Sadly, years ago when I was looking to buy a house, I checked out houses in Washington County. My publisher at the time counciled me not to move there because of its poor leadership would always lead to much higher taxes.
In the Great War, my grandparents knew who the enemy was, same for my parents in WW2. Today, unbelievably, citizens as well as our elected officials are publically saying Putin is justified in invading Ukraine. Nazis march in our streets. Those who fought and died for our freedom must be turning in their graves. This is why history is so important and must never be censored, omitted or whitewashed.
Peter the Great and Catherine the Great worked very hard to westernize Russia so it would be respected by the (at the time) modern world...Russia fought with us in WW1 and WW2 ...many Russians gave their lives ... it is sad that Putin wants to take back the " empire "... He wants those countries which are now independent to return to the fatherland...it is very difficult to believe that he cannot accept their decision...Ukraine will be destroyed by Russia... so if he can't have it he will destroy it...the other small countries will be next...
A world away, the people of Ukraine bravely resist the invading Russian soldiers, offering up their own lives to save their fellow citizens. Here in our own backyard, a county will no longer require wearing masks to resist an invading and deadly virus from infecting others — it's just too inconvenient.
Thank you, Ken, for bringing this all home to the heart. My heart has been heavy thinking of poor people in Ukraine who love their country and who just want to live their lives in peace... and the power of military power to kill, suppress, destroy. I think of the people in Myanmar, Belarus, Syria...and so many places. I think of our country and what it would mean if we lost the fundamentals of our democracy...which is possible and which must be resisted. My father came from the Ukraine many years ago, from a small shtetl outside Kiev, leaving when he was 13, spending three years in Romania before he could come to the US. At that time, the Jews were fearful of the Cossacks, pograms, and the white Russians. With the coming of the Nazis, all the former shtetls were wiped out, none now survive in Eastern Europe. He and I were very thankful to live in America...and always wary of the ever present possibility of anti-Semitism and hatred against any peoples...As an aside: I actually was able to attend Hunter College, all of CUNY free. A blessing, for me and my parents who never went beyond Junior High School.
One evening in May of 2018, Roman & I were heading north out of the village of Lake George when we saw a girl toting a large suitcase up route 9. Roman suggested we turn around and ask if she needed a ride... As the female, I got out and asked if she needed help. She was so relieved and said yes. As we walked to our car, I asked her where she was from and she said Ukraine. I smiled as she got in I said to Roman she from Ukraine. Roman starts speaking fluid Ukrainian and she seemed to melt in relief. Liza was on a foreign student work program and had just traveled from Kyiv to NYC, boarded a bus to work the summer in Lake George. We found the place she was to stay and it was not open for the season yet. We brought her home and she stayed with us for two weeks while we and Mayor Blais helped her find good housing and our friends Judith & Richard gave her a bike to use for the summer. Think about how brave this young woman is... Last night we spoke to Liza in Kyiv thru What's App. There has been bombing and gun fire. She said they have a solid house and her family is thankful to have a basement. She said that Ukraine is standing together and how appreciative that the US is supporting Ukraine. She said people are helping one another, although I believe, supplies are limited the grocery store is giving food for free to the Ukrainian men that are fighting. She cried and said that her boyfriend, Andrew, is still alive. Think how brave Liza is...
I have been fortunate to travel some in Europe some in the past decade. I’ve been always struck how by their knowledge of the world around us, their ability to communicate in multiple languages and how easily they travel within other cultures. How many of us would venture halfway around the world for a summer job like Liza did? That toughness will serve her well now.
Sadly, years ago when I was looking to buy a house, I checked out houses in Washington County. My publisher at the time counciled me not to move there because of its poor leadership would always lead to much higher taxes.
In the Great War, my grandparents knew who the enemy was, same for my parents in WW2. Today, unbelievably, citizens as well as our elected officials are publically saying Putin is justified in invading Ukraine. Nazis march in our streets. Those who fought and died for our freedom must be turning in their graves. This is why history is so important and must never be censored, omitted or whitewashed.
It is shameful.
Who was it that said "those that do not learn from history are condemned to repeat it?' I see it happening over and over again....
Peter the Great and Catherine the Great worked very hard to westernize Russia so it would be respected by the (at the time) modern world...Russia fought with us in WW1 and WW2 ...many Russians gave their lives ... it is sad that Putin wants to take back the " empire "... He wants those countries which are now independent to return to the fatherland...it is very difficult to believe that he cannot accept their decision...Ukraine will be destroyed by Russia... so if he can't have it he will destroy it...the other small countries will be next...
Many do not understand the world order.
I can no longer tell if it's Trump taking a page from Putin's playbook, or if it's Putin taking a page from Trump's playbook.
"Haff cherry picks logic to rescind mask mandate in Washington County"
i guess a Haff-truth is a whole lie....
Very well put.
A world away, the people of Ukraine bravely resist the invading Russian soldiers, offering up their own lives to save their fellow citizens. Here in our own backyard, a county will no longer require wearing masks to resist an invading and deadly virus from infecting others — it's just too inconvenient.
You wonder if we would unite against an invading enemy.
Thank you, Ken, for bringing this all home to the heart. My heart has been heavy thinking of poor people in Ukraine who love their country and who just want to live their lives in peace... and the power of military power to kill, suppress, destroy. I think of the people in Myanmar, Belarus, Syria...and so many places. I think of our country and what it would mean if we lost the fundamentals of our democracy...which is possible and which must be resisted. My father came from the Ukraine many years ago, from a small shtetl outside Kiev, leaving when he was 13, spending three years in Romania before he could come to the US. At that time, the Jews were fearful of the Cossacks, pograms, and the white Russians. With the coming of the Nazis, all the former shtetls were wiped out, none now survive in Eastern Europe. He and I were very thankful to live in America...and always wary of the ever present possibility of anti-Semitism and hatred against any peoples...As an aside: I actually was able to attend Hunter College, all of CUNY free. A blessing, for me and my parents who never went beyond Junior High School.
Thank you, Ken...and sorry this is so long
One evening in May of 2018, Roman & I were heading north out of the village of Lake George when we saw a girl toting a large suitcase up route 9. Roman suggested we turn around and ask if she needed a ride... As the female, I got out and asked if she needed help. She was so relieved and said yes. As we walked to our car, I asked her where she was from and she said Ukraine. I smiled as she got in I said to Roman she from Ukraine. Roman starts speaking fluid Ukrainian and she seemed to melt in relief. Liza was on a foreign student work program and had just traveled from Kyiv to NYC, boarded a bus to work the summer in Lake George. We found the place she was to stay and it was not open for the season yet. We brought her home and she stayed with us for two weeks while we and Mayor Blais helped her find good housing and our friends Judith & Richard gave her a bike to use for the summer. Think about how brave this young woman is... Last night we spoke to Liza in Kyiv thru What's App. There has been bombing and gun fire. She said they have a solid house and her family is thankful to have a basement. She said that Ukraine is standing together and how appreciative that the US is supporting Ukraine. She said people are helping one another, although I believe, supplies are limited the grocery store is giving food for free to the Ukrainian men that are fighting. She cried and said that her boyfriend, Andrew, is still alive. Think how brave Liza is...
I have been fortunate to travel some in Europe some in the past decade. I’ve been always struck how by their knowledge of the world around us, their ability to communicate in multiple languages and how easily they travel within other cultures. How many of us would venture halfway around the world for a summer job like Liza did? That toughness will serve her well now.