Vent: A Disgrace to Europe.
This is going to be another serious post. Due to its content, and my own anxieties surrounding the situation, I won't be posting anything else today after this. No photoshop btw this time.
30 years ago, we saw the dissolution of the United Soviet Socialist Republic with the resignation of Mikhail Gorbachev and the disbandment of the regime. It was a fight to get that point, with KGB coups and political civil unrest throughout the nation of Russia. When it was done, however, an age of freedom and interconnection not previously seen in the nation quickly swooped in and provided Russia and the rest of the world with a: democratic, independent, informational and beneficial intercontinental connection (thanks, internet).
In the time that these connections weren't around, genocide, famine and tyranny reigned across the Soviet Union undeterred by international interference. Among these tragedies was 'Holodomor,' the Stalinist strategic famine imposed on the Ukrainian Soviets. Why? Well, not much is known in documentation, but what is known is that it was an intentional culling with the intent of Russo-domination and a singular ideology. A cultural genocide with the intent of expansion and power.
Today here in Canada, Ukrainian survivors and families of Holodomor strongly connect with the Western world in solidarity for what happened long ago. The aforementioned dissolution of the Soviet Republic simply reinforced our connection with a nation oppressed by an authoritarian regime intent on ascertaining power.
In the years of diplomacy and work that the world has built up to never again see the light of conflict like the World Wars, or the tension of the Cold War again, Russia and their disgraceful 20yr Emperor Putin has taken it upon themselves to squash the peace we've worked for. Former KGB agent Putin and the nationalist Russian census have yearned for the return of the Soviet Union, and they're starting with their heritage's closest relative (that wants nothing to do with them anymore).
Wasn't always like this. My uncle of Ukrainian background once tolerated Russia in spite of their impact on his family. Since 2012, and I'm assuming especially now, the same can no longer be said. Russia is a disgrace to Europe.
So long as that dictator is still in power, peace in Europe is now but a stillborn dream. Unfortunately, Russia carved a ways for him to stick around for whatever remaining years he has to make the world a shittier place.
And if that wasn't enough? Chinese tensions with Taiwan are escalating too as their air force intrudes Taiwanese air zones, just-in-time to make the international situation surrounding Ukraine all the worse. As time goes on, things are looking progressively more dire for world peace, thanks to the tight grip that these nations have on their power-hungry, radical minds.
As if Chinese influence wasn't enough of an issue, in areas like America, things are a lot more domestic for the continent. In a post-Trump North America, where elections are meddled with by an infiltrating Russian influence, we've got numbnuts like Tucker Carlson blatantly spewing off pro-Putin BS like no tomorrow. Ukrainian dictator this! Putin's not invading that! Of course, seeing as Trump was Putin's lil shmuggims, every one Trumpoid in America is going to forget the history of the nation and the threat they pose to democracy, in favour of blindly supporting whatever Mr. Combover has to say. Alas, once the tragedies of Ukraine are blatant, Carlson back-peddles on his crap likely to keep his sponsors with him. It's a load of disingenuous bullshit.
The situation in Ukraine is nuanced. No one party is innocent as we look back to what started this mess. National politics in the nation were unstable with Russian identity/Ukrainian independence for a while, and the situation has been difficult to resolve diplomatically. But nothing, nothing warrants what is happening now; The innocent lives and integrity of a nation, being forced to the mercy of Russia's bombings and assault. It's an invasion, not a military operation. Let's not sugar coat their crap.
I pray for the safety of the Ukrainians, and their ability to persevere through the oppression of those god damned attackers. Godspeed, Ukraine, love from Canada.