WHEN in the course of human Events, it becomes necessary….
Noted in Passing: So Bulldog of Maggie’s Farm Fame Was Waiting for His Train When He Met A Young Man Going to Fight in Ukraine
byVanderleunonMarch 12, 2022
This morning, as I rode in, I thought about where he was at that moment.
I have no doubt he is in Ukraine. I wonder how close to the front lines he is, and I wondered at how different circumstances lead us to different situations – that luck is a huge part of life. I’m doing executive presentations, and he’s hoofing to the front lines. I couldn’t fathom the vast differences in our priorities.
Unfortunately, this isn’t a war that was inevitable. It was avoidable. I don’t believe Putin is a madman, and I don’t believe he was right to invade. Sadly, in today’s world many people feel these two viewpoints are contradictory and saying it means you’re pro-Putin, pro-Russia. I’m not. I’m just realistic. There were paths to avoiding conflict, and we chose to not follow them. This costs young men like my train platform friend dearly.
We may sit here and comment on how the war hurts us because of price and supply chain disruptions. People will remind you that your home isn’t being bombed, your family isn’t at risk, so consider yourself lucky. I disagree. While our problems are first-world problems, they are important. If we don’t worry about them, and we don’t deal with them effectively, our first-world problems will become very big problems just like the one he headed off to. His reality can become ours, sometimes when we least expect.
I heard they have some nice streetside cafes there.
No masks!
TerryMarch 12, 2022, 12:21 PM
There are also dead bodies, mostly civilian there. This game of chess was started by our three letter agency and a previous POTUS.
Remember Pol Pot and Cambodia? The human bones began piling up before the world was informed by about 12 years. The same three letter agency was there also.
CallmelennieMarch 12, 2022, 12:42 PM
George Kennan, the man who crafted the policy of containment that eventually won the Cold, and who, along with a Great Uncle named George Kennan, combined for over 100 years of experience with Communist and Tsarist Russia, had this to say about the aftermath of the fall of the Soviet Union: Be magnanimous to Russia in these times and DISBAND NATO .. there is no longer a need for NATO. Indeed, just keeping NATO as it was, to Kennan, was a catastrophic strategic error
There was a desperate need for NATO when Western Europe was prostrate after WWII. And there was a need for NATO in the 70’s and 80’s when the Warsaw Pact had 50K tanks to NATO’s 15K .. and when these 50K tanks only needed to drive 100 miles thru the Fulda Gap to capture Frankfurt, the financial center of Western Europe and win WWIII. And thete was definitely a need for NATO when the USSR upgraded these tanks with the T72
But once the USSR collapse into 15 separate countries, cutting the population of the main antangonist, Russia, in half, what was the point of NATO? What was the point of NATO when Russia cut its tank force to 5000 tanks, especially when NATO brought the Javelin on board. A T72 is target practice for a Javelin.
Moreover, Russia throughout the past 25 years has warned .. do not expand NATO to former Soviet republics or we will respond. This is a red line. This is not simply mad Vlad talking, this has been the unanimous demand of all Russians
So what did Senile Joe and the Dems do? First they turned Putin and Russia into a cartoon villain. Then they increased the agitation for Ukraine to join NATO, even as Russia massed troops. And then Joe sends the Cackling Rose to Eastern Europe with the most antagonistic call of all. Shortly afterwards. Putin invades, just as the narratives about Covid are being shredded. How intriguing!
james wilsonMarch 12, 2022, 1:54 PM
Whatever combination of good and evil Putin is, this is a sane man who is looking on in wry amusment as his once great advesary beclowns itself. It is not something his long losing battle with America ever prepared him to see. Against all the absurdities coming out of the West he jokes and mocks in measured and gentle tones, unlike your average dictator. He knows the clown is dangerous, maybe more so than ever in its dotage.
OneGuyMarch 12, 2022, 5:32 PM
Putin is targeting civilians and allowing his army to rape women and you all are falling all over yourselves to excuse him. Make no mistake Putin has his eye on other Eastern Europe and Nordic countries, it will be interesting to see what excuses you come up with then.
ghostsniperMarch 12, 2022, 5:35 PM
What excuses will you come up with when your predictions are wrong?
hooodathunkitMarch 12, 2022, 10:58 PM
Leave him be, he’s cannon fodder. To weak to volunteer, to stupid to see he’s played.
