Aid to Ukraine

Since the Russian Federation invaded Ukraine, the United States has provided aid to the Ukrainian people to help them defend their country.  I am embarrassed that some of our politicians have begun to waiver in their willingness to give aid to Ukraine.  They argue that we would be better served by spending the money on the needs of our own people.  They say that the Ukrainian government is corrupt, and that some of our aid is being misused.  They point out that too much spending by our government is inflationary.  They assert that American vital interests are not at risk. 

It may come as a shock, but I firmly believe that American politicians do not know everything.  Looking at the actions of some European nations since the invasion, we might conclude that they see things differently. 

On 4 April 2023, Finland became a member of NATO.[1]  Since the fall of the Soviet Union, Finland has ceased to be dominated by Russia to the degree they formerly were.  It is clear that they fear Vladimir Putin’s aggressive attempts to restore the Soviet Empire. 

Sweden became a neutral country in 1812, over 200 years ago.[2]  In recent years, the Swedes have been strong advocates for resolving disputes between nations through diplomacy.  Now, however, they want to become a member of NATO, too, and Sweden would join were it not for opposition from Turkey. 

What do you suppose the Swedes and Finns know that some of our misguided American politicians do not know?  Does a sharing a border with the Russian Federation change one’s point of view? 

According to one source, the aid the Unites States contributes to Ukraine ranks 12^th among contributing nations in terms of a percentage of our GDP (Gross Domestic Product).  The nations contributing more of their GDP (from highest to lowest) are Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Netherlands, United Kingdom, and Czechia.  Sweden’s contribution is virtually the same as ours.[3] 

Admittedly, one percent of the U.S. GDP is a lot more money than one percent of Latvia’s GDP.  Nevertheless, please consider the possibility that it may be more difficult for Latvia to do without a percent of their GDP than it is for us. 

Look at the countries that are giving “more” to Ukraine than we are.  As a rule, their former status as Soviet client states and their proximity to the Russian Federation seems to affect the amount of their contribution to Ukraine’s defense.  Well, doesn’t it? 

Unfortunately, many of the shortsighted, geopolitically ignorant American politicians who want to reduce or eliminate our aid to Ukraine are Republicans.  They point out that recent American support of military adventures overseas have not turned out well, and that we can no longer sustain our role as “policeman of the world.” 

To these politicians and their supporters, I would ask, if we step aside and let Vladimir Putin have Ukraine will it end there?  Clearly, the folks who live next door don’t think so.  Which former Eastern Bloc country will be the next one that the hardliners in Russia want to restore to the fold?  Will it be the Baltic States or Poland?  They belong to NATO.  If the Russian Federation invades them, the United States is obligated by treaty to defend them – with our own armed forces if necessary, (and it will be).  That could lead to a regional war with Russia, and if they use their nuclear weapons, or if China gets involved, what then – World War III? 

The conflict between Russia and Ukraine is too important to be made into a political football here in the United States.  Republicans should not oppose support for Ukraine just because Joe Biden has provided them with assistance.  This is too important. 

My only issue with Biden’s support of Ukraine is that he hasn’t done enough to enable them to win.  They had the Russians on the run a year ago, but they had to stop because they were out of gas and ammo.  Now the Russians have had a chance to regroup and dig in.  Due to geopolitics, the Ukrainians can’t flank the Russians by moving their forces through Russian territory.  Consequently, the current Ukrainian offensive has been a frontal assault against fortified positions.  That is a WWI style slugfest, and progress has been slow and costly. 

I ask, again, that the United States give the Ukrainians the help they need to win.  I hope it is not too late.  If there are problems with the way our aid is handled – fix them.  We must not, however, allow Putin to succeed.  The risks involved in that are too great.

 

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[1] https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_213448.htm

[2] https://theconversation.com/sweden-a-history-of-neutrality-ends-after-200-years-183583

 [3] https://www.statista.com/statistics/1303450/bilateral-aid-to-ukraine-in-a-percent-of-donor-gdp/

 

How Old is Too Old?

