Monday, February 28, 2022
More Relatives
An Overview of the Ukraine Crisis and Other Facts.
It is important to mention the facts on the Ukraine crisis. This crisis came about long before the 21st century, but its events now have existed before the quarter century mark of the 21st century. Officially, Putin apologists have no credibility. These apologists say what about NATO and the NED in their actions. The truth is that 2 things can be true. It is wrong for NATO to invade Libya and conduct airstrikes worldwide (the West's Iraqi invasion was wrong as well) along with NED agitating slick actions. Yet, it is also wrong for Putin to initiate an unjust, provocative, and illegal invasion of Ukraine too. Two wrongs don't make a right. That is why I condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine which is about an inter-imperialist conflict among Russia governmental leaders and Western governmental leaders for the resources and influence of Ukraine. The vast majority of Americans, Ukrainians, and Russians reject this Putin invasion and desire a peaceful resolution. The Russian military targeting civilian buildings, killing children, and using other unwarranted tactics have been condemned worldwide. Even in Russia, protesters in Moscow and St. Petersburg have shown their voices in opposition to the Putin regime. Putin is not a progressive hero. Vladimir Putin is a tyrant, a far-right nationalist, and an extremist (who has used policies that harmed democratic rights like the suppression of the freedom of speech and the suppression of the freedom of the press). Years ago in 2014, I wrote about the Ukraine crisis. Now, in 2022, I am better aware about the complexities and nuisance of this crisis. This following work is my official beliefs on this Ukrainian situation forever. This crisis has grown since the dissolution of the Stalinist Soviet Union in 1991. Vladimir Putin (who slams the 1917 Russian Revolution and questions the entire existence of Ukraine via his horrendously nonsensical speech. Putin called Zelensky a Nazi when Zelensky is Jewish. Zelensky's relatives are survivors of the Holocaust) follows reactionary Russian nationalism which is why many far right Americans like Trump and Tucker Carlson have praised Putin. Many far right white nationalists are praising Putin too including members of the Trump administration. Habitual lying from Vladimir Putin is typical of him. Now, it's time to show a chronological look at the Ukrainian crisis. The Ukrainian people have been courageous to fight back against Russian imperialism.
Ukraine is an Eastern European country with a large land. It has a population of about 45 million people. It borders on Russia to the East and other countries of Europe on the West. Russia tried to control Ukraine for centuries. During the ancient times, it was part of Scythia and home to Getae, the Cimmerians, the Dacians, including early Slavic peoples. It was one area that was a site of Indo-European expansion too. Horses were domesticated back thousands of years ago. Much of the Ukrainians came from the ancient Slave people called the Antes. By 1990, there was the fall of the Berlin Wall and the reunification of Germany. Putin, in his speech, said that Western leaders gave written and spoken assurances to then Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev that NATO doesn't plan to increase its territory eastwards. Putin also said that U.S. Secretary State James Baker talked about NATO back then didn't desire to spread eastward. According to Mark Karmer in the 2009 article in The Washington Quarterly, he found declassified American, German, and Soviet records. Kramer made the case that in discussions on German reunification, the Soviets never raised the question of NATO enlargement other than how it might apply in the former German Democratic Republic (GDR). The Germans, Americans, British, and French did agree in 1990 to not make any deployment of non-German NATO forces on the territory of the former GDR. The agreement of not deployment foreign troops on the territory of the former GDR was found in Article 5 to the Treaty on the Final Settlement with Respect to Germany, which was signed on September 12, 1990. It was signed by the two Germanys, the United States, Soviet Union, Britain, and France. Former Soviet President Gorbachev said in an interview that the topic of NATO expansion was not discussed at all. He said that the agreement didn't wanted NATO to be sent to the then GDR after German reunification.
Ukraine was an independent state in the modern area by December of 1991. The first Ukrainian President was Leonid Kravchuk. The economy shrank by more than 10 percent per year under his Presidency. The Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances comprises three identical political agreements signed at the OSCE conference in Budapest, Hungary on December 5, 1994 to provide security assurances by its signatories relating to the accession of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Ukraine to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. The memorandum was originally signed by three nuclear powers: the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States. China and France gave somewhat weaker individual assurances in separate documents. This agreements says that Ukraine agreed to give up nuclear weapons in exchange for Russia and other nations to respect their sovereignty. Has Putin lived up to that promise? No, so Putin violated the 1994 Budapest Memorandum agreement completely.
The 2nd President of Ukraine was Leonid Kuchma (1994-2005). He has many scandals like the reduction of media freedom including the Cassette Scandal. In 1997, the Charter on a Distinctive Partnership was signed by NATO and Ukraine that Ukraine will move gradually in cooperation in NATO (and eventually be a member). The economy recovered with GDP growth at 10 percent a year during his last years in office. Kuchma said that he wasn't trying to run for re-election in 2004. So, the battle was on in Ukraine to see who the next President would be. There were 2 major candidates in the 2004 Presidential election. One Viktor Yanukoyvh, the incumbent Prime Minister, supported by Kuchma and the Russian Federation. Viktor wanted closer ties to Russia.
The main opposition candidate, Viktor Yushchenko, called for Ukraine to turn its attention westward and aim to eventually join the EU. So, much of the crisis in Ukraine deals with different factions in Ukraine disagreeing on the future of Ukraine (either being more pro-Western and the other side wanting to be more pro-Russian). In the runoff election, Yanukovych officially won by a narrow margin, but Yushchenko and his supporters alleged that vote rigging and intimidation cost him many votes, especially in eastern Ukraine. A political crisis erupted after the opposition started massive street protests in Kyiv and other cities (in the "Orange Revolution"), and the Supreme Court of Ukraine ordered the election results null and void. A second runoff found Viktor Yushchenko the winner. Five days later, Yanukovych resigned from office and his cabinet was dismissed on January 5, 2005. During the time of Yuschenko's term, Russia and Ukraine relations were strained. Yushchenko wanted better relations with the European Union and less toward Russia. There was a 2005 highly publicized dispute over natural gas prices with Russia. It caused shortages in many European countries that were reliant to Ukraine as a transit country. A compromise was established in January 2006. In 2008, Ukraine applies to initiate ties with NATO in 2008. By the time of the presidential election of 2010, Yushchenko and Yulia Tymoshenko — allies during the Orange Revolution — had become bitter enemies. Tymoshenko ran for president against both Yushchenko and Viktor Yanukovych, creating a three-way race. Yushchenko, whose popularity had plummeted, persisted in running, and many pro-Orange voters stayed home. In the second round of the election Yanukovych won the run-off ballot with 48% to Tymoshenko's 45%.
The Presidency of Yanukovych and his Party of Regions lasted from 2010 to 2014. President Yanukovych signed an agreement with Russia to have a lease on the Black Sea naval base in Crimea until at least 2042. They were accused of trying to form a "controlled democracy" in Ukraine and of trying to destroy the main opposition party Bloc Yulia Tymoshenko. Both Yanukovych and the Party of Regions deny the charges. One frequently cited example of Yanukovych's attempts to centralize power was the 2011 sentencing of Yulia Tymoshenko, which has been condemned by Western governments as potentially being politically motivated. In November 2013, President Yanukovych did not sign the Ukraine–European Union Association Agreement and instead pursued closer ties with Russia. In 2013, Ukraine would change forever. Yanukovych's action caused protests in the streets of Kjiv and ultimately to the 2014 Ukranian Revolutions. By early December 2013, protesters occupied Kiev city hall and Independence Square in dramatic style. Some 800,000 people rally in Kiev. There were protesters setting up camps in Kyiv's Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square), and in December 2013 and January 2014 protesters started taking over various government buildings, first in Kyiv and, later, in Western Ukraine. Battles between protesters and police resulted in about 80 deaths in February 2014. On December 17, 2013, Vladimir Putin buys up 15 billion dollars of Ukrainian debt and rescue the price of Russian gas supplies by a third. President Yanukovych, on February 19, 2022, wants compromise and truce with the protesters in the chaos. On the next day, snipers open fire on the crowd in the Maidan Square causing over 60 deaths. Both protesters and police officers are killed in the gunfire. Negotiations continue with a plan to have a national unity government, new Presidential elections by the end of 2014, and protesters to surrender all public buildings and illegal weapons. By February 22, 2014, as the police pulled back, the protesters stormed government buildings and seized control of Kiev. Yanukovych flees to the city of Kharkiv in eastern Ukraine. The peace deal was over.
