Bits and Pieces

Russia’s Role in History: Russia, led by Putin, waged war on Ukraine twice in recent years. The first was the taking of Crimea. The second is currently in progress. Ukraine represents a nation successfully building its own future and economy, stronger than Russia's because Ukraine pursued an international collaboration in education, economics, culture, capitalism and personal freedoms for her people. These are all starkly different from Russia’s own story.

Hence, Putin punishes Ukraine for its independence and wants to make an example of this to encourage other satellite nations previously in the USSR to toe the line. That and the landmass that is Ukraine that gives Russia closer borders with European nations. The power wedge this would give Russia in international affairs is considered very important.

But Putin played his cards wrong. His national economy lies in ruins and will take generations to rebuild trust and cooperation from other nations it needs for rebuilding. Putin has altered Russia’s history to do what he wants to do. The Russian people allowed him to do this. Their own society is so controlled by government that many citizens are unaware of the war in Ukraine.

Russia belongs to her people, not one person claiming to be the one true leader. Putin has destroyed his legacy and Russia has paid a heavy price for that. And she will continue to pay that heavy price.

China vs Taiwan: Back in the day, a small but determined nationalist group of Chinese escaped the communist revolution in their home country and set up home in Taiwan. They have been very successful doing that. Generations of work have produced a vital, agile and productive society that is very wealthy and capable of enormous economic value. They adopted capitalism. They adopted democracy. They unleashed the creativity of her people and have reaped the rewards.

China is envious of this progress. But it is viewed as a threat to China’s own social and political structure. The Communist Party of China demands loyalty and obedience to policy. Their policy. Taiwan is a painful reminder that other forms of government and economic norms can be very successful.

Consistently avowing the return of Taiwan to Chinese territorial boundaries is complete nonsense. The world community agrees it is nonsense. This increases China’s embarrassment over Taiwan.

Will China go to war over this? Possible. The price they will pay for this, however, is enormous.

Over the past two generations, China has built a global community relationship. They have prospered by that development. War will destroy the trust and collaboration that global community requires. Another two or three generations will have to rebuild those relationships if China is to continue improving its economic and social order.

Peace: The previous two items demonstrate the threat to World Peace. They also demonstrate the cost of stubbornness and political shortsightedness. Peace is hard work. It takes finding common good in many places for all or most people. It is not selfish or self-serving. Both Russia and China are pursuing their own ends while the global community needs the opposite.

Peace can only happen and be sustained when good people work for good outcomes together.

August 5, 2022

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Intimacy

As we mature, we become deeply involved in relationships. Some of this is basic family relations – siblings, parental – and the like. Next is friends who enter our homes and we theirs. Neighbors, classmates, mutual hobbyists and so forth. Then we develop friendships that go much deeper. We comfort one another when we are hurting physically or emotionally. We discuss the matters of life and learn much more about ourselves and each other. We can even anticipate how others will react to various situations and stimuli. Good friendships do not spread to everyone we know. No, good friendships are special, close and deeply personal. We focus attention and brainpower on these few friends. Some special relationships focus on specific topics of interest and importance. Yes, we have specialized friendships. Most common. But one day, we get to know one person very well. An emotional connection forms with deep roots. A need to know the person more fully expands in personal ways. We sense this b...
Read more

Bits & Pieces

Pie: Apple pie more specifically. With Thanksgiving just passed, many of us enjoyed a good apple pie. Sure, there was pumpkin to accompany the turkey, but in our family multiple pies are offered in the holidays. Apple is surely one. Pecan, pumpkin and others, too. But I almost always choose apple. When I was in college, I was asked what kind of pie did I eat most often. In front of my mom, I answered apple, because I was always looking for a pie as good as mom’s own. Of course my mother was pleased, but it was a true statement just the same. When I was married, Ann’s pie was darned good. Her mother’s recipe. But we fiddled with the recipe until it took on its own generational name, and boy, was it good! Today I still order apple pie for dessert because I am always looking for a great pie to challenge our family recipes. I rarely do find such a prize. Do others do the same? Do you search for a great pie of choice, continually? If you do, what’s your story? Why do you do this? ...
Read more

Remembering Tom Sherlock

Tom Sherlock died on Wednesday, April 3rd. He was 65 years old and did not survive a heart surgery. That was his unexpected end and sad enough. But there is more to his story. Tom joined Dan Schuyler and George Safford to create what became the Village Chronicles, a weekly newspaper serving Warrenville, Illinois. That paper expanded to serve Winfield and then West Chicago. The paper published for eight years and built a good reputation for itself. Tom served the paper in several ways. He was our information technology guru, provided hardware and software to support the paper's operations. He was our sole bookkeeper, accountant and financial manager. He designed our distribution process and provided office space for meetings and layout and typesetting. His efforts supported the work of 32 volunteers who wrote and reported on the communities we served.  The newspaper broke even financially most of the time, but it was a struggle. Tom managed to find money to keep the newspaper afloat...
Read more