Freedom or Tyranny

It has been a long time since I posted to my blog. I'm deeply troubled by world events: war, tyranny, lack of morality. I post this today with a heavy heart.

Our country and the world are going through an extremely trying time – a time that will promote and embolden either tyranny or freedom – a time, in fact, that in the long runs threatens our country’s freedom and democracy as well as freedom and democracy around the world. For we know that the USA is the center and foundation of world democracy and should our democracy fall, all other smaller democracies would be swallowed up by tyrants. At this time, Russia is working on splitting up our democracy and trying to swallow democratic Ukraine.

Will we Americans stand up for what is right - freedom, justice, peace and harmony - or will we cower in fear and be bullied and eventually ruled by brutal, sinister, self-enriching power-seeking tyrants? Can the majority of us sort out what is right in spite of the misinformation and twisting of truth that goes on? That is, can we Americans still distinguish good from evil and right from wrong and stand up for right? Have we become apathetic? Do we still have the courage and fortitude to fight and sacrifice for what we and our founding fathers agreed to believe in - freedom over tyranny? Our founding fathers pledged their fortunes and sacred honor to that cause. What do we pledge?

It is again time in our history to make a hard but crucial decision - fight for right or cave in to evil. I believe it is time for Americans to fight for what we profess to believe and to fight in any and every way necessary for freedom and our values to prevail!

While we hesitate, millions of people in Ukraine, a once thriving democracy, are suffering death, displacement and destruction of their homeland. Why? Because a tyrant decided he wants to control their country with fear and power. We hesitate because Putin has threatened to use nuclear weapons. These actions are contrary to any established norms, ethics and morals. It is wrong and evil and we owe it to ourselves and the world to stop it. We allowed Russia to get a foothold in Syria and destroy that country. They now control it. Then it was Crimea. Now we are allowing them to do the same in all of Ukraine! How stupid and weak do we have to keep being? This aggression will not stop until we, the only country that has the power to stop it, does stop it. We need to do that before this kind of aggression becomes acceptable. Do we not remember anything from WWll? Must we repeat that horror again ‘til it is seared into our minds? Ukraine is setting a proud example of resistance against tyranny much as our revolutionary army did during our fight for liberty. This should embarrass Americans into action if nothing else will.

Why would we or should we allow the small country of Ukraine to be crushed in the defense of all freedom? Will man’s future be the limiting of thought and ideas with agony of chains - the constant fear, chaos, death and destruction of war between tyrants and those seeking freedom, or will it be freedom itself and the relative peace and harmony contained therein?

The wrong decision and/or the lack of strength, wisdom and courage to stand up to this question and decision could set our world back decades, years or even centuries. But it’s a decision that we will face sooner or later and must be faced while freedom still exists.

These are difficult decisions. Everyone wants freedom but it’s hard to first sort out all the twists and flips of truth and lies with which we are bombarded. Then we try to understand and stand up against what opposes freedom. Even more difficult is that once that freedom is established is to live in a manner that will maintain peace and harmony. This will come about through man’s “ethic of reciprocity”, which in Christianity is called the Golden Rule.

The possibility of nuclear engagement is a terrible thought. If we do not stand up to this bully Putin, he and every bully from now on will use the threat of nuclear weapons to further whatever warped cause that fits their desire. Xi has already made veiled threats of that kind in the Pacific since our failure to protect democracy in Ukraine. It’s an awful chance to take, but Putin and especially those around him do not want to die or destroy their country. You face dire consequences every time you face down a bully. Let’s face it! Meanwhile while we ponder these points, thousands are dying, their country is being destroyed, the world is set to lose another democracy and we in the free world, especially the United States of America, seem impotent.

Fight!

I am very proud of our country, especially for the stand we have taken against human mistreatment and suffering and the leadership in democracy we have shown historically in this world. I am not proud of our many errors in judgement we’ve made in war.

Our war in Vietnam was uncalled for, immoral, badly handled and cost many lives. Our war in Iraq was unjustified since Iraq had nothing to do with the 9/11 attack and although it did rid the world of a vicious dictator it caused on-going instability in the area. I am ashamed of how our county has and still does treat people of color, especially Blacks and Native Americans.

But our historical wrongs will pale in comparison to the human suffering this world will face should democracy collapse.

If we allow Ukraine to fall, Putin will move against other countries in that area and Xi will move against Taiwan and other vulnerable countries in the Pacific. This war against Putin, Xi and tyranny is a war much as was the war against Hitler and Fascism and must be fought. We and our allies must stand and fight for what is right.

My prayer is:

“Lord, give us the strength, wisdom and courage to deal with these problems in accordance with your will.”

I understand His will to be:

Love God completely and your neighbor as yourself and l