After the violence in the Ukrainian Parliament on February 22, 2014, the Parliament voted to remove Yanukovych from power (on the grounds that his whereabouts were unknown, and he couldn't fulfill his duties). Neo conservatives like Victoria Nuland and John McCain actively supported the protests to expand Western hegemony in the region not for the purpose of democratic reasons completely alone (as the protesters have the right to voice their views). That is why Nuland was opposed to a compromise government in Ukraine by saying "F___ the EU!" During the infamous call on which Nuland and Pyatt appeared to be plotting to replace or undermine elected Ukrainian President Victor Yanukovych, Nuland expressed her not-so-diplomatic disgust with the European Union for favoring former heavyweight boxer and austerity champ Vitali Klitschko to take over as prime minister, instead of the U.S. first choice, Artseniy Yatsenyuk, who indeed took power after Yanukovych was ousted about three weeks later. John McCain is photographed being united with far-right Svoboda party leader Oleh Tyahnybok (Oleh wants to require Ukrainians to pass a Ukrainian language test to work in the civil service. He even wants Ukraine to be a nuclear power). Also, the Right Sector and the Azov Battalion in Ukraine are filled with Neo-Nazis and far right racists. That is true, and those groups are abhorrent.
Yet, the vast majority of Ukrainian people aren't Neo-Nazis. A Neo-Nazi, white racist far right movement is found in Russia too. That is why nationalist politician Vladimir Shirionvsky (the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia in the State Duma) said that America should go into racial segregation. Russian leader Anton Morozov said that he wanted black people in America to go into reservations. The racist Donald Trump has praised Putin multiple times. Why isn't Russia Today (who are under orders to not refer to the Ukraine crisis as an invasion now) or other hypocritical leftists not reporting on these facts? The reason is that they want to minimize the far-right nature of Putin and his supporters while seeking to hypocritically claim to be against imperialism. You can't support Putin and be anti-imperialist.
The Parliament voted to free Yulia Tymoshenko from prison too. The same day Yanukovych supporter Volodymyr Rybak resigned as speaker of the Parliament, and was replaced by Tymoshenko loyalist Oleksandr Turchynov, who was subsequently installed as interim President. Yanukovych had fled Kyiv, and subsequently gave a press conference in the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don. By March 2014, evidence proves that the snipers shooting at the crowds in Kiev were not employed by the Ukrainian government but were shooting at both sides to stoke chaos.
The March 18, 2014 controversial annexation of Crimea existed by Russia. Crimea had its referendum on reunification with Russia. A large majority favored the proposition. The vote was organized under Russian military occupation. Russia stands by the referendum. The European Union and the United States government view the vote as illegal, because it was created under Russian military occupation. The Crimean crisis was followed by the unrest in eastern and southern Ukraine. On March 4, 2014, America pledged $1 billion in aid to Ukraine. By April of 2014, Ukrainian separatists self-proclaimed themself as the Donetsk Peoples' Republic and Lugansk People's Republic held referendums on May 11, 2014. The separatists claimed nearly 90 percent in favor of independence. Later by April 2014, massive fighting exists between the Ukrainian army and pro-Ukrainian volunteer battalions on one side, and forces supporting the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics on the other side, escalated into the War in Donbass. July 17, 2014 was the date when Malysia Airline Flight MH17 from Amsterdam is shot down near the village of Grabove in rebel held territory. 298 lives were killed. The West accused Russia of doing it, and of course Putin denies this. Investigators say that the weapon used in the attack is traced back to Russia.
On September 5, 2014, the Ukranian President Petro Poroshenko and local armed groups in eastern Ukraine signed a ceasefire protocol in Mink. Both sides as well as Russia including the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe held talks for a possible political solution to the crisis. Yet, the crisis continued. October 21, 2014 was when Human Rights Watch said that it has strong evidence that Ukraine attacked populated areas of Donetsk with cluster bombs, banned by many other states. November 2012 was when NATO Commander General Philip Breedlove said that Russian military equipment and Russian combat troops have been seen entering Ukraine in columns over several days. By December 23, 2014, the Ukrainian Parliament renounced Ukraine's "non-aligned" status with the aim of deepening cooperation with NATO.
By December 2014 more than 6,400 people had died in this conflict and according to United Nations figures it led to over half a million people becoming internally displaced within Ukraine and two hundred thousand refugees to flee to (mostly) Russia and other neighboring countries. During the same period, political (including adoption of the law on lustration and the law on decommunization) and economic reforms started. On May 25, 2014, Petro Poroshenko was elected president in the first round of the presidential election. In 2015, reforms in Ukraine slowed down, the economy in Ukraine suffered, and corruption was a real problem.
On February 12, 2015, the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, Germany, and France announced a peace deal in the Belarusian capital of Minsk. This deal deals with another ceasefire between Ukrainian government troops and local armed groups in eastern Ukraine. By December of 2015, more than 9,100 had died (mostly civilians), in the War in Donbass, according to the United Nations figures. On October 2015, the Washington Post reported "elite units" of the Russian army in Ukraine. By 2017, Ukraine had closer ties with the EU with Ukranian citizens giving visa free travel to the Schengen Ara for up to 90 days during any 180 day period on June 11, 2017. On May 19, 2018, Poroshenko signed a Decree, which put into effect the decision of the National Security and Defense Council on the final termination of Ukraine's participation in the statutory bodies of the Commonwealth of Independent States. It is clear that both Minsk Agreements came about in 2014 and in 2015.
The Kerch Strait incident occurred on 25 November 2018 when the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) coast guard fired upon and captured three Ukrainian Navy vessels attempting to pass from the Black Sea into the Sea of Azov through the Kerch Strait on their way to the port of Mariupol. February 7, 2019 when the Ukrainian parliament passed a constitutional amendment stating Ukraine's commitment to join NATO.
On February 21, 2019, the Constitution of Ukraine was amended, the norms on the strategic course of Ukraine for membership in the European Union and NATO are enshrined in the preamble of the Basic Law, three articles and transitional provisions. On 21 April 2019, Volodymyr Zelensky was elected president in the second round of the presidential election. Early parliamentary elections on July 21 allowed the newly formed pro-presidential Servant of the People party to win an absolute majority of seats for the first time in the history of independent Ukraine (248). Dmytro Razumkov, the party's chairman, was elected speaker of parliament. The majority was able to form a government on August 29 on its own, without forming coalitions, and approve Oleksii Honcharuk as prime minister. On July 28, 2020, in Lublin, Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine created the Lublin Triangle initiative, which aims to create further cooperation between the three historical countries of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth and further Ukraine's integration and accession to the EU and NATO. Ukraine banned TV broadcasting of pro-Russian TV channels on February 2, 2021. The decision of the National Security and Defense Council and the Presidential Decree of February 19, 2021 imposed sanctions on 8 individuals and 19 legal entities, including Putin's pro-Russian politician and Putin`s godfather Viktor Medvedchuk and his wife Oksana Marchenko.
As the year of 2021 continued, Ukraine works with the EU planning for a possible Ukraine membership in the European Union by the 2030s. On December 7, 2021, Joe Biden Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation for 2 hours. Biden told Putin that he would put sanctions on Russia if the Kremlin allowed his military forces to enter Ukraine. By December 2021, Russia made 2 draft treaties that wanted Ukraine to not join NATO and reduce NATO troops and military hardware stationed in Eastern Europe. Russia threatened a military response if their demands were met. The United States rejected such demands. Biden talked with Putin about his goals. Biden said that he disagreed with Putin on many things. January 10-13, 2022 was when the latest rounds of talks between Russia and the West failed (within the framework of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe). Both sides warned of political escalation. The Geneva talks on January 10, 2022 failed to have a resolution between Washington and Moscow. January 22, 2022 was then the Ukrainian Defense Ministry said that the first shipment of military aid from the United States arrived in Kiev. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the USA has delivered a written letter to Russia addressing Moscow's concerns. America deployed additional troops to Europe including 1,000 troops to Romania and another 2,000 troops to Germany and Poland on February 2, 2022. America predicted that Russia is preparing for an imminent invasion of Ukraine with almost 200,000 Russian troops on the Ukrainian border. On February 17, 2022 the Ukrainian military and local armed groups in eastern Ukraine accuse each other of firing weapons in eastern Ukraine first. On February 21, 2022, Russia officially recognized the two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine, the Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic, as independent states, and deployed troops to Donbas, in a move interpreted as Russia's effective withdrawal from the Minsk Protocol. The breakaway republics were recognized in the boundaries of their respective Ukrainian oblasts, which extend far beyond the line of contact. Ironically, China isn't so hawkish on the Russian invasion of Ukraine. On February 22, 2022, Putin said that the Minsk agreements were no longer valid. On the same day, the Federation Council unanimously authorized the use of military force in the territories. So, the deal is that Russia refused to send its troops away from the Ukrainian border, and Biden refused to disengage military associations in Eastern Europe.
