All Eyes on Ukraine

Look...I'm not a military strategist, a politician, or even an internet "influencer".  In the grand scheme of things, I am a nobody.  But I'm a nobody that cares about our tiny blue-dot planet and the people who live on it.  

I have a Russian-American son-in-law who has been in the US since 2008, and is now a prosperous American citizen.  This young man is a hunk...extremely intelligent...a kick-ass provider for my daughter and grandchildren (from another marriage).  He keeps some Russian traditions, particularly around New Year, but he speaks English better than most Americans.  Truth be known, he is as American as the winter is cold.  When he left Russia, it was with the understanding that he would never go back.  He has never really expressed any regret for not going back to his homeland, even just for a visit.  His parents are also here in the US, and also citizens now.  

Back when the Olympics were held in Sochi, Russia, I was here in Indiana, watching, and Denis and my daughter Megan were in Grayslake, IL, also watching.  We traded texts through it all.  I kept waiting for the Russian Cossack dancers to perform in the opening ceremonies, but they never did.  When I complained to Meg and Den about it, Denis informed me that Cossack dancers were actually Ukrainian and not Russian.  OMG!  I had no clue!  Then something else came up, and Den informed that what I was looking for was also Ukrainian.  Even the language, according to my son-in-law, is "pretty much the same thing".  Thus, I lost faith in my previous confidence in my knowledge of other cultures.  It's never too late to teach an old dog new tricks.

Russia has eyed Ukraine for years to take it back to the former years of the USSR.  Ukraine has other ideas.  And now, Russia has invaded Ukraine in an effort to snag it as Russian territory, with the excuse that they are trying to "protect" their people (or whatever).  What the world is witnessing now is ALL people of Ukraine finding ways to fight back.  From ballet dancers to breast-feeding mothers.  People are making molotov cocktails.  And the rest of us cheer for them.  That doesn't make light of the depth of their sacrifices of life, family, and homeland.  

Russia is a huge country.  Ukraine is not.  The rest of the world "supports" Ukraine without really getting involved due to fear for yet another world war.  I'm at the point of resigning myself to whatever happens because I can't really change anything....but my heart is with Ukraine.  And I think my formerly Russian son-in-law feels that way, too.  

I like the Ukrainian heart.  They are all focused on one thing, while we continue with political division.  Lead us, our Ukrainian neighbors.  We need more help than you do!