And in a year or so when the irrefutable facts roll in he’ll post under another name.
ghostsniperMarch 13, 2022, 6:50 AM
Be nice.
He makes decent comment now and then.
This isn’t one of them.
hooodathunkitMarch 14, 2022, 2:05 PM
OK. But I hope he gets his head straight. “Russians raping” is about 80 years ago in one particular place and one particular set of circumstances.
Ukrainians posted a video, showing how puny and afraid the Ruskies are, of three soldiers backing away from a confrontation with unarmed civilians. Among the civilians were a fair smattering of young ladies.
Soldiers backing up is a totally alien to Berlin. In ’45 they would have shot the lot, unarmed or not, and taken who they wanted. This 2022 was deference. Which means the balance, and the Army’s objectives, are totally different than what’s being spoon-fed. It’s not a war of conquest, at least not yet.
Another nameMarch 13, 2022, 8:35 AM
I hope I am wrong. But I doubt it. What bothers me most is the lack of serious preparation by the Nordic and Eastern European countries. Don’t make the same mistake Ukraine did. Those billions that they gave to American politicians and their sons should have been spent on buying ever male adult a AK-74, ammo and training. Putin may rest for awhile after Ukraine but he won’t stop. Most likely he will invade other Eastern European countries FROM Ukraine. Eastern Europe may not be interested in war but war is interested in them.
Real World Address for Donations, Mash Notes and Hate Mail
Gerard Van der Leun
1692 MANGROVE AVE
APT 379
Chico, Ca 95926
Green Pants Interior by Klahn
Who Am I? by Carl Sandburg
My head knocks against the stars.
My feet are on the hilltops.
My finger-tips are in the valleys and shores of universal life.
Down in the sounding foam of primal things I reach my hands and play with pebbles of destiny.
I have been to hell and back many times.
I know all about heaven, for I have talked with God.
I dabble in the blood and guts of the terrible.
I know the passionate seizure of beauty
And the marvelous rebellion of man at all signs reading “Keep Off.”
My name is Truth and I am the most elusive captive in the universe.
Duty, Beauty, Liberty, Country, Honor, Family, Faith — Plus a few simple easy to follow rules for guys
Men saw the stars at the edge of the sea
They thought great thoughts about liberty
Poets wrote down words that did fit
Writers wrote books
Thinkers thought about it
Take it where you find it
Can’t leave it alone
You will find a purpose
To carry it on
Mainly when you find it
Your heart will be strong
About it
Many’s the road I have walked upon
Many’s the hour between dusk and dawn
Many’s the time
Many’s the mile
I see it all now
Through the eyes of a child
Take it where you find it
Can’t leave it alone
You will find a purpose
To carry it on
Mainly when you find it
Your heart will be strong
About it
[Chorus]
Lost dreams and found dreams
In America
In America
In America
Lost dreams and found dreams
In America
In America
In America
And close your eyes
Leave it all for a while
Leave the world
And your worries behind
You will build on whatever is real
And wake up each day
To a new waking dream
Take it where you find it
Can’t leave it alone
You will find a purpose
To carry it on
Mainly when you find it
Your heart will be strong
About it
[Chorus]
Change, change come over
Change come over
Talkin’ about a change
Change, change
Change come over, now
Change, change, change come over
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I see my light
See my light
See my shining light
I see my light
See my light
See my shining light
![That Was the Whopper Weekend That Was [Illustrated]](https://americandigest.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/welcometohell-150x150.jpg "That Was the Whopper Weekend That Was [Illustrated]")
![Allen Ginsberg: The Interview, <strong> ➡ 1972 ⬅ </strong> [Republished by unpopular demand]](https://americandigest.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/ginsbergnirvana-150x150.jpg "Allen Ginsberg: The Interview, <strong> ➡ 1972 ⬅ </strong> [Republished by unpopular demand]")
Gerard Van der Leun
Comments on this entry are closed.