On the morning of 24 February 24, 2022, Putin announced that Russia was initiating a "special military operation" in the Donbas and launched a full-scale invasion into Ukraine. Putin's action was a total attempt to conquer Ukraine and try to make it a puppet pro-Russian state. Putin's actions was against international law blatantly.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine is unjust and evil. It has been condemned in the world. This is the largest invasion of Ukrainian territory since World War II. Missiles rain down on Ukraine's cities. Russian troops from Belarus and from Crimea go and attack Ukraine. Many Ukrainians forces held back the Russians in many cities. Putin has become more bellicose by threatening Finland Sweden if they join NATO. He also said that American intervention in Ukraine will be met with consequences greater than anything in history (implying usage of nuclear weapons). Putin putting his nuclear deterrent forces on alert is militarist and provocative. There are stories of black people (and other people of color) being refused to go into Poland from the Ukraine border, and that is wrong. Racism and discrimination have no place in the world period. The Ukrainian have shown stiff resistance to Russian imperialism. Germany and even Sweden plan to send weapons to Ukraine to help them defeat Russian forces. As the fighting continues, talks are underway between Ukrainian leaders and Russian leaders. Russia's ruble crashes as many nations cut funds sent to Russia. The Ukranian crisis continues in March of 2022. .
As we approach further into the 2020s, we see political crisis spread. This has been accelerated by the pandemic, conflict in Ukraine, and other issues. Some have a more monolithic version of history. We witness Earthquakes, plummeting marks, wars, and other events signifying the turbulent era of the 21st century indeed. One common misconception is that the truth must be P.C. all of the time. The reality is that the truth can be uncompromising, real, and authentic. The truth is that we have a long way to go with the evils of racism, hate crimes, murders, broken supply chain in some places, false religions, and megadroughts. One of the most vicious agendas of the global establishment is mass population control as advocated by Malthus, Hitler, and other evil people. Today, this mass depopulation agenda has been promoted under the guise of "health" and "sustainability." Yet, we know that the NSM 200 document, which was supported by Henry Kissinger, advocates mass population control among Africa, Latin America, etc. (which are heavily inhabited by black people and other people of color). Deception by many people in the mainstream media is plainly clear from Operation Mockingbird (which was a CIA program using their agents to infiltrate the corporate media), the Iraq War deceptive lies, and the Vietnam War deceptions promoted by the so-called "Wise Men." There are actual U.S. government conspiracies in history like the U.S. Department of the Treasury poisoned alcohol during Prohibition and people died, the U.S. Public Health Service lied about treating black men with syphilis for more than 40 years, the government wanted to use Operation Northwoods as a covert false flag attack to attack Cuba (JFK rejected this plan outright), the government tested LSD on citizens in their MK Ultra experiments, and the U.S. government sold weapons to Iran (in violation of an embargo) and used the money to support Nicaraguan militants. So, we know corruption in government, and we realize that many Americans back then and now are fighting for truth, justice, and a real government standing up for the general welfare of the common people too. Political groups are known now more than ever, and we should use our power to make real positive, meaningful change for the human race.
The 2022 Winter Olympics closing ceremony took place on February 20, 2022. It was held at the Beijing National Stadium. As mandated by the Olympic Charter, the proceedings must combine the formal ceremonial closing of this international sporting event (including closing speeches, hoisting of the flags, the parade of athletes, and the handover the Olympic flag) with an artistic display to showcase the culture and history of the current and next host nation (Italy) for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo. The closing ceremony was directed by film director and producer Zhang Yimou, who also directed the opening ceremonies of the 2022 Winter Olympics and previously directed and produced the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2008 Summer Olympics. There was the entrance of the President of China and the President of the IOC. Dancers lightened the emblem as Frank Mortenson's brand-new record for the 2022 Olympics, "It's a Lovely Day Tomorrow" written originally in 1938 by Irving Berlin, was played. The National Anthem of China was played. Then, there was the entry of countries' and regions' flags and Parade of Nations. The flags of the 91 competing nations entered the stadium first, followed by all the athletes who were still in Beijing marching in together as one group accompanied by an arrangement of Beethoven's Ode to Joy. The 2022 and me video existed along with victory ceremonies from the winners of women's cross-country skiing and men's cross-country skiing. The IOC athlete's commission showed new members and the recognition of the volunteers. There were videos detailing the theme of "Powered by Belief." The Greek National anthem and handover of the Olympic flag existed.
As per tradition, Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, the host cities of the 2026 Winter Olympic Games presented an artistic performance at the closing ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics. But due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and the belief that "less is more", only 6 performers were sent. Duality, Together was the song. IOC President Thomas Bach formally closed the games, praising them as excellent and unforgettable, and said they will ensemble a team in four years time in Milano & Cortina in French. Following the declaration of the closing of the Games, a video was shown of Beijing citizens and Winter Games volunteers bidding farewell to their international guests. It concluded with Olympic mascot Bing Dwen Dwen waving to a snowflake as it flies toward the sky.
The Olympic flame, burning in a torch placed in the middle of a giant snowflake-shaped cauldron, was gradually extinguished while "You and Me", the theme song of the 2008 Summer Olympics, then "Snowflakes", the theme song of the 2022 Winter Olympics, were sung by the Beijing Philharmonic Choir (北京愛樂合唱團). Both songs were sung in homage to the two Olympic Games hosted by China, to highlight the Chinese capital's historical achievement of being the first city to host both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games, and to mark the end of the 2022 Winter Olympics. President of China Xi Jinping and Italian political leaders were at the final ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics.
The Winter Olympics in 2022 was very successful in showing some of the greatest athletes in the world today. It was a generational Olympics where legends retired, and a new generation of winter athletes expressed themselves. The Winter Olympics had many black athletes winning many awards making history on Black History Month. People from across the world promoted their own talents. Likewise, like many sporting events, controversies reign. In Beijing, many pandemic protocols were in existence in trying to stop the spread of disease. Also, we know that China has policies that are against democratic rights like the suppression of protests in Hong Kong, the oppression against the Uyghurs, racism found in Shanghai against black people, and other injustices. Also, we are clear that many apologists are trying to justify this evil by saying that Western imperialism is wrong, so China gets a pass on its sins. The reality is that no nation on Earth is perfect, and it's hypocritical to criticize America's imperfections while taking a blind eye to China's imperfections. The other lie that these hypocrites say that if you disagree with any policy from the government of China, then you endorse imperialism. The truth is that any nation should experience legitimate critique from time to time. That is why I'm consistent. It's wrong for American crooked police officers to do police brutality against people, and it's wrong for Chinese crooked authorities to suppress the freedom of speech in China in social media too. That's real talk. Therefore, we realize the truth. This doesn't mean that every American and every Chinese person wants chaos in the world. The vast majority of Americans and Chinese people want justice to realm on the Earth. The better people realize this, the better off we will be. The 2022 Winter Olympics was a very historic display of the power of human athleticism and human togetherness indeed.
Friday, February 25, 2022
Russia's Imperialist, Unjust Invasion of Ukraine.
As usual, the liar and fascist Putin is at it again. Russian forces have illegally controlled the Chernobyl nuclear site. The Chernobyl nuclear location is the location of a disaster decades ago. Also, the Russian forces have illegally bombed multiple locations in numerous Ukrainian cities causes death of civilians. Liars justify Russia's evil actions about what about NATO and the NED? The truth is that NATO's errors and NED's errors have no justification (as I don't agree with U.S. imperialism, neo-colonialism, and or any of such evils anywhere on Earth), but these actions of bombings in Ukraine are fully Putin's fault. Right now, over 1,700 Russian peaceful protesters in St. Petersburg, Russia, who oppose the war, are arrested by Putin's government. Suppression of the freedom of speech, the freedom of the press, the freedom of minorities to live as they are, and religious freedom are all realities in Russia today. That is not part of any progressive ideal. It's part of imperialism and capitalist fascism that Putin embraces. Putin's Russia TV is a propagandist network. Putin wants the Russian people to be subjected to the status quo. We have a fight for democracy worldwide. Russian troops could encircle Kyiv. Russian airstrikes and rocket attacks hit Kyiv last night. Putin's far right nationalism has been defended even by fake "leftists" who claim to be against Western imperialism. I opposed the NATO attack in Libya plus the war in Iraq because it was wrong, evil, and unjust. I oppose Russian imperialism, because it is also wrong, evil, and unjust. These leftist hypocrites have the nerve to bring black people into it when Neo-Nazism is found strongly in Russia too. Putin has given his speech demonizing the very existence of Ukraine. Also, it is the truth that tons of well meaning Ukranians and Russians abhor Neo-nazism. Also, we have thousands of Ukranian refugees going into Poland and other nations. You have fascist leaders in Russia, Brazil, Belarus, and other nations where its citizens experience tons of injustices. In Ukraine, apartment buildings and other civilian targets have been damaged by bombs. Russia is fighting especially in Eastern Ukraine plus other regions of the nation. This is Russian imperialism plain and simple.
