The critics of the Russian seizure of the Crimea in 2014 should give Russian President Vladimir Putin a break. Where were they when Catherine II (the Great) annexed the peninsula for Russia in 1783? Where were they when Stalin recaptured the peninsula from the Nazis in World War II? For that matter, did they criticize the occupation of the Ukraine after Tsar Peter I (the Great) defeated Swedish King Charles XII in the Ukraine at Poltava in 1709? Didn’t this victory mark the beginning of Russian supremacy in Eastern Europe?
Indeed, when did any Russian tsar or tsarina of the 18th or 19th centuries ever consider Ukraine not a part of Russia? Even Lenin and Stalin in the 20th century always considered Ukraine part of Russia. In fact, in a visible sign of contempt at the notion of a Ukrainian state, after World War II, Stalin downgraded its status from autonomous republic to an oblast (region). In the deadly Politburo infighting following the death of Stalin and the ascent of Nikita Khrushchev as Soviet leader, he rewarded his Ukrainian cronies in several ways. Most to the point, he transferred the Crimea from Russia to the Ukraine, a status it held until Putin’s Russia reoccupied it.
There is far more at play here than the status of Crimea. Neither Defense Department nor State Department officials have a clue as to what is happening. Ukraine is being used as bait — just as it was in both world wars. In both wars, Russia lost Ukraine to Germany. After each war, Russia regained it and emerged stronger than ever. The dupe this time is the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. This time the gain will be Western Europe.
MICHAEL W. JOHNSON
Fairlee
I am told that you should never play cards with a guy called “Doc” or buy a used car from a guy wearing a white belt. Nor should I ever vote for a political candidate who, when asked a question, reels off a piece of a stump speech — whether it is relevant or not.
The ability to listen to the question, understand the query and craft an answer that will stand on its own two feet is a talent that seems to have eluded capture by most of the current crop of presidential candidates. It was a delight to hear the way that Sen. Amy Klobuchar answered questions in Lebanon recently (“Klobuchar talks taking on Trump,” Nov. 24). She did so by going back to historical events and using knowledge of these to explain the why and how of making or unmaking laws. She surely has used these skills while negotiating with her legislative colleagues — more than 100 bills have been passed with her name on them. Some were big, some small, some with bipartisan support, but all of them critical to our method of getting along with one another and being fair.
I hope that more people will get the chance to attend one of her town hall meetings. Watch how she goes about answering questions. It is refreshing to witness real thought being brought to bear in an arena that is full of knee-jerk answers — and she has a sense of humor. There is a winning way about her; take a listen.
O. ROSS McINTYRE
Lyme
There have been several letters in the Forum recently addressing oil and gas drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Save your breath.
The House and Senate are controlled by big oil and gas companies and large corporations. Money controls this country. Large corporations and oil and gas companies can pollute, kill off wildlife and ruin a way of life for some people with the protection of Congress and the Supreme Court. If they need a new law, stick around and they will make one up for you.
Also, large corporations, oil and gas companies, and the rich are allowed to put their profits in offshore banks to avoid taxes. The oil and gas companies pay very little to lease the land. So the taxpayers are paying — subsidizing the cheap lease, subsidizing the drilling, and finally at the pump. I would call this a very, very lucrative business. With no corruption?
ROBERT POLLARD
Enfield
A year ago, my family and I were visiting some friends near Philadelphia for the Thanksgiving holidays, and we went to see Independence Hall. We bought our tickets, stood in line and finally were directed into the room where the Continental Congress met so many years ago. The Park Service guide was giving a fascinating presentation of those hot July days when the Declaration of Independence was being debated and independence was declared. He began quoting, “and are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights …” when I heard a quiet voice behind me, of some person from who knows where, who voted who knows how, join in with, “… Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
It dawned on me that in this day of terrible political disarray and infighting, words matter, and that these words from long ago still hold us, all of us, together. No matter what foreign or political powers say and do to divide us, these words still hold us together. On this Thanksgiving, I am very grateful for that.
SUSANNE HASEMAN
Cornish