Modern Day Huns?

If you remember your ancient history, the marauding Huns were partly responsible for the fall of the Roman Empire. We knew these nomadic tribesmen, who were based in what we know today as Kazakhstan, as fierce fighters and excellent horsemen.

According to the World History Encyclopédia: “In time, this would change as the Huns became one of the primary contributors to the fall of the Roman Empire, as their invasions of the regions around the empire, which were particularly brutal, encouraged what is known as the Great Migration (also known as the “Wandering of the Nations,”) between roughly 376-476 CE. This migration of peoples, such as the Alans, Goths, and Vandals, disrupted the status quo of Roman society, and their various raids and insurrections weakened the empire.”

Wars are as old as the written history of civilization. So why are we surprised when every decade or so, war pops up like the daffodils in spring from the frozen earth? As I listened to news commentators today speaking about the ravaging of Ukraine by President Putin’s forces, I marveled at so many who said ‘he has done this before and was not stopped - whatever made the western countries think that this time would be any different?’ The pattern appears to be the same as he has used before. Putin selects a country that he feels has an inferior fighting force and pounds it until it surrenders, not caring as in Aleppo that he destroyed the city. So, it seems, he is not all that different from the ancient, uncivilized Huns! Some say that since the Ukrainians are resisting, he will try to destroy much of their urban architecture as possible, not caring that he is targeting civilians along with armed forces. The Ukrainians have been fighting back fiercely, arming a volunteer force and evacuating women and children. But the Russians targeted even these evacuations; after a cease-fire, safe corridor was negotiated, and people were leaving, they attacked the civilians. The charismatic Ukrainian President is pleading for airpower and a no-fly zone since he has a small air force, but the US is reluctant to police this air space for fear of direct confrontation with Russian pilots. It seems as if a compromise is underway with Poland planning to give some of its old planes to Ukraine, while the US will send more modern ones to Poland in replacement. In a real turnabout, the new German Chancellor is also sending weapons to Ukraine; the US landed several planes in Poland this week with millions of dollars worth of defensive anti-tank and anti-aircraft weapons. These weapons will also be transported to Ukraine over ground routes, which remain open at this time.

Some leaders are raising issues of war crimes as Russian strikes at apartment buildings target civilians, and they hit other cities with so-called cluster bombs which have been banned by most nations. So, I, along with many in the world, hope that the Ukrainians can hold on, as the NATO nations send in more military supplies, but not troops. There have been reports of more military volunteers arriving from across the world to join with the Ukrainian army in their efforts. The Russian forces, who thought it would welcome them, are not finding the ground war a straightforward task. Some described the military as demoralized, underpaid, poorly fed, and lacking a coherent supply chain. There are reports that Chechen fighters who are mercenaries and violent will supplement the Russian forces. The 170,000 troops who were positioned around the borders of Ukraine in recent weeks have mostly entered the country; the southern areas near the sea are close to being occupied.

This week a nuclear power plant came under fire from Russian forces who subsequently captured and occupied it, keeping the staff who run the plant hostage. Because of a fire that broke out next to the plant, there were serious concerns about a facility meltdown such as was seen at Chernobyl decades earlier. Follow-up has shown no leakage from the plant and staff are still in place. The Chernobyl site is still a hot site and forces protecting it are not supposed to stay for long periods, because of exposure risks. However, they have not been allowed to leave by the Russians, who surrounded that area in the first days of the fighting. Putin has rattled the nuclear saber several times in recent days, so careful concerns about nuclear power plants do not seem high on his list. Some commentators have noted that when he is cornered, he always has doubled down; many hope that he does not feel so threatened that he will use nuclear options.

Meanwhile, as sanctions kick in and corporations flee, Russia is becoming more isolated. Residents find bank cards may not work, their savings are dwindling, and commodities are becoming scarce. There have been daily protests in the streets; authorities arrested 4300 Russian people today, even as penalties for demonstrating increase. News blackouts continue and reports of the war are inaccurate by state media. Internet access to information has been interrupted.

Just thought I would add a poem about war, to possibly deter those who think there is glory in war. There isn’t any glory, although there are winners and losers eventually, but those who are wounded, killed, and traumatized have found no glory.

Siren-Swell by Writer Fox™

“Siren-swell
This one’s for real
It’s not a drill
Slip the slurping baby from the breast.