The breaking news is that Russia illegally has shown a mass military invasion of Ukraine. Putin is notorious for being a far-right nationalist dictator, and anyone supporting Putin or minimizing what he has done is wrong period. Some so-called leftists try to minimize Putin's criminal actions by saying NATO does the same thing. My response is that 2 wrongs don't make a right. It was wrong for NATO to bomb Libya, Iraq and other places of the world. Yet, that isn't an excuse for what Putin is doing. Bombs have reached many cities in Ukraine, not just in the separatist regions. Kiev has been attacked by Russian forces. That is why Biden and the European Union want to place new, strong sanctions against Russia (as Biden will meet with G7 members). Putin, in his speech, lied and denied the existence of Ukraine, called Zelensky a Nazi when Zelensky is a Jewish man, and praised the dictatorship of the Czarist Russian Empire. So, Putin is a chauvinist, and far right nationalist extremist. Ukraine has the right to its sovereignty. One bomb from Russia in Ukraine is against international law. We heard reports of cyber-attacks against Ukraine. This is clear that this is a Russian invasion of Ukraine. Oil prices will go up in many. Russia's economy is fragile, and their ruble value has gone down too.
Economic inequality is a serious problem in America. Kroger paid its CEO $22 million. The CEO to worker pay ratio at the company is 909 to 1. That is unacceptable. Telsa could pay no money in federal income taxes this year, but it has a profit of $5.5 billion. That is its most profitable year ever. We know that thousands of Texans have their absentee ballot applications unjustly denies before of obscene regulations put in place under the state's new election law. There are many people from a Memphis Starbucks protesting for better working conditions like higher wages. The National Guard has been called to help D.C. police to counteract an attempt of using trucks to block Washington, D.C. streets. America's five largest banks now control almost half of all deposits, which is up from 12 percent during the early 1990's. Many large corporations are exploiting inflation to increase their prices above their rising costs. That is why almost 60 percent of large retailers say that inflation has given them the ability to raise prices beyond what's required to offset higher costs. The Ukraine crisis continues. No one is surprised at how Michael Pompeo and Donald Trump has praised Putin. All of these characters are known far right extremists, have hatred of democratic norms, and believe in nefarious ideological viewpoints. Vladimir Putin is no hero or some heroic person. He is a coward, a liar, and an authoritarian. His recent speech not only slammed the 1917 Russian Revolution. Putin also questioned the whole existence of Ukraine. Ukraine now is in a state of emergency, because it is preparing for a widespread Russian invasion of Ukraine. Now, Ukraine is calling up its reserves. One Ukrainian official has confirmed that a Russian cyber-attack has existed on government sites. Right now, the Russian military are moving into the pro-Moscow region of eastern Ukraine. Putin allows restrictions of the freedom of the press, freedom of press, and religious freedom rights too. Tanks are already in Donbas territories after Russian imperialists declared 2 areas independent. Russia has done a nuclear drill too. Hungary and Bulgaria have U.S. ground forces as more military buildup in the NATO Eastern flank continues. Canada, Japan, and Australia unite with America ins supporting sanctions against Russian interests.
Some breaking news is that the 3 former Minneapolis police officers were found guilty of violating George Floyd's civil rights. The names of the officers are Tou Thao, J. Alexander Kueng, and Thomas Lane. There were 12 jurors who decided the verdict who are 4 men and 8 women. The former officers were found guilty of depriving Floyd of his civil rights by showing deliberate indifference to his medical needs as Derek Chauvin knelt on Floyd's neck for more than 9 minutes on May 25, 2020. Floyd died at the scene in Minneapolis. This spark the worldwide 2020 protests being the largest anti-racism, anti-police brutality protests in human history. Thao and Kueng were found guilty of failing to intervene to stop Chauvin. This was a federal trial. The events are obvious. George Floyd never deserved to be treated like that at all. The abuse that Floyd suffered is unspeakable when he cried for his mother in order to escape death. We should always be outraged at any mistreatment of innocent people. Like always, Black Lives Matter.
By Timothy
Thursday, February 24, 2022
The Ukraine crisis and war (Multiple sides shown and the truth shown too).
Ukraine — it’s about more than who fired first shot - Socialist Worker
Russian socialist speaks out against Putin’s war - Socialist Worker
US Extremists Have Picked a Side in Ukraine: ‘Lol Putin Is Brilliant’ (vice.com)
Timeline: Euromaidan, the original “Ukraine Crisis” - Freedom Of Speech (fos-sa.org)
Marjorie Taylor Greene Spoke at White-Nationalist Event (nymag.com)
Why the Ukraine crisis has dragged on (socialistworker.co.uk)
Charlottesville's Alt-right Leaders Have a Passion for Vladimir Putin (newsweek.com)
Opinion | Putin’s Useful Idiots - The New York Times (nytimes.com)
Timeline of The Russia-Ukraine Crisis | News | teleSUR English
A timeline of Ukraine's history : NPR
Timeline: How did the recent Ukraine-Russia crisis start? | Russia-Ukraine crisis News | Al Jazeera
Why the Russian Federation Recognized the Independence Movements in the Donbas | Black Agenda Report
What You Should Really Know About Ukraine | Black Agenda Report
War in Europe and the Rise of Raw Propaganda | Black Agenda Report
A Timeline of the Ukraine-Russia Crisis (msn.com)
Russia-Ukraine Crisis: Timeline of the main events amidst the escalating conflict - NewsOnAIR -
No to war in Ukraine as Russia launches invasion - Socialist Worker
Russo-Ukrainian War - Wikipedia
West pushes towards Ukraine war as Russia sends in troops (socialistworker.co.uk)
Ukraine crisis: Timeline - BBC News
Russia-Ukraine Crisis: Timeline of the main events amidst the escalating conflict - NewsOnAIR -
What divides Black America? | SocialistWorker.org
The toll rises in Ukraine’s civil war | SocialistWorker.org
Brazil mudslide horror exposes Bolsonaro (socialistworker.co.uk)
The hero of New Orleans - Socialist Worker
Hundreds arrested as shocked Russians protest Ukraine attack (theintelligencer.com)
Putin’s White Supremacist Pals Gloat at ‘Black Terror’ in U.S. (thedailybeast.com)
Putin compares BLM to opposition groups, foreign entities in Russia | TheHill
Live updates: Russia invades Ukraine (cnn.com)
Pro-Russian Forces Shell Ukrainian Kindergarten Full of Kids (thedailybeast.com)
On the Left or in Russia? The Strange Case of Foreign pro-Kremlin Radical Leftists | Krytyka
Wednesday, February 23, 2022
New Developments.
The crisis continues in Ukraine. President Joe Biden met with Ukraine's Foreign Minister on Tuesday. Biden said that Russia's actions constitute an invasion of Ukraine. He announced new sanctions to punish Russia. Putin has ordered more troops into the separtist, pro-Russian regions of eastern Ukraine. Putin, in his recent speech, has demonized Ukraine as near not worthy of being an independent nation. The UK also planned to impose sanctions against Russia. Germany has stopped the progression of the controverisal Nord Stream 2 pipeline after Russia's actions in eastern Ukraine. Biden's sanctions are sent to 2 large Russian banks called the VEB and their military bank. This will target the rich oligarchs in Russia. He desires sanctions on Russian elites and family members and targeting Russian sovereign debt. Biden said that defending freedom has a cost, so America can expect increased oil prices. Biden has authorized additional U.S. forces and military equipment in Europe. These forces are sent to the Baltic allies of America in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Biden said that he doesn't want U.S. forces to fight Russia. Putin is overt in attacking Ukraine's right to exist in his xenophobic rant.
There is many breaking news today. Putin gave a speech where he wants to recognize parts of Eastern Ukraine as independent states. These states are called Donetsk and Luhansk. This action certainly has agitated the conflict more. Putin said that Ukraine was basically a made-up nation funded by America. Putin's words disrespect the sovereignty of Ukraine. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg condemned Russia's words as in violation of the Minsk Agreements (which Russia agreed to). Conflicts have occurred in Eastern Europe too. Russia accused Ukraine of firing into their borders, but Ukraine denies this allegation. President Biden plans to impose new restrictions on trade and financing in the 2 pro-Moscow territories via an executive order. Just giving 2 territories to Putin won't stop Putin. Putin's having almost 200,000 troops near the border of Ukraine is war mongering and provocative by Putin. The U.S. government believes that Putin has given the order to invade Ukraine. Putin is a cutthroat authoritarian who is far right. It is flabbergasting to see some "leftists" supporting Putin. Putin is an enemy of democracy just like Western imperialism is.
Some good news is that the jury found 3 men involved in the death of Ahmad Arbery guilty of federal hate crimes. The jury deliberated for less than four hours before reaching their verdict. This victory is real. The evidence was overwhelming that 3 racists intentionally wanted to harm and murder Arbery because of the color of his skin. The murderers are Gregory McMichael, Travis McMichael, and William Bryant. The U.S. District Court panel of 8 white people, 3 black people, and one Hispanic human being. The family of Ahmaud Arbery and the attorney celebrated by holding their arms in a victory salute. Arbery's civil rights were violated. These males wanted to kidnap him. Travis McMichael and William Bryan, according to FBI intelligence analyst Amy Vaughan, used racist slurs in social media. They used the n word to describe black people. I am not shocked as these racist killers love to use slurs against my people. The trial shown all of the evidence in the world that these folks had a clear agenda of hatred against a man because he was black. Arbery's family has been heroic in their cause for justice. Vigilantism and police violence against black people are still serious issues that must be fully addressed. Therefore, we believe in justice and more work is to be done.
