In Ukraine
Sep 28th, 2009 by John
If you want a fascinating perspective on USAmerican politics, come to Ukraine. You know about Ukraine’s turbulent, at times, very tragic history under Stalin and as a member country of the former U.S.S.R. What Ukrainians don’t understand is why, under Obama and his administration, the U.S.A. wants to go socialist in light of the wreckage of socialism all over Eastern Europe. We Americans have no memory of actually living under the “ideal” of ‘from each according to his ability to each according to his need’ in which the “power of the working people” ends up being the power of just a select few, ruling elite people. Ukrainians have a blazing memory of these alleged good-for-the-people-ideals. They want no part of it ever again. Even with all our problems as a country, my Ukrainian friends marvel at our founding fathers and the principles they created to form a free republic. It is ironic to hear George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and our own Constitution quoted to me by Ukrainians.
One good Ukrainian friend told me, “If your government is big enough to give you all that you need, it is then big enough to take all that you have.” Think about that.
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Hi John,
That is really fascinating. While the increasingly Marxist nations are lauding Mr. O, the FORMER Marxist ones see what it’s about.
Blessings,
Terry
Thanks for this short, but powerful post. I’m sending a link to my family members and mentioning it on the social-networking sites I frequent.
Grace and peace, Brother
[...] your political views, I think you’ll find this very short post of [...]
Well I may disagree. These are opinions – Any system can go rouge if mishandled whether it is Socialism or Capitalism. Greed will destroy any system – Yes we can hate Socialism but that is a biased opinion at best. Stalin was a dictator and that should explain what he did. But look close at home what our president did with wiretapping, floundering wealth by Iraq war (hence weakening the country), saying no to Stem cell research, saying no to funding Fermi Lab – Is this not government control. Sometimes the controls may work for you – not much happened to India’s economy in this tumultuous times – reason government controls.
Vipul,
Thank you for your gentle push back. I am not arguing for one form of government over another. I am astounded that my Ukrainian friends are more aware of the change that is taking place in the USA under Obama than many Americans are…Obama seems to be making the USA into something it has never been before. My Ukrainian friends basically say, “Been there. Done that. It doesn’t work.” They are concerned for the USA.
I can also say “Been there, done that”…
After being imprisoned three years for anti-communist activities in Romania, I defected before the fall of the Berlin wall. I came in USA, the greatest nation in the world, full of hope and eager for a new life in freedom. I worked hard, started my own business and I invested in my children ( I have a son at West Point, another one at Annapolis). Now, I am afraid, they are going to graduate under a Commander In Chief who likes Marx more than he likes our Founding Fathers; who likes to “spread the wealth around”; who started to take control of our economy; who doesn’t believe in America’s exceptionalism and who went to Europe for an “apology tour” but not to commemorate the fall of the Berlin Wall; who claimed that America is one of the largest muslim countries in the world … and so on.
This president reminds me of Ceausescu. The media loves him, and school children are singing his praises… and that scares me and brings back to my memory nightmares from my own childhood.
I hope America wakes up before it’s too late.