It is indeed interesting that we can look at the same things (or maybe we look at different things?) and see things so differently.
What I see is the same kind of kneejerk ‘believe everything the news says’ nonsense that people did with Covid. That is coming out of the ‘Rah Rah Ukraine’ side. In just the space of this short conflict, we’ve seen lie after lie promulgated in the media. Movie footage passed off as soldiers. Fake dead people. Video game story lines used as inspiring stories. And more.
At best, everything that comes out of there from either side should be taken with a grain of salt. There is so much subterfuge that nobody can know what the truth is. And when nobody knows what the truth is, one has to go with one’s gut.
My gut says the Ukrainian people are in a terrible situation. But the Ukrainian government? They’re a corrupt bunch of scum. Puppets for the elite slime that is usurped power in our country.
The Ukrainian government has the backing of George Soros, Mitt Romney, Lindsey Graham, and Joe Biden.
Then, you’ve got Russia. Putin is no choir boy. The guy’s a dictator. He’s done awful things. He wins rigged elections.
But you have to realize how this whole thing started. We installed a puppet government in Ukraine in 2014. We paid for that. It was hostile, violent even. Our government was responsible for that. Our politicians have used it as a money laundering piggy bank ever since. Their crackhead kids are getting make work jobs there.
Crimea was Russia’s only year round port. Simply put: Putin needs it. And he’s not going to let some pissant little comedian who plays piano with his schlong stand in the way of what he needs. That’s just how it is. It doesn’t mean you or I have to like Putin. I actually happen to find the man very interesting. I’ve studied him quite extensively and while I find his methods distasteful, I do have respect for his mind and great interest in his ideological journey. For this, people are called all kinds of gay names on here by either paid shills or idiots who are still watching Fox News and thinking they get anything resembling the truth there.
There have also been atrocities committed in Ukraine against the ethnic Russians in certain parts of the country according to many sources. I can’t verify that, because I’m not in the country myself (thankfully), but it does make sense. That’s the thing that makes me lean towards a side: the Russian story makes more sense than the Ukrainian one.
That doesn’t mean the Ukranian people aren’t in a horrible position. Their leaders, however, are hardly blameless in putting them into that position. That’s the best case scenario considering some of the stories I’ve heard.(That I also cannot verify)
It all boils down to the fact that this is a complicated situation. Armchair dupes who think they’ve got a handle on things by watching cable news are ranting about stuff they know literally nothing about and frankly, I find that far more embarrassing for this site than the idea that someone might not be sufficiently derogatory towards Putin.
We know each other from way back, so I figured I’d take the time with you. The rest of these guys can eat a bag of Putins, because I lost my patience with Covidians sometime in 2020 and they’re behaving just like Covidians.
I appreciate your reply- we may view the mess in Ukraine in different ways but it’s refreshing to do so without insults!
I worry when I see knee-jerk reactions as well- although I have them, too. But as I’ve aged, I’ve learned that’s just emotion- I wait for it to simmer down and then work toward facts. What’s worrisome is our refusal to see the whole picture rather than our emotional preference. I did that with covid at first- terrified, settled into caution and skepticism- still not vaccinated!
Putin is a fascinating character, no doubt. I had respect for him and know some of his background. I may have misjudged him- while I knew he had the capacity for this- I doubted he’d act on it. Clearly, Ukraine has awful, corrupt leadership, and they may well have done horrible things to people in the east/south. My view is none of that can justify what Putin has done. I’ve read views opposing mine, and while some may have merit, they still don’t overcome my belief that Putin has made a grave error.
It remains to be seen if any leaders anywhere will be able to diffuse this- I think the world is in a precarious moment. The idea that Putin, Biden and Zalensky are IT, makes my stomach churn.
Best to you, old FRiend, despite our disagreement!