It was abundantly clear through the investigation by the Ethics Commission that this GOP member lied about his credentials and was voted in on false pretenses. As we saw down in Texas where the state attorney general, Ken Paxton, survived an impeachment effort by his own party with the support of MAGA Republicans we see at the national level the effort by Republicans to save their more sleazy members, because it is expedient for them. This behavior by House GOP leadership should be a wake up call to the venal character of that leadership. Beyond policy issues integrity and character matter. Yet the far right Republicans have managed to attain power in the House that causes dysfunction and chaos.
In Ukraine the war with Russia rages on. This is what happens when an autocrat, Vladimir Putin, is in control of a country. His actions are not checked. The Ukrainians have been fighting bravely and are waiting for much needed continued support from the United States. Support which has been blocked by the far right Republicans in the House. Their methods of “compromise” are not to compromise but to blackmail and use force to to push through their agenda, which in the long run supports Vladimir Putin. That the United States has come to this pass is because many voters have supported Donald Trump and his self centered agenda. They have chosen to believe his lies. They have fallen for the far right’s propaganda which has focused on social issues like abortion and gender identity. They have allowed themselves to ignore the dangers that forcing people to bend to the far right’s beliefs will have.
Are we to continue to be the beacon of democracy we have striven to be? Or are we going to fall into the trap of the extremists who exist in all countries? Will we devolve down to an autocracy controlled by Donald Trump? As long as there are those who believe his lies we will need to stand up and be heard. All of us. This goes beyond social or economic issues. It is our existence as a nation.
It was pointed out to me that I skipped over a very critical point in that last sentence. It is what type of nation we will exist as that I was referring to. Do we want to continue on as a democracy or do we choose to allow those who would drag us down the path to autocracy to succeed?
Listen.
Listen.
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