Yesterday was the Birthday of Brother Julius Erving (Dr. J), and he is 72 years old. People know him as one of the most influential basketball players of all time. He was one of the best, and he took dunking into the next level. He was a famous player who helped the NBA reach into new heights. Before Michael Jordan, before Magic, before Lebron James, and before Kobe Bryant, there was Dr. J showing showmanship in the court. He was born in East Meadow, New York and raised in Roosevelt, New York. He played basketball at Roosevelt High School. People called him Dr. J at Rucker Park. The Rucker Park is found in Harlem, NYC. Erving enrolled at the University of Massachusetts in 1968. In two varsity college basketball seasons, he averaged 26.3 points and 20.2 rebounds per game, becoming one of only six players to average more than 20 points and 20 rebounds per game in NCAA Men's Basketball. He then sought “hardship” entry into professional basketball in 1971. He fulfilled his promise to his mother to earn a Bachelor's degree in creative leadership and administration from the school via the University Without Walls program. He played in the ABA for the Virginia Squires in Norfolk, Virginia. The ABA competed against the NBA as the ABA allowed basketball players more freedom on the court. Later, Dr. J played in the NBA for the Sixers. He got his NBA Championship in 1983. He won 2 ABA Championships in 1974 and 1976. He was an 11 time NBA All Star. He also was on the NBA's 35th, 50th, and 75th anniversary teams. Dr. J is one of 7 players to record 1,300 steals and 1,300 blocked shots in their ABA/NBA career. From the baseline move to the slam dunk competition, Dr. J had the style, strength, and skills to take basketball to the next level. Dr. J is a Christian who loves his faith in Jesus Christ. He loves his children and his wife. I wish Brother Dr. J the best.
Yesterday was the Birthday of Sister Lenda Murray, and she is 60 years old. For decades, she has been a trailblazer of bodybuilding as the greatest woman bodybuilder of her generation. She teaches us the truth that femininity is diverse not monolithic. She was born in Detroit, Michigan. As a young child, she participated in organized sports from the age of 15 years old. She graduated from Henry Ford High School. In that location, Murray was a record holding sprinter and a varsity cheerleader. She earned her degree in political science from Western Michigan University. She wanted to be a lawyer. At the university, Lenda Muray cheerlead and was the 2nd African American to be chosen as the university's homecoming queen in 1982. Murray joined a gym to be in shape. Later, she became a professional fitness expert. She won many titles. Murray helped to expand human tolerance for women's fitness in our society. Murray has won eight overall Ms. Olympia titles and has two professional wins in her weight class. She is the second most successful woman bodybuilder ever, second only to Iris Kyle. Lenda Murray has earned the right to be a member of the National Fitness Hall of Fame in March of 2011. Her Wings of Strength program has helped many people, and she owns a nutritional products company Crystal Planet Nutrition. Lenda Murray has a Christian faith, and there is nothing wrong with having faith. I wish Sister Lenda Murray more blessings.
By Timothy
Tuesday, February 22, 2022
Monday, February 21, 2022
Information on Many Subjects.
The great value of technology is enumerable. Technology has helped us wake up from sleep, organize our days, travel, and develop complex civilizations. Like always, there should be a balance. Technology is a tool that will enhance human life, but technology should never replace originality among human thinking. We should have the right to establish our own diverse intellectual displays of brilliance. Also, it is important to understand about the how not just the what. It's fine to know about what things are made of, but we need to know how things work in order to advance true innovation in the present plus the future. One of the most interesting things to discover on how is to know how cellphones work. Cellphones have an LCD screen, an earphone socket, battery connector, batter chargers, heatsinks, a piezoelectric buzzer, a buzzer control chip, an antenna connector, and other components. Advanced smartphones have heatsink for processor chips, NFC antenna connectors, infrared focusing beam for its camera, flashlight/camera flash, a quad core qualcomm snapdragon processor chip, a SIM card slot, a mircro SD card slot, lithium ion battery, a digital camera, and other parts. When a person speaks into a cellphone, there is a tiny microchip in the handset that converts the sound of the voice into a pattern of electrical signals. A microchip inside the phones turns these signals into a string of numbers. The numbers are picked up into a radio wave and beamed out from the phone's antenna. The radio waves go through the air at the speed of light until it reaches the closest cellphone mast. The mast receives the signals and passes them on to its base station, which effectively coordinates what happens inside each local part of the cellphone network, which is called a cell. From the base station, the calls are routed onward to their destinations. Calls made from a cellphone to another cellphone on the same network travel to their destination by being routed to the base station nearest to the destination phone, and finally to that phone itself. Calls made to a cellphone on a different network or a land line follow a more lengthy path. They may have to be routed into the main telephone network before they can reach their ultimate destination. So, cellphones use wireless technology. Therefore, the value of technology is evidently clear.
When it is all said and done, architecture is one of the glories of the Universe. Architecture teaches us that human creativity is powerful and strong. It also gives us the truth that there are limitations of invention. Human beings are very intelligent, but we aren't omnipotent, omnipresent, and all-knowing. Only God is. Therefore, we see architecture as a glimpse into the massive creativity among human beings and the responsibilities that we have in the Universe in general. Some architecture is created for human need like shelter, forming governments, and establishing spiritual locations of worship. Other forms of architecture are established for aesthetical reasons or for the purpose of artistic representations. Engineers, construction people, and other human beings all have a role in the art of architecture. From the Neolithic age to 2022, complex architecture has spread all over the world from Africa to the Americas. As human history evolved from the Neolithic Age to other era, we saw architecture evolve into the Ziggurat of Ur, the Great Pyramids of Giza, the Pantheon (found in Rome), the Temple of Diana, the Temple at Teotihuacan, the Great Enclosure of Zimbabwe, Art Deco designs, and other structures. Contemporary architecture in the 21st century is about diversity, not making a single style being dominant, and using high tech, pro-green imagery. The National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) represents modern day architecture to the fullest. David Adjaye was one architect out of many architects involved in the project to fully form the NMAAHC building. The building houses an amazing display of black American literature, artifacts, clothes, pictures, sculptures, and other displays of black culture. STEM Fields and architecture go hand in hand, because you need a great understanding of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics to make architecture to come alive for real.
In our generation, we must make it be known that threats to our voting rights continue, even decades after 1965. By December 6, 2019, the Democratic led House passed HR 4. This would revise parts of the gutted parts of the Voting Rights Act. HR 4 wasn't brought up for a vote in the Senate (which was controlled by the Republicans back then). It hasn't been introduced in the current Congress. After Joe Biden won the 2020 election on November 7, 2020, the voter suppression actions by many far-right Republicans have accelerated, not decreased in intensity. To be honest, black people in Atlanta, Detroit, Milwaukee, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and other places in America contributed heavily to make sure that Trump lost the election. So, the big lie about the election is an attack on the integrity of black people and all freedom loving people too. By March 3, 2021, the Democratic led House passed the For the People Act or HR 1. It still hasn't been passed by the Senate to this day. In his first speech on the Senate floor, Rep. Warnock (on March 17, 2021) spoke about the precarious state of voting rights. “We are witnessing right now a massive and unabashed assault on voting rights unlike anything we’ve ever seen since the Jim Crow era,” he said. “It is a contradiction to say we must protect minority rights in the Senate while refusing to protect minority rights in the society.” On March 25, 2021, Georgia Republican Governor Brian Kemp signed an anti-voting rights bill into law. It is called SB 202. It imposes new voter identification requirements for absentee ballots, allows state officials to take over local election boards, curbs the use of ballot drop boxes and makes it a crime for people who aren’t poll workers to approach voters in line to give them food and water. Democrat Stacey Abrams — who founded Fair Fight after losing to Kemp in the 2018 Georgia gubernatorial race, which was choked with controversy — has been vocal in her opposition to Georgia Republicans’ antidemocratic maneuvering. “At a time when Georgia ranks as the worst state for Covid vaccination rates, Georgia Republicans instead are singularly focused on reviving Georgia's dark past of racist voting laws,” Abrams said in a March 2021 statement.
On May 6, 2021, Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis signed another restrictive anti-voting rights bill into law. It's called SB 90. It has stricter voter identification requirements for voting by mail, limits who can pick up and return a voter’s ballot and prohibits private funding for elections, among other things. Mere minutes after DeSantis signed the bill, a coalition that includes the League of Women Voters of Florida and the Black Voters Matter Fund filed a lawsuit to challenge several of the new law’s provisions. Democratic state Rep. Michael Grieco saw clear parallels between Georgia’s SB 202 and Florida’s SB 90. “That bill that was passed in the state just north of us sent us a message, and the response to that bill should let us know we should not be doing this,” he said during House debate in 2021. Grieco also made an appeal, “Please do not Georgia my Florida.” On September 7, 2021, Texas Republican Governor Gregg Abbott signed SB 1 into law. It is terrible. “It specifically targets voting initiatives used by diverse, Democratic Harris County, the state’s most populous, by banning overnight early voting hours and drive-thru voting — both of which proved popular among voters of color last year,” The Texas Tribune reported at the time. Notably, SB 1 prompted the Department of Justice to file a lawsuit against Texas. “Laws that impair eligible citizens’ access to the ballot box have no place in our democracy. Texas Senate Bill 1’s restrictions on voter assistance at the polls and on which absentee ballots cast by eligible voters can be accepted by election officials are unlawful and indefensible,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke for the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division.
