Who Believes in American Idealism and Freedom? Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian People Do

The United States of America has spent trillions of dollars attempting to export its democracy and values to other places in the world since it emerged from its isolationist period following World War 1 and became the leader of the free world.  World War I and the Versailles Treaty was a setback to the emergence of the United States in that role, but the Second World War, and the defense of democracy that was required in its wake brought about the change.  

In many ways, our handling of this role has been ham-fisted and awkward.  Not every nation where we became involved in defending democratic freedoms understood exactly how to handle them, and in some cases, such as Nicaragua, South Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan, were ill suited for any kind of democratic government because of all kinds of internal factors.  But we spent billions and billions of dollars, and thousands of American military lives, to attempt to bring it about.  

So I'm having trouble understanding the Republican party's cool response and subtle opposition to providing assistance to help Ukrainians preserve their national sovereignty, democracy and freedom against Russia, one of the world's perpetual enemies of individual freedom and democratic reform, led by one of the most virulent opponents of that kind of idealism.  This is the political party that was willing to bankrupt the United States treasury to preserve what passed for democracy in South Vietnam, that approved meddling in the internal affairs of Nicaragua to prop up a dictator because he wasn't a Marxist, though he was far from a freedom loving idealist.  This was the party that spent trillions trying to impose democratic reforms on a divided, hostile Iraq, a country created by British imperial interference after World War I, and a culture hostile to the kind of equality required to have democratic values in a government.  

And it was the party that invested trillions of dollars in "nation building" in Afghanistan, in yet another country hostile to democratic values and idealism and incapable of sustaining either a democratically elected government or a military force capable of defending it.  And in every case, the motivation behind American involvement in every single one of those places, even Nicaragua, was to get a step ahead of the Russians, and preserve a military and political advantage against them.  This was particularly intense in the days when Russia was a communist country, but it is still a foreign relations priority now.  

Considering the position the Republicans have taken when it comes to promoting American democracy around the world, their response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and to the support this country is giving to the Ukrainian government and military, is quite political, exposing their complete and total lack of patriotism and a grotesque, selfish, anti-patriotism.  It's clear that when it comes to protection of individual freedom, respect for democratic values and protection of the constitution and the ideals it has always represented, the Democrats are the party of patriotism, while the Republicans look more and more like fascists.  

The Ukrainians adopted American idealism when the Soviet Union dissolved, and they finally became an independent nation after hundreds of years of being a satellite state to Russia's Czarist imperialism and Soviet communism, forced on them by geography and conquest.  Struggling, as expected, during the early years of establishing a democracy under a constitution very similar to that of the United States, whom they considered the best possible example in the world to follow, the determination that the Ukrainian people have demonstrated in defending their nation and preserving their democracy is worthy of every dollar spent in support of their defense, and more.  We didn't have to force our idealism on them, they accepted it after seeing how it worked for us.  

The rhetoric of Republicans since the Second World War should have been supported by unbridled enthusiasm for Ukraine's fight against an illegal invader who also happens to be this country's greatest enemy at the time.  Their response to this courageous and historic visit of President Zelenskyy to the White House, and to the whole effort to support Ukraine in defense against one of our biggest enemies makes them hypocrites and exposes their motives against patriotism and American ideals.  They seem to be more willing to give aid and comfort to the enemy than to help Ukraine remain free.  Their actions demonstrate opposition not only to Ukraine, but to the values and ideals embodied in the United States Constitution.  

Not only is Ukraine fighting to preserve its democracy, based on American idealism, but it is fighting on behalf of the United States, helping us gain a military and political advantage over Russia without having to endanger a single member of our armed forces.  Victories for Ukraine against Russia are also victories for the United States.  That Republicans can't seem to see that, and are unwilling to support it makes me question the oath of loyalty to the constitution taken by every Republican member of Congress when they were sworn in.  Ukrainians and American Democrats are true patriots, defenders of freedom and of the ideals embodied in the United States Constitution and in the Ukrainian constitution that mirrors it.  Republicans, taking the opposite side, can't be considered patriots or defenders of the constitution, they have made themselves enemies of it. 

Senator Hawley, and I only use his title out of respect for the office and not its despicable occupant, didn't bother to attend President Zelenskyy's speech because he was upset that there hasn't been an accounting for the aid we've sent to Ukraine.  Well, Mr. Hawley, this patriotic American is in favor of unlimited military assistance to Ukraine in the form of whatever we have they can have and I don't care if they ever account for it.  We never required such an accounting of lend-lease help to either England or Russia and the fact that the Ukrainians are standing for us against Moscow gives us every reason to support them with unlimited aid.  By his own actions and words, Mr. Hawley has identified himself as anti-patriotic and an unAmerican, fist-pumping insurrectionist supporter.

I admire President Zelenskyy.  What a gift it has been to Ukraine that they were able, through their representative democracy, to elect him to office for such a time as this.  He has more courage and integrity, and more respect and love for America, and its ideals and freedom, than all of the Republicans in Congress put together.  

I don't want this conclusion to be too complicated.  President Zelenskyy's visit to the President of the United States and his address to Congress was a show of solidarity among freedom-loving people in both countries.  Our unconditional support is exactly the right, moral, decent, and patriotic American thing to do.  The Republican reaction to this tells you they aren't patriots, don't care about American ideals or democracy and more than anything else, no Republican politician who feels this way and openly expresses it deserves to get your vote.  

If you really want to make sure that American remains a strong, great nation, support the aid to Ukraine and work to defeat all of the Republicans who hold public office and will be on your ballot. 

Note 12/23:  To those of you who asked about my frequent use of the term "patriotic", you're right.  I was making a point.  Republicans aren't, and this is one of multiple pieces of evidence of their drift into fascism.