For Ukraine, sunflowers

Last weekend, at the county Democratic convention, one woman, a long-time party regular, motioned to drop one of the party's "principles," one of the foundational givens of the platform. She said she'd never thought she would be saying what she was just then, but because of the senseless carnage in the Ukraine, she said she couldn't help thinking and saying that an old Democratic saw should be dropped, if only for the time being: military spending should be cut to make room for more and better social programs. 

People talk about what's happening in the Ukraine as a giant adjustment in "the world order." I'm not altogether sure of what "world order" is, but what is clear to me is that our understanding of Putin--and Russia--is simply not what it was a year or even four years ago, nor will it ever be. 

Yesterday morning brought a welcome respite from the horrors--a Russian general announced a significant reduction in Russian troops from the region surrounding Kiyv. Great news. I announced it to my wife as such when she had coffee in hand.

I left the news pretty much alone for the rest of the day, but by afternoon it seemed just about everyone was pooh-poohing that announcement, suggesting that whatever repositioning the Russian forces were doing was nothing more or less than repositioning to get ready for creating yet a new assault. So much for good news.

You may remember Putin's denial of any attack plans, even as a hundred thousand troops were assembled on Ukraine's eastern border. "No, no, no," he said. "All of your anxiety is nothing more or less than American paranoia." Bald-faced lie. 

Last weekend, Fox News called President Biden's off-script screed as yet another pathetic gaff by an old man growing more and more senile every day. I liked it, and I'm not sorry for saying that, coming as it did on the heels of his meeting some of the hoards of refugees--more than three million now, and still coming.

'For God's sake, this man cannot remain in power.'

Today, the war and the suffering continue. It's time to commend Ukraininan resolve again. With NATO's help, they've sustained control of most of their country and made the mighty Russian army look alarmingly like Keystone cops.

But death and destruction go on. There is no counting the homeless children. 

I can't help but repeat what I said silently in a prayer in church three weeks or so ago: "Take him out, Lord--take him out."

And for you, Ukraine, as much equipment as we can give--and whole bunches of sunflowers.