By December 6, 2021, the DOJ sued Texas over GOP approved redistricting maps. It was the 2nd voting rights related lawsuit that the Biden administration have filed against Texas in 2021. The maps, adopted by Texas Republicans, are accused of disadvantaging black voters and fail to recognize the growth of the state's Latino population. At least 19 states passed 34 laws that make it difficult for people to vote according to the New York University Law School's Brennan Center for Justice. On January 19, 2022, Congress failed to pass voting rights legislation. Senator Joe Manchin and Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema refuse to end the filibuster on Dr. King's holiday. Dr. King was right to say that, “the Negro’s great stumbling block in his stride toward freedom is not the White Citizens’ Counciler or the Ku Klux Klanner, but the White moderate who is more devoted to ‘order’ than to justice.” On February 7, 2022, the Supreme restored the GOP drawn Alabama Congressional map. It was a 5-4 decision. This was another bad decision. Previously, a lower court rejected the policy as it harmed black voter's electoral power in violation of the Voting Rights Act. Justice Elena Kagan of the Supreme Court dissented with the Supreme Court's decision. She was joined by Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor. Kagan wrote that, "It does a disservice to the district court, which meticulously applied this Court’s longstanding voting-rights precedent...And most of all, it does a disservice to Black Alabamians who under that precedent have had their electoral power diminished — in violation of a law this Court once knew to buttress all of American democracy.” New states have introduced bills to restrict voting so far in 2022 alone. So, we have to stand up for our democratic rights.
With all of the voting rights suppression laws, we do recognize the activists fighting back for our freedom. One of the most unsung heroes fighting for voting rights is LaTosha Brown. She is the co-founder of Black Voters Matter Fund and the Black Voters Capacity Building Institute. She was one of the many human beings who have worked in Georgia to grow a coalition to make sure that Georgia was blue in 2020. Expanding voting access in Georgia is a large part of her great legacy as an activist. The 2022 midterm elections are coming up. We have to expand voting rights, fight voter ID restrictions, fight unfair gerrymandering, and harbor a love of truth. We want racial justice as well. We know about Charles Neblett, Ruth Mae Harris, and other civil rights singers advocating for freedom. Yolanda Renee King (or the granddaughter of the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.) has spoken out, protested, and use great activism in defending our human rights. Cliff Albright of Black Voters Matter is continuing to fight for voting rights. Other civil rights leaders and scholars like Kim Crenshaw, Helen Butler, and other people are making the point that voting restrictions are evil plus critical race theory is not equivalent to racist extremism. Tons of people are standing up like Ruby Sales (who was part of SNCC and other groups), etc. We have to show solidarity with Crystal Mason who was in jail when she didn't know that she was ineligible to vote. The late John Lewis spoke out about how extremists who try to turn back the clock, and we won't let that happen in the future.
By February 7, 2022, a lab from the World Anti Doping Agency found that there was a sample from Valieva that was found not being clean. She was suspended by the RUSADA. In early February of 2022, Switzerland's Lara Gut-Behrami won the women’s super-G event (of alpine skiing), Norway's Marte Olsbu Røiseland captured the gold in the women’s 7.5km sprint event (of the biathlon), and Finland's Livo Niskanen took the top spot at men's 15 Km classic event (in the cross country skiing event). For Short Track Speed Skating: Suzanne Schulting of the Netherlands clinched a thrilling, photo-finish gold in the women’s 1,000m event. For Skeleton: Christopher Grotheer's gold gave Germany its first ever medal in the men's event. For Snowboard: Japan's Ayumu Hirano impressed on his way to the men’s snowboard halfpipe gold. For Speed Skating: Sweden's Nils van der Poel captured the gold in the men’s 10,000m event. On Day 8, there was the mixed team snowboard cross event with America winning gold with Nick Baumgartner and Lindsey Jacobellis. Speed skating with men's 500m had gold done by Gao Tingyu (from China). Erin Jackson won the women's 500m race in speed skating, Japan's Miho Takagi won silver, and Angelina Golikova from the ROC won bronze.
On Day 10 on February 14, 2022, Americans won much of the bobsleigh women's monobob with Kaillie Humphries winning gold, Elana Mayers Taylor winning silver, and Canada's Christine de Bruin winning bronze. Of ice dance in figure skating, France's Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron won gold, Victoria Sinitsina and Nikita Katsalapov won silver of ROC, and Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue won bronze from America. For women's aerials of freestyle skiing, Xu Mengtao won gold from China, Hanna Huskova of Belarus won silver, and Megan Nick of America won bronze. On Day 11, many people won from across the world. Corrine Suter of Switzerland won gold of women's downhill in Alpine skiing. Norway won gold in the individual large hill of Nordic combined with Jorgen Graabak. China won gold in the men's big air with Su Yiming of China. By Day 12 on Wednesday on February 16, 2022, we see many gold winners of men's slalom of Alphine skiing Clement Noel (of France), the Swedish team winning the biathlon women's relay (with Linn Persson, Mona Brorsson, Hanna Oberg, and Elvira Oberg), and Norway winning men's team sprint of cross-country skiing (with the German women's team sprint team winning gold for cross country skiing). On Day 13, February 17, 2022, American women won silver in the ice hockey women's team, Canada won gold, and Finland won silver.
By February 18 in Day 14 dealt with many events. Norway's Johannes Thringes Bo won gold in the men's mass start, France's Justine Braisaz-Bouchet won gold in the women's mass start (part of the biathlon). Later, America's David Wise won silver in the men's halfpipe, New Zealand's Nico Porteous celebrate gold, and Ale Ferreira won bronze. On Day 16, February 20, 2022, Austria won gold for the mixed team of alpine skiing, Germany won silver, and Norway won bronze. This event of the 2022 Winter Olympics had many black people and people of color playing and winning in the Winter Olympics too. It is important to show this information on Black History Month and to show the world that talent is diverse. Erin Jackson is the first black American woman to win a solo medal in speed skating during the 2022 Winter Olympics. Erin Jackson was the first black woman to be on the U.S. long track speed skating team. Erin Jackson is 29 years old. For years, Erin Jackson has been an expert althlete. Richardson Viano represented Haiti at the Beijing Olympics in 2022 as being involved in the sport of alpine skier. Mama Biney is involved in the short track being from America. Carlos Meader is from Ghana being 43 years old. Nigeria's Samuel Ikpefan is a 30 year old man involved in cross country skiing. Sylvia Hoffman is a black Olympian from America being 32 years old. Kaysha Love is 24 years old from America too. She is involved in the bobsleigh. American Hakeem Abdul-Saboor is 35 years old and Afro-Canadian is 31 years old. More black competitors in the 2022 Winter Olympics are Jamaican Shanwayne Stephens (who is 31 years old), Afro-Jamaican Ashley Watson (being 28 years old), Afro- Jamaican Matthew Wekpe, and Afro-Jamaican Rolando Reid (being 29 years old).
There is the news of bobsleeder Elena Meyers Taylor making history as the most decorated black athlete in the Winter Olympics. She is 37 years old now. The title was previously held by Shani Davis who won 4 medals. Taylor won bronze at the Beijing 2022 Olympics on Saturday. USA's Elana Meyers Taylor and Sylvia Hoffman (who is a black woman too) celebrate on the podium with their bronze medals during the venue ceremony after the 2-woman bobsleigh event at the Yanqing National Sliding Centre. Elana Meyers Taylor was born in Oceanside, California, Meyers Taylor was raised in Douglasville, Georgia and is a graduate of The George Washington University, where she was a member of the softball team. Meyers Taylor is a Christian. She has said, "One of the big reasons I was put in bobsled is to help people not only reach their goals, but come to Christ. God put me here for a specific reason and I don't think it's just to win medals. At the end of the day, I'm in this sport to glorify God, so if that means I come in last place or I win the gold medal, that's what I’m going to do."
