Hi there. This post is a little different. I am tipping my hand a bit by letting you know how I feel about something of which there are serious differences of opinion. These days most everything has been made political with extreme opinions ruling the day.
Your civil, well-reasoned comments are always welcome, even if you disagree. I believe that relationships are generally more important than opinions. My goal is to write what I understand to be true while still loving those who disagree. Let’s aim for that.
Last Friday was a big day in world news. President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine met with President Trump at the White House to sign a mineral rights deal giving the U.S. 50% of the proceeds of the mined rare earth deposits unearthed in Ukraine. Instead of a done deal, the meeting ended in a shouting match with President Zelensky being asked to leave.
The shear drama of it was unprecedented. Negotiations around the conference table can get very heated, but the public face of meetings between heads of state is always conciliatory. This was anything but conciliatory. It was an emotional loss of control (or an ambush) with people talking over each other during the last few minutes of the meeting. It was ugly and Vladimir Putin was the only winner.
Trump and his apprentice, J.D. Vance, were bullies. Zelensky seemed exasperated and unable to get a word in. The lives of his people and the very existence of his nation hung in the balance since they are dependent upon aid from the U.S. for the nation to survive the Russian onslaught. This war has already cost thousands of lives.
The harsh words began when Vance said they are trying to use diplomacy to end the conflict. Zelensky asked, “What kind of diplomacy?” Vance told Zelensky he should be more grateful and respectful. Trump reminded him he was losing the war, and he doesn’t have any cards to play. Zelensky was backed into a corner simply because he wanted some commitment to security for the minerals deal. Trump wanted the deal with no commitment for future military aid and has been critical of the help already provided.
I have had my share of experience with bullies and at times I have been dependent upon them for help accomplish something. Their tactics are to belittle you and brag of their great power. They try to gaslight you into believing you are the one in the wrong. They will destroy you if that is what it takes to get their way and keep their toxic narcissism intact. The best thing to do with a bully is walk away and ignore them while no longer relying on their help. The problem is that no other country can help Ukraine to the degree that the U.S. can.
As Trump followers beat their chest, thinking “Boy, we really showed him.” Most of the rest of the world was appalled and assured Zelensky of their support. Many in our own nation were profoundly embarrassed.
The context for the meeting included:
a call from Trump to Putin about the war, without the involvement of the country that was invaded
a lie that Zelensky started the war. They are a sovereign nation that was invaded by Russia with the goal of toppling its government.
a lie that Zelensky is an unelected dictator. He was indeed elected, but elections are not permitted during times of war by their constitution, the same as the UK under Winston Churchill during WWII. How could they have fair and safe elections when Russia occupies a large chunk of their nation?
a lie that Zelensky’s approval rating is at 4%. It is 57% (probably much higher now). Trump’s is 44%.
a lie without evidence (like all his lies) that the U.S. aid is unaccounted for
On top of denigrating the man with lies, he then expected him to sign a deal that profits the U.S. and provides zero toward a secure future (or any future) for Ukraine.
Cities have been turned to rubble. Children kidnapped. Women raped. Hospitals, schools, apartment building, and power plants targeted. Twenty percent of the country is Russian occupied. That is three and half million people. One-third of the nation has been displaced from their homes.
Twenty percent of our states would be most of the east coast (Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
Imagine if the Russian invasion happened here. Imagine ten states were occupied by the foreign invader. Imagine that our weapons cache was depleted and thousands of our military personal were killed or wounded. Imagine entire cities turned to rubble. Imagine our hospitals, power plants, schools, and residential areas targeted and destroyed. Imagine our women raped, our children kidnapped. Imagine that the NATO countries who were legally bound to come to our aid not only abandoned us but flipped the table and declared us to be the enemy and sided with Russia as we were left with little hope of survival. Imagine the leaders of our closest and most powerful ally belittling our leader fighting for our survival.
While Trump is not known for his good character, his obvious lies about an ally leave many scratching their heads. He did not humiliate Zelensky. He revealed his true character and humiliated our nation.
Now he has “paused” all aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine, much of which was long ago promised and yet to be delivered. Trump has demanded an apology from Zelensky. He is functioning like a childish mob boss. Some of the same people who criticized Biden for slowly providing aid for only defensive purposes are applauding Trump now. Is not the blood of innocent people in Ukraine on his hands?
On the international stage this seismic shift of turning on our allies and cozying up to our enemies changes everything. We are forfeiting our position as the leader of the free world.
So, who is the leader of the free world now?
One is so erratic that world leaders never know where they stand or for how long
Another has been brave and steady during a terrible three-year long war
One is dumping alliances that have keep the world much safer for eighty years
Another has been instrumental in making NATO and other alliances stronger.
One is isolating the nation focusing on self interest
Another is fighting for survival while battling a ruthless, imperialistic enemy in their homeland so that a victory there does not threaten other nations
One wants another nation’s rare-earth minerals at no cost to enrich their nation.
Another wants “ammunition, not a ride” so his nation can survive.
I say we stand with Ukraine and their noble fight for their lives as they battle not just their enemy, but our enemy, the world’s enemy and fight for survival.
I say we stand with our great nation and the principles upon which have made it great (even though they have been increasingly ignored or reversed).How about a return to common sense, compassion, and honor?