Bombs bellowing
There’s no such thing
As sheltering
Beneath the twisting tangle of these times.

Full alert
The cannons spurt
Their total worth
Gyring on the vortices of pi.

Wing-to-wing
The gathering
Exhibiting
War is a place like no other.

There’s no place like war.

There’s no place like war.”

Meanwhile, back at home, some Republicans continue to be apologists for Putin. How this can be, I do not understand. The party appears to be moving further away from democracy and more toward liking autocracies. DJT continues to voice praise for the dictator; Mike Pompeo shouted “that the American public does not care about Ukraine” in an interview on NPR. In a break with the party, Mike Pence said recently that there should be no room in the party for apologists for Putin, apparently trying to move himself further from his former boss. Other reports show the base is moving away from the positions taken by the former president as more people see the destruction and civilian deaths and hear the heartfelt pleas by citizens who want to keep their new democracy. Recent polls reported by 538 show that the American public is unsure and divided about what the American response should be. NPR reports that President Biden’s poll numbers jumped after the State of the Union speech to 48%, with the satisfaction of his handling of Ukraine issues up to 52% and coronavirus handling at 55%; the economy is still at 45% despite record jobs numbers and low unemployment. Inflation seems to be the mover for the numbers there.

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COVID case numbers across the country continue to decline. Many states are now reducing or dropping mask mandates, although they remain in place on public transportation for now. The CDC advised people to look at their community numbers, and, if they were in a hot spot, to continue to wear masks at public gatherings. The US has sent more vaccines to several countries in Africa where the vaccinations numbers remain quite low. Maryland is doing better with its 74% vaccination rate, although Cecil County (57% vaccinated) and Garrett County (49% vaccinated) continue to have high infection rates. Although the Times records a lower number, some reports note that deaths have exceeded one million in the US and, with worldwide numbers at over six million, we have had a disproportionate share.

COVID Stats: NY Times

US Totals: Total Cases: 79,173,274. New Cases: 44,386.

                    Total Deaths: 957,427. New Deaths: 1,510.

Maryland Totals: Total Cases: 1,004,802. New Cases: 378.

                            Total Deaths: 14,183. New Deaths: 9.

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Today was the 57^th anniversary of Bloody Sunday, that horrific day in Selma, Alabama, when peaceful civil rights marchers were harassed, gassed, beaten, and bloodied at the Edmund Pettus Bridge. John Lewis, not yet a Congressman, was one of the marchers and was clubbed so hard he had a fractured skull and almost died. I remember that day and I remember just how horrified I was at learning of those events. I also remember the speech by President Johnson where he used the words “we shall overcome”. Hearing those words from a President from Texas was momentous and eventually, his efforts led to the passage of Voting Rights reforms. Today, thanks to efforts on the Supreme Court and inaction by Republicans in Congress, those hard-fought rights are again under attack.

In her remarks today at the bridge, Vice President Kamala Harris noted that the rights of all citizens are under attack. She noted that even as the world cheers on the fight for democracy in Ukraine, democracy here remains under attack. As NPR reported:

“Today, we stand on this bridge at a different time,” Harris said before a cheering crowd of thousands. “We again, however, find ourselves caught in between. Between injustice and justice. Between disappointment and determination. Still in a fight to form a more perfect union. And nowhere is that more clear than when it comes to the ongoing fight to secure the freedom to vote.”

On a happier note, the Maryland primary season is in full swing. Candidates are crossing the state, (except those who currently are state district elected officials and cannot campaign during the legislative sessions). They moved the date to declare up to March because of the late redistricting decisions, so the new candidates will have a brief season before the June 28^th primary date.

Today I attended an event for Tom Perez who is running for Governor and is one of many Democratic candidates for that office. Maryland Matters reports on the contributions for that race here. Perez is noted to be in the top tier of fundraising among the candidates. Perennial candidate Republican Robin Ficker, who has run for every office except dog catcher, I think 😊, is still running although he was recently disbarred for his conduct and lapses as an attorney. Frederick Republican Delegate Cox, who was part of the January Sixth insurrection, recently tried to impeach Governor Hogan unsuccessfully, is also in the race.

Today I will leave you with the National zoo’s release of a new porcupette, a kind of porcupine with a pre-hensile or useable tail. He is a cute little prickly guy! Think porcupine with a monkey tail-only tiny, and you’ve got the idea.

‘Til next week-I wish peace for our world!