From Revelation 4-5, the Apostle John sees the throne of God in amazing detail. Both chapters in 4 and 5 detail his vision of Heaven. John saw God at the right hand of God the Father as proven previously in Acts 7:55. John heard a trumpet. The Throne of Heaven looks like a jasper stone and sardius with a rainbow around the throne. The imagery of the rainbow is from Genesis 9:11-17 where God made a promise to Noah that he would never destroy the world again by a great flood. The New Testament says that a New Heaven and a New Earth will exist (Revelation 21:1, 1 Peter 3:12). The throne has 24 elders. 24 relates to the 12 tribes of Israel in the OT and the 12 Apostles of the NT showing God's representatives in both eras. It unites the Old Covenant and the New Covenant. They wear crowns of gold. John hears lightings and voices of thunders. The Apostle Peter in 1 Peter 2:4-10 mentioned that the church is a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, etc. John saw the seven lamps of fire burning before the throne representing the seven Spirits of God. John wrote about animals with full of eyes like a lion, like a calf, and the face like a man. There was the fourth being a flying eagle. Scholars believe that these beings represent angels and the glory of God. These creatures gave glory to God constantly. By Revelation 5, John saw an angel asking who is worthy to open the book and loose the seals. No one on Earth is worthy to do so. John was crying, and then things changed. Jesus Christ or the Lion from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David opened the book and the seven seals. As King, He sits at the right hand of the throne of God (Acts 2:33-36; He 1:8-13; 1 Cor 15:23-28; Rev 3:21) and rules the universe. Revelation 5 mentions the 144,000 saints made up of believing Jewish people and believing Gentiles representing the power of the Church.
Revelation 6-19 shows future events from the end of days to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Revelation 6 deals with a smaller cycle within the first major cycle of Chapter 6-11. The smaller cycle of the time in Revelation 6 is about the rise of the beast (or the Antichrist) until the return of Jesus Christ. Revelation 14 is the smaller cycle within Chapter 13-19 that gives an overview of the Great Tribulation until the return of Jesus Christ showing different details. The first 6 seals start in Revelation 6. This seal comes from the rider on the white horse. It comes when the Beast or Antichrist comes on the scene. The Beast is a world leader found in Revelation 13 and 2 Thessalonians 2. Once, the antichrist is revealed, Revelation teaches that within that person's lifetime, Christ will return. No one knows the day or the hour of the end except the Father only as mentioned in Matthew 24:36. The 2nd seal is a person on the red horse and the third seal is a rider on a black horse (representing famine and starvation). The fourth seal is on a pale horse representing death and Hades. Many people in that time go hungry. The Antichrist comes into power and Revelation 13 exists. Satan will have his power over this Beast and a falling away happens. Many people of the world's religion leave their religions to worship and follow the beast being part of the great deception (2 Thess 2:4). Many saints are martyred for refusing to submit to the beast and the false prophet. This is about the Great Tribulation (post trib rapture) that comes about in Revelation 6:9-11, Rev. 7:9-14, and Rev. 13:7, 9, 10, and 15). The fifth seal deal with the Great Tribulation, and the 6th seal is about God's wrath on the beast, the beast's kingdom, and the beast's follower. This is a short period of time lasting about three and a half years. This culminates into Christ's return and the end of the age. By the 2nd Coming, the Beast, the false prophet, and his kingdom is gone.
God protects the saints. The trumpet and bowl judgments of God take place. In Revelation 8 and 9, the seventh seal brings silence for half an hour. Seven trumpets and 7 angels are at the throne. The prayers of the saints come to God. In Revelation 10-11:14, we see the angel with the scroll measuring the Temple of God in Heaven. We have the 2 witnesses preaching judgement for three and a half years in the Earth. There is a Great Earthquake. This takes place during the sixth seal. In Revelation 11:15-19, we see the seventh trumpet, the return of Christ, and the world being the Kingdoms of Christ. The dead are judges and saints are rewarded.
Revelation 12 is heavily filled with symbolism. It talks about the Dragon going after the woman's child. The Dragon is Satan trying to destroy Christ, but he fails. The child is symbolic of Jesus Christ. Later, Satan is after Israel in the ages of history from 70 A.D. to the return of Christ. Revelation 13 shows a recap of the rise of the Antichrist with more details. It shows the first 5 seals. Revelation 14 outlines the Great Tribulation, 144,000 born again Jewish people with Jesus on Mount Zion (sealed and preserved by God during the Great Tribulation). The first angels show the Gospel to the world to worship Christ not the beast. Revelation 14:8 talks about the fall of Babylon (or the Beast's Kingdoms). Revelation 16 and 17 outlines God's judgement and the protection of God's people. Revelation 17 shows Babylon being gone. The vision shows bowl judgements. It shows the beast as having 7 heads meaning 7 kings or world kingdoms. This is from the book of Daniel. Revelation 18 shows the Fall of Babylon during the 6th seal because of the bowl judgments of God. The destruction of Babylon is fast taking place in one hour. Revelation 19 shows the great multitude of heaven of every color celebrating the end of time. There is the wedding supper of the Lamb. The Second Coming of Christ comes. The battle of Armageddon exists with the destruction of the Beast, the false prophet, and the followers of the Beast. This is shown in many New Testament scriptures like Matthew 24:29-31 and 2 Thess. 2:1-8. This comes at the end of the 6th seal. Later in Revelation 20, Satan is bound for 1000 years. There is the first resurrection of the righteous, and the 2nd one is of the unrighteous. After the 1,000 years Satan comes to get many nations against the saints to surround Jerusalem for a final battle. Yet, they lose the battle. Satan is cast to the Lake of Fire where he and the beast plus the false prophet are punished forever and ever. The unrighteous have the 2nd resurrection where they are judged at the Great White Throne Judgment of Christ. They are cast into the Lake of Fire which is the Second Death.
In Revelation 21, the New Heaven and New Earth is revealed. 2 Peter 3:10-13 shows how the first heaven and first Earth have passed away. The Holy City or the New Jerusalem comes to Earth. The Bride, the Lamb's wife and the city of God are in bliss. The chapter of Revelation 22 shows the River of Life and the Tree of Life. The Revelation of John is concluded. There are final words for believers in God to get ready for His return and to not add or take away from the prophecy too.
Out of all of the books of the Bible, the book of Revelations is probably the most fascinating book, because it describes prophecies about the end of human existence as we know it. The Bible is clear that the rapture happens after the Tribulation. This is found in Matthew 24:29-31. It mentions that immediately after the tribulation, that the Son of God comes from Heaven with power and glory. After that, Jesus Christ sent his angels with a great sound of a trumpet to gather the elect from the world. According to the Bible, the wrath of God is different from the Tribulation. The New Testament in Matthew 13:21, Mark 4:17, and Romans 2:9,5:3 mention that God's children will endure tribulation not wrath. As we are seeing, we witness a new generation filled with people openly embracing New Age heresies (as advanced by Helena P. Blavatsky, Annie Besant, Manly P. Hall, and others. New Age teachings are form the ancient Mystery teachings. These same teachings have been found in esoteric secret societies, Roman Catholicism, Mormonism, Scientology, and other creeds), overt anti-Christ bigotry shown by many people (including old school Christ haters like Friedrich Nietzsche who bashed Christianity and God overtly in literature), false religions being advanced, and evils being glorified. The Apostle Paul predicted New Age lies being commonplace in society, "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power." (Colossians 2:8-10). This is a time where our morals and our integrity matter. No one is perfect. Yet, we do have a responsibility to be better people, repent, and follow on a course to spread the Gospel so human beings can wake up to the knowledge of the truth. Therefore, the book of Revelations always has a special place in my heart.
By Timothy
Sunday, February 20, 2022
Saturday, February 19, 2022
Friday, February 18, 2022
End of the Week Updates.
There are many solutions to the many complex problems that we face today. We see over 900,000 Americans who died as a product of the pandemic. Millions of people globally have died from it. We find that much of collegiate education is super expensive. We see neoliberal economics promoted by far-right Republicans and moderate Democrats. We see the rise of anti-democratic policies worldwide, science disbelieved, and voter suppression being commonplace among multiple states (not just in Georgia and Texas). There should be taxes on Wall Street trades, direct the Justice Department to prosecute any January 6th insurrectionists, and stop drone warfare. There should be work to eliminate the system of white racism in the world. Federal legislation should ban state restrictions on solar home systems. There should be the appointment of more progressive justices to courts nationwide. Also, there ought to be reparations sent to African Americans as well.
It is no secret that Terrell Starr wrote an article years ago disrespecting Langston Hughes (when he was a literary legend deserving of dignity and respect). Starr forgets that while he was writing his red baiting nonsense. He forgets that the Soviet Union is gone being replaced by Russia. Now, he is at it again. Terrell Jeramine Starr is once against promoting U.S. imperialism. A lot of people know him from the Root. Many people don't know that he is a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council Eurasia Center. That group is a political arm of NATO. Donors to the group are the British Foreign Office, Goldman Sachs, the Rockefeller Foundation, etc. In other words, elements of political elites and the military industrial complex funds the Atlantic Council. Terrell claims to want to help Ukraine, but the best way to help Ukraine is to prevent a war conflict. Also, America is not the only nation with military bases in the world. Russia is a far right nationalist nation. Putin is not a progressive regardless of what some "leftists" say. So, Putin shouldn't be propped up as some hero. Terrell omits that the fascist Azov Battalion and the Right Secret are key elements in Ukraine that must be condemned. The Azov Battalion has a Nazi inspired Wolfsangel insignia. Therefore, we have to be fair. It is fair to condemn Western imperialism, criticize Putin's authoritarianism, and desire a peaceful resolution beneficial to Ukraine as a sovereign nation.
