PUTIN IS A WAR CRIMINAL

Those are harsh words but watching the news about Ukraine we see hospitals, homes and schools being bombed. Families dislocated from their homes, and there are approximately 3,000,000 refugees, mostly women and children who have left Ukraine so far. I cannot think of any other word that describes what Putin has done to Ukraine and the Ukrainians other than that Putin is a War Criminal and a murderer. 2022 has gotten off to a bad start for some people.

He is killing innocent people and must be stopped. Ukraine must be helped and taken out of Russian control. Many innocent lives have been lost and the country is being destroyed.

Ukraine has been a part of Russia for a long time, and I do not know the history, but I always looked at Russians and Ukrainians as Brothers. I just recently learned that Khrushchev was from Ukraine, and Crimea belonged to Ukraine until Putin took it away a few years ago. These are things that I cannot comment about because I do not know the full history of the Ukrainian people.

What I do know is that innocent Ukrainians are being killed by the Russian military. They are shooting at apartment buildings and innocent bystanders. The Ukrainians are fighting back, and they are doing very well. I support the Ukrainian people and more power to them. They have the will to survive and fight for their freedom. They have a sense of Patriotism, and it is obvious that they love their country. To this day the Russians have not been able to take Kyiv.

That is saying a lot more than what the average American feels. A recent University poll posed a question to Americans: Would you stay and fight or leave the country? A bare majority, 55%, said they would stay and fight, while 38% said they would leave. That is sad. Many Americans do not even stand for the national anthem, let alone be willing to fight to protect their country.

I firmly believe that we must help and support Ukraine. Let people know where you stand. I am not condemning the Russian people, because they are locked down and don’t know the truth. Some that do, are afraid to speak up because if they are found out they will be locked up. That goes for all politicians. Most if not all of them are corrupt and lie. And, if they are very powerful the people are afraid to speak up.

I am a refugee and my family escaped from Hungary in 1956 during the Hungarian Revolution. My mother was a Freedom Fighter. The Russians did the same thing then that they are currently doing in Ukraine, but it is a lot more destructive than what Hungary went through. Putin is bombing everything without any concern for human life. During the Hungarian Revolution there were signs painted everywhere in Budapest “Ruszkik Haza” which means “Russians Go Home! It also Happened in Prague and now it is happening in Ukraine.

I am also a Vietnam veteran and I have seen firsthand what war is like. When I got back home and had a chance to think about my experience in Vietnam, I realized that the year that I spent there was a waste of time and money that the government spent on me to be there. America gained nothing by fighting in Vietnam.

I had no personal vendetta against the Vietnamese people, and they did not have one against me either. Our countries asked us to serve, and we did. We were young and ignorant about the facts. Wars are started by politicians and dictators, not by soldiers. Ukraine is a vastly different situation then Vietnam or Afghanistan, or Iraq. We do not have all the facts at this time but eventually the truth will come out. But sadly, by then it will be too late for those that were killed or who left their homeland.

No matter what the reason Putin has for this war, it is inexcusable how he is doing this just by seeing what we see on the news. The invasion of Ukraine was illegal and there was no reason for it…that we know. Ukrainians did not attack Russia. The president of Ukraine, Zelensky seems like a hell of a patriotic person. He could leave but instead he is staying and supporting his people. That is leadership that I respect but then again, I do not know the whole story.

Ukraine does not deserve the demolition that is it is currently experiencing. When this war ends, it will take decades to build back the country. In the meantime, historical buildings beautiful architecture, schools and hospitals have been destroyed and it will make life for Ukrainians difficult for the next 10 or 20 years.

Of the three million that have left so far and the other 6 million whose homes have been destroyed might also leave the country and more than likely will never go back, and nobody deserves that. I left Hungary in 1956 during the revolution because of the Russians and now it is happening to Ukraine but is a lot more destructive.

We must support the Ukrainian People and may this war end soon, and I hope that Putin will be punished for this!

And just one more thing…

If politicians are involved, and that includes the United States you can be sure of one more thing. Somebody is making some money. It’s all about the money!

May God Bless the Ukrainian People and let there be Peace!

Goulash