Our Sacred Honor

It is July 4^th today. I used to look at this holiday with pride, understanding that many who came before me had fought and died for a liberty in my country that so many other people can only hope to achieve. Sadly, I have come to wonder if many in my country are now letting that slip away.

We now have people who follow a venal, self-serving man in the person of Donald Trump. We have a slow waning of the protections of individual rights, starting with the rights of women, in the overturning of Roe v Wade. This by a Supreme Court that is packed with politically motivated justices who have shown they were willing to lie about their stances on “settled law' in order to be approved as a Justice for the Supreme Court.

All of this has been at the machinations of politicians like Mitch McConnell who are willing to put their own political agenda before the will and well-being of the American people. They have even been called out by one of their own, Liz Cheney.

Here are a few clips of her commentary:

At the Reagan Library, on the danger that Donald Trump poses to our democracy:

At the Jan. 6^th Commission hearings, on witness tampering:

At the Jan, 6^th Commission hearings, on dishonor:

Even as we celebrate this July 4^th the Supreme Court is contemplating taking up a case that will decide who has the power of election oversight, the state courts or the state legislature. The majority of state legislatures are controlled by Republicans.

Election Rules Oversight

We are watching our civil rights and liberties being slowly eroded by a party controlled by a demagogue.

Contrast this to words from our Declaration of Independence:

“And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor. “

I fear that the type of people who wrote that Declaration are no longer living here in the United States.  I wonder, do we value our liberty as much as the Ukrainians value theirs?  Are we willing to stand up and be heard this November and in 2024?  

A Prison of Nations

In my wanderings through comments sections attached to Ukraine war news I have come across two things that I think need to be addressed and so I am putting both in a post. The first is a belief and the second is a question. They are very much related.

I think like most Americans I have not really understood the make up of the Russian Federation. I found this rather informative video on some of the Republics that are part of it. If you read through the comments you may notice that I stole my title from one. Take a few minutes to view it, it is not long.

So that brings me to the belief that I keep running across. That is that there is no difference between the war in Iraq initiated by the US and the war in Ukraine initiated by Vladimir Putin. There is no doubt that war in and of itself brings death, injuries, destruction and ruined lives for so many. But there is one type of war that is so profoundly destructive that it destroys a people. That is the war of conquest to acquire territory, which in the process erases the identity of those who live there. When the United States invaded Iraq its purpose was not to make that country part of the United States. It never intended to erase Iraq's identity or its sovereignty. We never forced anyone in Iraq to acquire a US passport or to become a citizen of the US. That, however, is what Russia is doing to Ukraine. As far as Vladimir Putin is concerned Ukraine as a country doesn't exist, it is part of Russia.

I believe the majority of Ukrainians beg to differ. That leads me to the question I have seen posed in comments sections. What would victory mean for Ukraine? The implication is that if they were to force Russia to withdraw there would be such a large loss of life and infrastructure that the fight would not have been worth it. Especially if Russia were to use a tactical nuclear weapon. The answer to this question is actually quite simple. Victory for Ukrainians means keeping their identity. Lives cannot be brought back, but the future can be made possible for future generations.

The vision of Putin is one of empire. He will use any means to make his vision come true. We have seen his use of energy to blackmail Europe. We see the same in his theft of Ukraine's grain and his blockade of Ukraine's ports, at the expense of the poorer countries in the world, to try to force the West to lift sanctions.

The person who called the Russian Federation a prison of nations was spot on. Does the world really want to become vassal states of Putin's Russia?

Slava Ukraini!

We Remember

For those who fought for our freedom.  They will always be in our hearts.

Victory Day – A Cautionary Tale

It seems that Vladimir Putin is intent on a rather large display on May 9^th, Victory Day. This is the day that Nazi Germany surrendered after their defeat in World War II. This is the day the Soviet forces took control of Berlin. There is no disputing the fact that the people of Russia fought bravely and sacrificed a great deal in World War II, against a foe that was intent on world domination.

But, and this is where a word of caution comes in, Vladimir Putin would seem to have everyone believe that the victory over Nazi Germany was the Soviet Union's alone. It was not. It was the combined efforts of many countries, including the United States. And it included Lend Lease. Yes, you may have heard about this as it has recently been in the news regarding Ukraine. But it was first thought of during the early stages of the war in Europe against Germany. A war that we were not yet involved in. In order to help those countries who were at war with Germany the United States agreed to lend/lease military equipment and other things to those countries, which included the Soviet Union. It was pivotal to the course of that war.

Lend Lease and the Soviet Union 

So on this Victory Day it might serve the Russian people well to understand that now that help is being provided to Ukraine to try to repel a murderous aggressor, the Russian Federation, that has invaded their land. Vladimir Putin has lied for the reason of Russia's invasion and he has been working tooth and nail to keep that secret. And he is lying if he says that the Soviet Union alone won WWII.

A video summary of WWII Lend Lease:

The Senate, and later the House, passes Lend Lease for Ukraine in 2022.