I find MSNBC's Joe Scarborough ironic when he obsesses with lecturing people on "wokeness." It's funny that Joe doesn't define what woke means. Woke truly means that you treat people like you want people to treat you plainly speaking (in eliminating systematic racism and all forms of oppression). He complains about people fighting for social justice and applauds the changes in the San Francisco school board. The problem is that schools with names of racists must change. We live in the 21st century. Also, Joe seems to use "woke" as a prerogative against those who want revolutionary change in society. The truth is that we live in a time where democracy is on a thread in America from being completely gone. Radical times call for radical measures in ending injustices. For this hypocrite to praise Truman when Truman dropped nuclear weapons on innocent civilians (when U.S. Generals even said that these war crimes are unnecessary) is typical of Joe. It is better to be woke than racist. The Democratic Party is not going too far collectively as their leadership is doing all that they can to placate moderates and conservatives. The GOP has gone extremely too far. Being woke is better than the status quo.
He is the human being who took basketball into the next level. Not only is the greatest basketball player in NBA history. He is one of the most well-known businessmen of all time. He is Brother Michael Jordan, and it was his birthday yesterday being 59 years old. Brooklyn, NYC was his birthplace, and he was raised in Wilmington, North Carolina. As a child, he faced racism and adversity. Yet, he made great accomplishments. He had to work to lead in his high school basketball team. Then, he played for UNC for coach Dean Smith to improve his game. He helped to win UNC's NCAA Championship. When he came into the NBA as a Rookie, he was amazing. Michael Jordan won Rookie of the Year, had a high points per game average, and won an Olympic Gold Medal in 1984 at Los Angeles. Michael Jordan defeated the Pistons and the LA Lakers to win his first championship of the NBA in 1991. Jordan won more rings in 1992 and in 1993. By that time, he earned a gold medal again in the 1992 Olympics at Barcelona, Spain. Michael Jordan first retired as the best player in 1993. Jordan played baseball, and game back in 1995. By 1996, he won the NBA Finals on Father's Day. In 1997 and in 1998, he won NBA Championships. He retired in 1998 and came back for a last time from 2001 to 2003. He loves his children, invested in Charlotte, and promotes philanthropy. From culture, the movie Space Jam, and other endeavors, Michael Jordan changed society forever. Michael Jordan was a 6 times NBA Finals MVP, a 14 time NBA All-Star, NBA Defensive Player of the Year, 2 time NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion, and a 10 time NBA Scoring Champion. His legacy is incredible. The documentary of The Last Dance from 2020 details his life in the court and outside of it. By 1999, the Associated Press voted him the greatest basketball player of the 20th century. Michael Jordan is the NBA's Greatest Basketball Player of all Time.
Yesterday was the Birthday of Sister Sheyann Webb-Christburg, and she is 66 years old. She was a 9-year-old girl back then who fought for voting rights in the Selma movement of 1965. He activism inspired by film of Selma, Lord Selma. The Selma movement wanted voting rights for all Americans, especially for black Americans. She wrote a book about her experiences with the same title. She took part in the first attempt to cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge on March 7, 1965, which was known as Bloody Sunday (when crooked police officers assaulted innocent, peaceful protesters in a cowardly way. Men, women, and children were brutalized by thuggish officers on that day). This later lead to a successful Selma to Montgomery march across that bridge. By January 1965, she and her friend Rachel stood up for civil rights in Brown's Chapel AME Church. She brought a freedom fighter named James Reeb into her house. Reeb was the man who was murdered by racist bigots later on. She met Dr. King, and he inspired her. Webb was saved on Bloody Sunday by Hosea Williams. She went to Montgomery in the final march where Dr. King gave his famous speech about the necessary to bring about equality and justice for all people. Webb earned her degrees, and she is an activist to this very day. I wish Sister Sheyann Webb-Christburg more Blessings.
By Timothy
Wednesday, February 16, 2022
New Political Times in Late February 2022.
There are many stories that many people don't know about Althea Gibson. She would often play basketball in her neighborhood. Also, Gibson played pool, hopscotch, jump rope, stickball, bowling, and roller skating very well. Hubert Eaton from North Carolina supported her career too. Sugar Ray Robinson (the greatest pound for pound boxer in world history) was a friend and mentor to Althea Gibson. They greeted each other in London before Wimbledon. Sugar Ray Robinson and his wife were friends of the Gibson family. Sugar Ray Robinson told Althea that she would need to be coached by experts to excel in her sport of tennis. Gibson agreed and followed the advice of trained coaches. Johnson lived in Virginia and Eaton lived in North Carolina. Rhonda Smith was mentor to her too. Althea Gibson was the first African American to be elected as the Associated Press's Women Athlete of the Year in 1957. She repeated the honor again in 1958. After Althea Gibson's tickertape parade in her honor, she told the crowd at the Waldorf Astoria, "I can't describe the joy in my heart. God grant that I wear this crown with dignity and humility."
In Canada, Justin Trudeau (and his Liberal government) is invoking the Emergencies Act to end the far-right siege of Ottawa and their border blockades. Downtown Ottawa and Parliament Hill are at siege by these extremists and their "Freedom Convoy." The Emergencies Act was created in 1988 as a successor to the War Measures Act. This Act gives the federal government in Canada to take measure not appropriate in normal times. The reactionaries want to eliminate all public health measures as it relates to combatting COVID-19. These hypocrites forget that government regulation is commonplace to prevent poisons in foods to making sure that fraud is opposed. There is no vice in legitimate government regulation. The problems of monopoly, hatred of minorities, and anti-science misinformation are the opposite of true freedom that far right people omit. Saskatchewan, Alberta, Quebec, and Manitoba announced recently that they are reopening quickly. They want to end the use of vaccination passports on March 1, 2022. While, it is important to oppose far right blockades, we have to be careful to maintain our civil liberties despite some wanting to justify anti-democratic acts on the basis of "emergency powers."
Joe Manchin says that he is a West Virginian Democrats, but he forgets that most West Virginians oppose his moderate agenda. He believes in the myth that bipartisanship will solve our problems. We don't want half measures and silliness. We want full investments for universal health care, living wage, full voting rights protections, environmental justice, racial justice, reparations (for African Americans), etc. The recent Supreme Court decisions have violated the Voting Rights Act. John Lewis wrote the For the People Act before he died, but Manchin refuses to oppose the filibuster to make the For the People Act to be legal federally. Manchin even opposed the Bill Back Better Act that promotes maternal leave aid, aid to the poor, and investments to build up the social infrastructure of our society. It is a shame that Joe Manchin receives millions from the coal industry, but he refuses to advocate for progressive solutions for all Americans. Only a cruel person would oppose the commonsense policy of the Child Tax Credit.
The U.S. has closed its embassy in Kjiv. It moved remaining diplomats to western Ukraine. The reason is that there fears that Russia may invade Ukraine very soon. The diplomatic personnel are being moved to the western Ukranian city of Lviv. Recently, President Biden and Putin had a phone talk about this crisis in Europe. Vladimir Putin has radically escalated the amount of military forces at the Ukrainian border. Rational people desire a peaceful solution to this dangerous crisis. Blinken said that he executed these measures to promote safety. American officials continue to call on all Americans to leave Ukraine, but some Americans refuse to leave the country. NATO forces are near Ukraine too. Russia has surrounded Ukraine on three sides.
Days ago was the Birthday of Sister Danai Gurira, and she is 44 years old. She is a famous actress and playwright. Grinnell, Iowa is the place of her birth. Her parents came from Zimbabwe. She is the youngest of four siblings. Later, Gurira lived in Harare, Zimbabwe (the country's capital) after the country gained independence. She graduated from high school at Dominican Convent High School. Danai returned to America to study at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota. Her Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology was a great accomplishment in her life. Gurira earned a Master of Fine Arts in acting from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. A lot of people don't know that she is a great teacher of playwriting and acting in Liberia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. Gurira performed in a production of the famous Ntozake Shange play of "For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow is Enuf." Danai knows all of the skills in acting pertaining to movies and theater comprehensively. She loved theater. She wrote many plays and acted in plays. She wrote the play Familiar. It opened in the Yale Repertory Theater. By 2015, Lupita Nyong'o starred in Gurira's play of Eclipsed. She was in many films like The Visitor in 2007, Black Panther in 2018, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame. Gurira promotes the arts in Zimbabwe, supports women's equality, and fights against HIV/AIDS. She can speak the four languages of French, Shona, basic Xhosa, and English. She is a Christian and loves to stay physically fit via Pilates and cross training She has a role in the upcoming movie of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever in 2022. In the future, she plans on portraying Shirley Chisholm in a future film. I wish Sister Danai Gurira more Blessings.
By Timothy