We hear a lot in social media and on the news regarding concerns about the mental fitness to serve of some elderly leaders in Washington, D.C.  People like President Joe Biden and Senators Mitch McConnel and Diane Feinstein have visibly struggled while speaking, and they have seemed to be plagued by confusion and memory lapses. 

Many of us have had the misfortune of watching friends and relatives succumb to the ravages of Dementia.  It is heartbreaking to see those we love suffer from degenerative brain disease.  It can break the health and finances of the people who provide care for the victims of these illnesses, which are increasing in frequency of occurrence in the United States.  Certainly, the publicity surrounding Dementia has heightened public awareness. 

Consequently, we can empathize with those of our leaders who seem to be struggling. Hopefully, we will be careful about criticism involving their fitness to lead. 

There has been support among some for legislating a mandatory retirement age for elected officials.  Most federal civil service jobs have a mandatory retirement age of 65 years.  The downside is that to receive federal retirement benefits, one must work for 20 years.  Therefore, persons who are over 45 years of age are not allowed to apply for federal civil service employment.  That is age discrimination.  Obviously, these rules do not apply to elected officials like the president, senators, or congressmen, however, in my opinion the same principle – age discrimination – applies to a mandatory retirement age for them. 

Many people are fortunate enough to be of sound mind and in good health well into their seventies, and a few can even make a significant contribution in their eighties.  In my opinion, they should not be prevented from doing so because an arbitrary number of years has been legislated that prohibits it. 

It is reasonable for officials who are over an agreed upon and legally defined age to undergo a competency evaluation based on objective, quantifiable criteria.  It is wrong for our elected officials to be disqualified based on professional opinion, which is founded on theory or may be swayed by political bias.  Any test of mental capacity for elderly representatives should not be so difficult that it cannot be passed by a majority of the younger persons holding the same office. 

There are a few things you should know in the interest of full disclosure.  I have personally experienced caring for family members with Dementia.  In years past, I have been prevented from applying for federal civil service employment that I was eminently qualified for because I was over 45 years old, and I think I was discriminated against on the basis of age.  I am now 75 years old, healthy, and in full possession of my mental faculties.  Therefore, you might say I have a dog in this fight. 

Finally, the best interest of our nation could be harmed by allowing mentally impaired persons to serve in high office.  That must not be permitted to happen.  We must, however, have safeguards in place to prevent decisions about mental competence to serve from being manipulated for partisan political ends.

Wonderous Love

I have not always lived for Jesus.  I was of two minds, wanting God’s favor but living to please myself.  I have been forgiven much, and so I love Him much.  If Jesus’ sacrifice is sufficient to provide “a wretch like me” with forgiveness and salvation, then it is sufficient for you, also.  That is why the following scripture is so powerful: 

One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table.  And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment,  and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment.  Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.”  And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.” 

“A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.  When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?”  Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.”  Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.  You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet.  You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment.  Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.”  And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”  Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?”  And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”  (Luke 7:36-50 ESV) 

What was the faith that was able to save the woman?  It was the faith to believe in Jesus. 

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life ... (John 3:16 ESV) 

God saves us because he loves us: 

This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.  This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.  (1John 4:9-10 NIV) 

We are humbled.  We are grateful.  We love Him - just like the woman did at the home of Simon the Pharisee.  It leaves us in awe.  In the words of the old Southern folk hymn:

What Wonderous Love is This

What wondrous love is this,
O my soul! O my soul!
What wondrous love is this, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this,
That caused the Lord of bliss,
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul,
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul.

When I was sinking down,
Sinking down, sinking down;
When I was sinking down, sinking down
When I was sinking down,
Beneath God's righteous frown,
Christ laid aside his crown
For my soul, for my soul!
Christ laid aside his crown for my soul!

To God and to the Lamb,
I will sing, I will sing;
To God and to the Lamb, I will sing.
To God and to the Lamb,
Who is the great I AM,
While millions join the theme,
I will sing, I will sing!
While millions join the theme, I will sing! [1]

Do you hear Jesus calling?  Come to Him.  Be saved.  He loves you, and He wants you to be with Him forever.

Acknowledgement:

All Bible verses were copied from https://biblehub.com/

[1] https://www.godsongs.net/2014/04/what-wondrous-love-is-this-oh-my-soul.html