It is inconceivable that American politicians would put themselves in a position to support the autocratic, totalitarian dictatorship of Vladimir Putin in Russia, especially over a smaller nation that has a distinct cultural identity and history separate from Russia. Ukraine has a long history tied to the whole system of autocratic monarchies who traded countries like baseball cards, emerging with somewhat of a national identity just prior to being over-run by Catherine the Great, incorporated into the Czar's domains and then, under communism, into the Soviet Union as one of the "socialist republics."
How much it has in common with Russia is a question for a Ukrainian to answer. Those who are my neighbors in the high rise where I live in Chicago will tell you, unanimously, that they are most certainly NOT Russians, and will distinguish for you in detail exactly what the differences are between the two countries. I got the impression, from them, that there is quite a contrast in the cleanliness and appearance of the two countries and that this is visible when crossing the border into Russia, where buildings are run down and unkempt, streets are pitted and rough, weeds grow in vacant lots, paint is peeling and people have a similar, shabby appearance and attitude.
But what generates the biggest expressions of pride is the freedom and democracy that Ukrainians now enjoy since becoming separate from the Soviet Union at its demise, and deliberately pushing for a democratic government, looking to the United States as a model and example. And like most of the rest of Eastern Europe, after a struggle and learning from their own mistakes, they emerged as a sovereign, democratic republic, the largest country in Europe outside of Russia itself and with a strong, growing economy.
Nothing provides more evidence of Ukraine's sovereignty and independence, and their will to remain free, than their fight against the Russian regime of Vladimir Putin to protect the territorial integrity of their country. Of course, hundreds of years of living under the same political rule created a situation in which Russians, Ukrainians, Belarussians, Estonians, Latvians, Lithuanians, Moldovans and Georgians migrated into cities and territories where the majority of the population made them an ethnic and language minority, and Russians, in large numbers, moved into the Donbas region of Ukraine, because they were attracted there by jobs and opportunity.
It's doubtful that very many of the Russian-speaking minority in the Donbas wants to live under Russian rule rather than under the freedom of Ukrainian democracy. They're being used as an excuse and those who are in a position to say so will tell you that, as one of my neighbors, who is a Russian who lived in Donetsk for two decades, on purpose, before the Russian invasion, and left after they occupied the area, to get away from them, again. He says he didn't want to live under Putin, and not very many of his neighbors in Donetsk want to, either.
The Inexcusable Behavior of American Politicians
I hate to give any publicity to American politicians, extremist Republican Trumpies, who are using the U.S. aid to Ukraine as a political talking point to be against the President. That behavior, for an American, is inexcusable ignorance and pathetic stupidity. It is taking a stand against every ideal that identifies the United States of America as a sovereign nation, the leader of the free world, and our national identity. I always knew the day would come when money interests would become so large, they would be able to pay for anything they wanted, including to buy the votes of politicians in order to get favorable legislation to expand their wealth. It appears that this is now a common practice in this country, with greed and selfishness trumping priceless values.
American foreign policy has never been perfect. In seeking our own self-interest, especially when pushed by big money, we have taken sides with dictators and bullies, promoted poverty and corruption, and incited revolutions and wars. There are countries on our own continent that have had to endure diplomatic disasters because of American interference in their politics for our own interests or in the name of "national security."
We did the same thing to Ukraine, under the previous failed President 45. The corrupt dealings with Ukraine during the Trump administration smelled an awful lot like the way the United States dealt with Nicaragua and Cuba. That was incredible inept bungling and inexcusable behavior worthy of the impeachment it brought down on the ex-President. If congressional Republicans had any integrity, in spite of the late hour, they'd have voted him out of office and made a statement about American patriotism and idealism instead of playing politics and refusing to help a nation preserve its freedom.
Those Republicans who refused to vote for removal, and who have continued to turn their backs on Ukraine, muttering about American financial and equipment support are, frankly, traitors to America, too. They are sending a very clear message that they are not interested in, and do not care about American idealism. They need to be called out for their lack of patriotism and support for the values on which this country was built, and the seditious ideology that they support should be grounds for their removal from office, according to the 14th Amendment of the Constitution that they are trashing.
The Biden Administration Will Go Down in History for its Courage of Conviction
Who else, among American politicians, had the standing, the experience, the relationships and the confidence of the democratic world to revitalize the NATO alliance and effectively stop what was considered the rapid, inevitable conquest of Ukraine by Russia? Democrats have some rock stars, as far as I am concerned, and at some point, I'm going to write about those great women and men who are the foundation of a political party that is the hope of the future for American idealism. But at this time, we needed a JFK or an FDR, or along the lines of a Madison or Monroe.
And we have someone exactly like that. I haven't heard anyone use a three-letter moniker, JRB, for President Biden, more familar as Joe Biden, but thankfully, he was in the White House when the Russians invaded Ukraine, he knew exactly what to do, he had already put together the staff and cabinet who could get it done and he was able to walk the streets of Kyiv with President Zelenskyy this past week, in part because of the work he had done to gather support for Ukraine. And for those who haven't noticed, or who are too caught up in their own self to notice, he has the upper hand over Vladimir Putin.
The caterwauling and howling of certain extremist elements in the Republican party, the paper tigers, the conspiracy theorists and the bigots caught up in Christian nationalism, is perfect confirmation of the fact that President Biden is on the right track, leading America to do exactly as it should, leading NATO to bold resolve, and most importantly, preserving American idealism rooted in representative democracy and government of, by and for the people. The Republican shriekers and whiners are selfish in their ambition, willing to sell all of us out so they can be in power and line their pockets.
Personally, the goal here is to preserve Ukrainian sovereignty and democracy, which will only strengthen our own. But if there are political consequences for the unpatriotic, anti-American seditionists, and some of them get booted out of Congress by the voters in their districts and states who see just how bad, and how un-American they are, then that's also a benefit. Get ready for that, because I think the voters are going to send some of the extremists packing in the next round.
From all of the noise and criticism coming out of the GOP following President Biden's historic and courageous trip to Kyiv, the impact of that act, and what it did for Ukrainian and NATO morale, as well as world support for Ukraine, was exactly the right thing to do at exactly the right time.
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