I heard they have some nice streetside cafes there.
No masks!
There are also dead bodies, mostly civilian there. This game of chess was started by our three letter agency and a previous POTUS.
Remember Pol Pot and Cambodia? The human bones began piling up before the world was informed by about 12 years. The same three letter agency was there also.
George Kennan, the man who crafted the policy of containment that eventually won the Cold, and who, along with a Great Uncle named George Kennan, combined for over 100 years of experience with Communist and Tsarist Russia, had this to say about the aftermath of the fall of the Soviet Union: Be magnanimous to Russia in these times and DISBAND NATO .. there is no longer a need for NATO. Indeed, just keeping NATO as it was, to Kennan, was a catastrophic strategic error
There was a desperate need for NATO when Western Europe was prostrate after WWII. And there was a need for NATO in the 70’s and 80’s when the Warsaw Pact had 50K tanks to NATO’s 15K .. and when these 50K tanks only needed to drive 100 miles thru the Fulda Gap to capture Frankfurt, the financial center of Western Europe and win WWIII. And thete was definitely a need for NATO when the USSR upgraded these tanks with the T72
But once the USSR collapse into 15 separate countries, cutting the population of the main antangonist, Russia, in half, what was the point of NATO? What was the point of NATO when Russia cut its tank force to 5000 tanks, especially when NATO brought the Javelin on board. A T72 is target practice for a Javelin.
Moreover, Russia throughout the past 25 years has warned .. do not expand NATO to former Soviet republics or we will respond. This is a red line. This is not simply mad Vlad talking, this has been the unanimous demand of all Russians
So what did Senile Joe and the Dems do? First they turned Putin and Russia into a cartoon villain. Then they increased the agitation for Ukraine to join NATO, even as Russia massed troops. And then Joe sends the Cackling Rose to Eastern Europe with the most antagonistic call of all. Shortly afterwards. Putin invades, just as the narratives about Covid are being shredded. How intriguing!
Whatever combination of good and evil Putin is, this is a sane man who is looking on in wry amusment as his once great advesary beclowns itself. It is not something his long losing battle with America ever prepared him to see. Against all the absurdities coming out of the West he jokes and mocks in measured and gentle tones, unlike your average dictator. He knows the clown is dangerous, maybe more so than ever in its dotage.
Putin is targeting civilians and allowing his army to rape women and you all are falling all over yourselves to excuse him. Make no mistake Putin has his eye on other Eastern Europe and Nordic countries, it will be interesting to see what excuses you come up with then.
What excuses will you come up with when your predictions are wrong?
Leave him be, he’s cannon fodder. To weak to volunteer, to stupid to see he’s played.
And in a year or so when the irrefutable facts roll in he’ll post under another name.
Be nice.
He makes decent comment now and then.
This isn’t one of them.
OK. But I hope he gets his head straight. “Russians raping” is about 80 years ago in one particular place and one particular set of circumstances.
Ukrainians posted a video, showing how puny and afraid the Ruskies are, of three soldiers backing away from a confrontation with unarmed civilians. Among the civilians were a fair smattering of young ladies.
Soldiers backing up is a totally alien to Berlin. In ’45 they would have shot the lot, unarmed or not, and taken who they wanted. This 2022 was deference. Which means the balance, and the Army’s objectives, are totally different than what’s being spoon-fed. It’s not a war of conquest, at least not yet.
I hope I am wrong. But I doubt it. What bothers me most is the lack of serious preparation by the Nordic and Eastern European countries. Don’t make the same mistake Ukraine did. Those billions that they gave to American politicians and their sons should have been spent on buying ever male adult a AK-74, ammo and training. Putin may rest for awhile after Ukraine but he won’t stop. Most likely he will invade other Eastern European countries FROM Ukraine. Eastern Europe may not be interested in war but war is interested in them.
Yea Putin invaded yet another country, when the real facts are outlined, I have to ask myself, who really pushed this invasion.
Two names keep popping up,
Obama
Biden.
End of the day, why are we involved in their feuds? One word summarizes it all.
Money!