I have been hearing about the difficulties and changes that are afoot in Ukraine for many moons now. I wanted to hear first-hand accounts about the events that have taken place there from people who have been involved. I cannot pass judgement on those who seek change, nor can I understand the position of those who will not tell me what they stand for. Being against something is not enough, being for something is the only way forward. Except for the wisdom of our position and the commitment that we have to our neighbors and our country, we have little to offer future generations. What we are being told is, of course, only a tiny part of what has actually occurred. Just as we heard that there were thirty-five arrested after the UConn victory in the big basketball game this week, but are relentlessly told that sports builds character, the conflicts inherent in the position is neither questioned, researched or thought about critically. Trying to get solid information from any media source is fraught with difficulties, ranging from the language, the scope and often of the depth of understanding that exists within the person telling us the story. I saw a newscaster this morning talking about a NASCAR race and she was amazed that they had cameras both inside and outside the car, and that we were able to watch both views as that driver was careening down the track surrounded by fire. Those who have been paying attention have known this for many years and it is not even newsworthy anymore. Still it amazed one newscaster.
It is not unusual. In fact, there are many thousands of motorcycle riders that use cameras mounted on their helmets while riding to capture the inevitable dangerous behaviors that they encounter in their travels. Many times, their footage may be the last message they are able to send loved ones about what happened to them. Currently, riding motorcycle is far more dangerous than driving in NASCAR. Strangely, we forget that for a camera to be pointed, it must also have intention behind it. Understanding this perspective is critical to understanding the footage that is captured. Also critical to our understanding of the images that penetrate the oculus is knowing why the were chosen and shared. For example, in our own eyes, we have been shown the many thousands of protesters that flooded the Maidon, those who came together to stand for their rights to live in peace, united, under democratic principles and freedom. We also saw photos of flaming buildings and bodies with their insides running out onto the Earth. We were told many things about the images, but we were not told about what was really taking place, nor can we expect to be told. Powerful interests and individuals have a vested interest in skewing our perspective on this issue as well as many others.
I am trying to put something heinous in terms that will be acceptable to many, but that place responsibility for our perceptions squarely in the lap of those dictating what we are to think on the matter. Old way thinking requires that we understand the Ukraine as a bunch of hooligans that are xenophobic and who trample the rights of those who are not their ethnicity, or who do not share their passion for unfettered statehood. Nothing could be further from the truth. These are people just like us, trying to do the best they can so that the future can be brighter for them, their children and the planet we have to share with one another. Just as during the American Revolution, the ideology that: "We must all hang together or we will surely all hang separately." was used to steel the resolve of those unsure about their part in standing up for a new nation, the people of Ukraine must stay committed to peace, democracy and unity, or their country will be lost. There are states, neighbors on their borders who would pluck them apart if given a chance. It is happening on the world stage right in front of our eyes. Standing together on a foundation of truth and justice and democratic principles is the only way to survive the onslaught of propaganda, the outright invasion and the imprisoning rhetoric of those who would destroy their country for profit.
When I first heard that a great deal of funding for the revolt in Ukraine came from an oligarch, I was suspicious. Many of my readers, that have read my posts for years, can attest to the fact that extreme wealth often gets me very suspicious. It has become normal for me to become guarded against the class of people who have both crushed the world economic system and jeopardized our species in pursuit of capital, prestige and power. Wars are no longer conducted by the poor or even the middle classes, although their children die at startlingly high rates in wars perpetrated by the wealthy. Today, I heard Malala Yousafzai speaking and I realized that in her part of the world, Taliban thugs are doing quite well and have money to waste on weapons and explosives while the middle classes are having their schools blown up, their daughters sold to slavery and their religion used as a tool for their exploitation. This is the same story that we see in my country. Religion is being used as a tool to justify the subjugation of women, the undermining of civil society and an excuse for slashing education budgets so that the schools implode rather than explode and turning public support for quality schools into another subsidy of irresponsible religious institutions. The same old way thinking that says that might makes right is on the ropes in both The U. S. of America, Ukraine, Russia and Pakistan.
Whatever country we look at, whether we are told explicitly or not, there is a very real fight going on right now between peaceful loving people and the forces of fear, hate, and an outdated system that uses power and control to subvert the majority wishes, derail progress and meet the needs of all people equitably. This story is not unique, things are the same all over. This is why the trial of Pussy Riot was run as a witch trial, instead of letting the public know what the real motivation behind their actions were. No one is willing to say that a small group of people can make a difference because if they did, things would begin to change. The oligarchs have too much at stake to let us hear the truth.