This time Russia is not on the side of right, but Germany is.

Slava Ukraini

Truth in A Grave

It is Easter Sunday today. So many people are congregating in their places of worship, celebrating rebirth. It is supposed to be a season of hope. Yet it is pain and tragedy that stalks the Earth.

In Ukraine we are seeing the destruction of a country and its people. Cities have been bombed to rubble and innocent people killed. One man has used his propaganda machine to lie to the people of Russia and many believe the lies he has fed them.

Borodyanka, Ukraine:

What appears to be instructions given to Russian soldiers by their superiors.  It looks like they have tightened viewing on this video due to content. You will have to click on the link and provide your age if you want to listen to it.  Or just go directly to YouTube.

Mariupol, Ukraine:

Mariupol again and the Russian military:

“Easter says you can put truth in a grave, but it won't stay there.” Clarence W. Hall

Sláva Ukrayíni ― Слава Україні: Героям слава!

 There comes a time when we arrive at a crossroads in history. The path we choose will affect all of us for generations to come. It is our responsibility to those who come after to recognize such a time.

We have been seeing the horrible scenes playing out in Ukraine at the hands of the Russian invaders. As they have pulled out of some areas in Ukraine they leave behind the evidence of what can only be described as war crimes. The city of Bucha is scattered with bodies, some with their hands tied behind their backs. They are uncovering mass graves. While we have seen the destruction to infrastructure, this is the first time we have really seen the butchery that the Russians dealt in. This is not just about the destruction of a country, but the destruction of a people.

It is time for us to remember the words of one of our former Presidents.

“It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain; that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people by the people for the people shall not perish from this earth.” Abraham Lincoln

I stand with the people of Ukraine and all of those who fight for their freedom.

The Collapse of Russia

 A couple weeks ago I started a post regarding predictions for the future of Russia. In that post I said that their future was intertwined with that of Ukraine and speculated on two possible scenarios depending on what happened in Ukraine. I have since come to the conclusion that it will not matter what happens in Ukraine for the future of Russia. So I am rewriting that post.

I think we have been witnessing the slow collapse of Russia for some time, we just didn't realize it. Since the collapse of the USSR in the 90's Russia has struggled to improve the lives of the Russian people. And to some degree they succeeded, with the help of other countries. But what they have not done, is grow a democratic form of government that is real and lasting. What they have in place is rule by one man, Vladimir Putin. So there are no checks to his power. The war he started in Ukraine is all on him and those who have enabled him.

The reaction to Putin's war by many in the world has been revulsion and sorrow. We are seeing the destruction of a country, Ukraine, that has worked hard to join the world community on an equal and productive basis. In Russia we are seeing a deep schism between her people on what they believe is happening in Ukraine. One faction sees what Putin wants them to see, listening only to the propaganda his government has been peddling. The other faction is more well informed and understands the heartbreaking tragedy that is occurring in their neighbor and longtime friend, Ukraine, at the hands of their government.

The West put in place extensive sanctions against Russia, which will impact the Russian economy. A large number of companies have shut down operations within Russia. One of those is McDonald's, one of the first companies to set up shop in Russia back in the 90's. The Moscow location was mobbed on the first day, with Russians lining up to try this icon of American culture. While it is not the healthiest of food Russians came to appreciate their dedication to food safety and the pleasant atmosphere within their walls. While you may find some McDonald's locations open, they are the franchisees who are doing so illegally. In this one example we see the future, the curtain of darkness falling over the light of the outside world, along with the criminal behavior that will increase in the Russian economy.

Putin has put in place a draconian law that clamps down on free speech, giving a sentence of 15 years in prison to those who even refer to the situation in Ukraine as a war or invasion. The independent press was shut down in Russia leaving only Putin's propaganda network. It is midnight in Russia and people have started to flee the darkness. We are seeing them here at our border. The number of Russians trying to enter the United States started to increase after the detention of Alexei Navalny. While they may not have predicted the invasion of Ukraine, they knew the future of Russia.

Within the battle for Ukraine Russia is targeting civilians, forcing Ukrainians against their will to evacuate to Russia, bombing humanitarian corridors that they had agreed to. They have used weapons systems designed to sow terror and inflict the maximum casualties, such as cluster and thermobaric bombs. They have escalated by using hypersonic missiles. Because you see they know they cannot win by using conventional means. Their equipment has broken down, their soldiers did not even know where they were in the beginning, and when they did realize, they did not want to fight against those they have always considered family.

Millions of Ukrainians have fled their country and are now in Europe, while others stayed to fight for their homeland and their freedom. I, and many like me, are in awe of their courage and heartbroken for their plight.

Does Putin really embody the soul of Russia? I think not. And so, the cracks are widening in Russia. Do Russians really want to turn their backs on the light and live in darkness? Is that the future they want? I hope not. Because that would be echoing the tragedy of Ukraine.

I stand with Ukraine and all those who fight for their freedom.