Many of my readers are in Russia and I want you to know that within my heart I have a great fondness for these readers. They are a large part of my hope for the future. I recognize in them a great nobility that has allowed them to make myriad sacrifices and to still remain true to their country. Whenever I find a native born Russian person I always ask them, "What is the strangest thing you have seen in our country?" Many have said the same thing, I have often wondered about it myself. "We only have one bread in Russia." they would say. "Here, you have hundred kinds, some for rich, some for poor and all in between. In Russia, only one bread, for everyone. Many times there is none, but when we do have it, there are always long lines because it is always good and people don't know when they can get it again. Many things can happen, the wheat may not come, because of weather or bad road or mill may break and need part from far away, perhaps there will be no gas for the oven or there may be other problem, but when we have bread it is always very good bread, so you buy a lot if you can afford." Please forgive me for trying to write like they spoke the words to me, but this is what I hear. There is a sad and cutting edge to this story, because many of us have to choose the poor person bread and even more don't understand that there is a difference.
I understand what voluntary simplicity is, coming from a land of too many choices, many have chosen to reign in their choices for ethical and moral reasons. In a land of austerity, especially after it has been endured for generations, it is hard not to respect the lengths that people will go to to keep their hold on civil society, the structure of their economic and class system and keep their eyes on the prize of nationhood. In many ways I understand the problems in my own culture from having far too many spoiled people, unwilling to take responsibility for their actions. On the other hand, making the entire population unwitting victims of as well as contributors to and supporters of an oligarchy which exploits them is not acceptable either. In my part of the world, the uberwealthy have stacked the deck in their favor for the better part of a century, distracting people with an "American Dream" that even those who have gotten it will attest is hollow and unfulfilling. Telling people that they are under threat is a relatively recent wrinkle in our social fabric. Many in other parts of the world have been told that for generations. Other parts of the planet have faced very real threats for centuries and have had to stick together and scramble to make the best of their deprivation for what seems like eternity.
Trying to bridge the gap between two very different ways of looking a the world is perhaps what the Ukraine will be known for in the future. For now, there are many there who see the future much like the past, one in which you keep your head down, try to blend in, get by and not make too many waves. Luckily there are a growing number who feel that this has gotten them survival at best and who are willing to stand for a chance at something better. No matter what we do to inspire confidence in old way thinking, the ship of state has become decrepit. Just as it has in my own country. The wealthy have overplayed their hand for the last time. There are no cards left. We can no longer be played off against one another. We are one. My people are the ones crying out for justice, standing up for peace, saying no to oppression and exploitation for political and economic gain wherever they may be in the world. My people stand for truth no matter what part of the planet they inhabit. We are the future.
It is not unusual. In fact, there are many thousands of motorcycle riders that use cameras mounted on their helmets while riding to capture the inevitable dangerous behaviors that they encounter in their travels. Many times, their footage may be the last message they are able to send loved ones about what happened to them. Currently, riding motorcycle is far more dangerous than driving in NASCAR. Strangely, we forget that for a camera to be pointed, it must also have intention behind it. Understanding this perspective is critical to understanding the footage that is captured. Also critical to our understanding of the images that penetrate the oculus is knowing why the were chosen and shared. For example, in our own eyes, we have been shown the many thousands of protesters that flooded the Maidon, those who came together to stand for their rights to live in peace, united, under democratic principles and freedom. We also saw photos of flaming buildings and bodies with their insides running out onto the Earth. We were told many things about the images, but we were not told about what was really taking place, nor can we expect to be told. Powerful interests and individuals have a vested interest in skewing our perspective on this issue as well as many others.
I am trying to put something heinous in terms that will be acceptable to many, but that place responsibility for our perceptions squarely in the lap of those dictating what we are to think on the matter. Old way thinking requires that we understand the Ukraine as a bunch of hooligans that are xenophobic and who trample the rights of those who are not their ethnicity, or who do not share their passion for unfettered statehood. Nothing could be further from the truth. These are people just like us, trying to do the best they can so that the future can be brighter for them, their children and the planet we have to share with one another. Just as during the American Revolution, the ideology that: "We must all hang together or we will surely all hang separately." was used to steel the resolve of those unsure about their part in standing up for a new nation, the people of Ukraine must stay committed to peace, democracy and unity, or their country will be lost. There are states, neighbors on their borders who would pluck them apart if given a chance. It is happening on the world stage right in front of our eyes. Standing together on a foundation of truth and justice and democratic principles is the only way to survive the onslaught of propaganda, the outright invasion and the imprisoning rhetoric of those who would destroy their country for profit.
When I first heard that a great deal of funding for the revolt in Ukraine came from an oligarch, I was suspicious. Many of my readers, that have read my posts for years, can attest to the fact that extreme wealth often gets me very suspicious. It has become normal for me to become guarded against the class of people who have both crushed the world economic system and jeopardized our species in pursuit of capital, prestige and power. Wars are no longer conducted by the poor or even the middle classes, although their children die at startlingly high rates in wars perpetrated by the wealthy. Today, I heard Malala Yousafzai speaking and I realized that in her part of the world, Taliban thugs are doing quite well and have money to waste on weapons and explosives while the middle classes are having their schools blown up, their daughters sold to slavery and their religion used as a tool for their exploitation. This is the same story that we see in my country. Religion is being used as a tool to justify the subjugation of women, the undermining of civil society and an excuse for slashing education budgets so that the schools implode rather than explode and turning public support for quality schools into another subsidy of irresponsible religious institutions. The same old way thinking that says that might makes right is on the ropes in both The U. S. of America, Ukraine, Russia and Pakistan.
Whatever country we look at, whether we are told explicitly or not, there is a very real fight going on right now between peaceful loving people and the forces of fear, hate, and an outdated system that uses power and control to subvert the majority wishes, derail progress and meet the needs of all people equitably. This story is not unique, things are the same all over. This is why the trial of Pussy Riot was run as a witch trial, instead of letting the public know what the real motivation behind their actions were. No one is willing to say that a small group of people can make a difference because if they did, things would begin to change. The oligarchs have too much at stake to let us hear the truth.
Many of my readers are in Russia and I want you to know that within my heart I have a great fondness for these readers. They are a large part of my hope for the future. I recognize in them a great nobility that has allowed them to make myriad sacrifices and to still remain true to their country. Whenever I find a native born Russian person I always ask them, "What is the strangest thing you have seen in our country?" Many have said the same thing, I have often wondered about it myself. "We only have one bread in Russia." they would say. "Here, you have hundred kinds, some for rich, some for poor and all in between. In Russia, only one bread, for everyone. Many times there is none, but when we do have it, there are always long lines because it is always good and people don't know when they can get it again. Many things can happen, the wheat may not come, because of weather or bad road or mill may break and need part from far away, perhaps there will be no gas for the oven or there may be other problem, but when we have bread it is always very good bread, so you buy a lot if you can afford." Please forgive me for trying to write like they spoke the words to me, but this is what I hear. There is a sad and cutting edge to this story, because many of us have to choose the poor person bread and even more don't understand that there is a difference.
I understand what voluntary simplicity is, coming from a land of too many choices, many have chosen to reign in their choices for ethical and moral reasons. In a land of austerity, especially after it has been endured for generations, it is hard not to respect the lengths that people will go to to keep their hold on civil society, the structure of their economic and class system and keep their eyes on the prize of nationhood. In many ways I understand the problems in my own culture from having far too many spoiled people, unwilling to take responsibility for their actions. On the other hand, making the entire population unwitting victims of as well as contributors to and supporters of an oligarchy which exploits them is not acceptable either. In my part of the world, the uberwealthy have stacked the deck in their favor for the better part of a century, distracting people with an "American Dream" that even those who have gotten it will attest is hollow and unfulfilling. Telling people that they are under threat is a relatively recent wrinkle in our social fabric. Many in other parts of the world have been told that for generations. Other parts of the planet have faced very real threats for centuries and have had to stick together and scramble to make the best of their deprivation for what seems like eternity.
Trying to bridge the gap between two very different ways of looking a the world is perhaps what the Ukraine will be known for in the future. For now, there are many there who see the future much like the past, one in which you keep your head down, try to blend in, get by and not make too many waves. Luckily there are a growing number who feel that this has gotten them survival at best and who are willing to stand for a chance at something better. No matter what we do to inspire confidence in old way thinking, the ship of state has become decrepit. Just as it has in my own country. The wealthy have overplayed their hand for the last time. There are no cards left. We can no longer be played off against one another. We are one. My people are the ones crying out for justice, standing up for peace, saying no to oppression and exploitation for political and economic gain wherever they may be in the world. My people stand for truth no matter what part of the planet they inhabit. We are the future.
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