We live in a crossroads in our history as human beings. I think people underestimated the far-right wing backlash after Reaganism ended. Trumpism is still here with a vengeance in 2023. In 2023 alone, we witness thousands of regular books being banned unjustly, increased hate crimes, increased mass shootings, growth of economic inequality, harm done to the rights of women and social minorities, and a callous attitude against the oppressed. The extremists hide behind religion or culture to justify their hate, but no religion and no real culture condones suppressing basic human rights of fellow people. The Golden Rule says that we treat your neighbor as yourself. That's an universal law, and MAGA extremists violate that principle by passing voter suppression laws, limiting which books can be read, and threatening colleges with far right wing indoctrination policies. We ought to live in a true democracy without fascism and without authoritarianism. No one should underestimate Ron DeSantis, the governor of Florida. We all know that polls show him struggling against Donald Trump in the Republican primaries, but there was a time in 2015 when many people thought that Trump wouldn't be elected. Those folks were wrong as a year from now is a very long time in political terms in America. It is certainly a disgrace that the federal minimum wage has been $7.25 an hour since 2009. No one in America can survive with $7.25. Too many people want to measure the economy on the stock market alone instead of how many people are housed, clothed, fed, and filled with economic resources to survive in a day to day basis. We know that now since 2015, child labor violations have risen nearly 300%, and that is completely wrong. This proves once again that trickle-down economics has never worked. It was created by neoliberals and conservative economists to enrich the super wealthy.
There is the tentative deal between President Joe Biden and House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy. The deal may be voted in the House by Wednesday. Then, it will be voted by the Senate, both chambers of Congress vote on it again, and the President will sign the bill into law if the bill will turn into law. The bill would increase the debt limit until 2025, there are caps on non-defense spending, it will protect veterans' medical care, and it will expand work requirements. The text of the bill has been released to the public. We have already work requirements now for SNAP. The deal will expand exemptions for veterans, people who are homeless, and others in the SNAP program. SNAP stands for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The deal will rescind unobligated funds from the COVID-19 package. The deal will cut IRS fund by $80 billion. The deal will require borrowers to pay back their student loans again. The deal will not make any changes to the Inflation Reduction Act's climate and clean energy provisions. The truth is that the deal is a mixture of good and bad parts in it. It was a compromise. Therefore, the GOP members scared Americans in believing in laissez faire capitalism so much that some still want extremism to be the order of the day. Some GOP extremists want to negotiate food for suffering people in order to promote an archaic political economic philosophy. President Biden wants the deal to be sent up to Congress for a vote.
During ancient times, Ukraine was part of the Pontic steepe in Eastern Europe. Eurasians and other groups of people lived in the region. There as the spread of the Chalcolithic and Bronze Ages, Indo-European migrations, and the domestication of the horse. During ancient times, Ukraine was part of Scythia, which was settled by the Greuthungi, Getae, and early Slavic expansion. It was the home of the medieval state of the Kievan Rus. Later, Ukraine was part of many powers like the Golden Hore, the Crimean Khanate, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and the Crown of the Kingdom of Poland. Later, Russia ruled Ukraine for a time. The Ukrainian nationalist movement developed in the 19th century. Ukraine had its own civil war from 1917 to 1921. It was part of the Warsaw pact later on being with the U.S.S.R. as the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic on December 30, 1922. There was the brutal famine in Ukraine when millions of the people of Ukraine (mostly peasants) starved to death called the holodomor. About 6 to 8 million people died from hunger in the Soviet Union, including 4 to 5 million Ukrainians. Axis armies occupied Ukraine from 1941 to 1944. During World War II, many elements of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army fought for Ukrainian independence against Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. Other elements immorally collaborated with the Nazis assisting them in carrying out the Holocaust in Ukraine and their oppression of Polish people. Ukraine became an independent nation again when the Soviet Union was dissolved in 1991.
On December 1, 1991, voters approved a referendum formalizing independence from the Soviet Union. Over 90% of Ukrainian citizens voted for independence, with majorities in every region, including 56% in Crimea. The Soviet Union formally ceased to exist on December 26, 1991, when the presidents of Ukraine, Belarus and Russia (the founding members of the USSR) met in Białowieża Forest to formally dissolve the Union in accordance with the Soviet Constitution. With this, Ukraine's independence was formalized de jure and recognized by the international community. After Ukraine's independence in 1991, there was a transition to a market economy. Ukraine suffered an eight year recession. Later, the economic grew its GDP growth until it plunged during the Great Recession. Also on December 1, 1991, Ukrainian voters in their first presidential election elected Leonid Kravchuk. During his presidency, the Ukrainian economy shrank by more than 10% per year (in 1994 by more than 20%). The presidency (1994–2005) of the 2nd President of Ukraine, Leonid Kuchma, was surrounded by numerous corruption scandals and the lessening of media freedoms, including the Cassette Scandal. During Kuchma's presidency, the economy recovered, with GDP growth at around 10% a year in his last years in office.
In 2004, Kuchma announced that he wouldn't run for re-election. Two major candidates emerged in the 2004 presidential election. Viktor Yanukovych, the incumbent Prime Minister, supported by both Kuchma and by the Russian Federation, wanted closer ties with Russia. The main opposition candidate, Viktor Yushchenko, called for Ukraine to turn its attention westward and aim to eventually join the EU. 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 ("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 Yushchenko term, relations between Russia and Ukraine often appeared strained as Yushchenko looked towards improved relations with the European Union and less toward Russia. In 2005, a highly publicized dispute over natural gas prices with Russia caused shortages in many European countries that were reliant on Ukraine as a transit country. A compromise was reached in January 2006.
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%.
During his presidency (2010–2014), Yanukovych and his Party of Regions were accused of trying to create a "controlled democracy" in Ukraine and of trying to destroy the main opposition party Bloc Yulia Tymoshenko, but both have denied these 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. This action caused protests in the streets of Kyiv and called the Revolution of Dignity. Protesters set 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. Following the violence, the Ukrainian parliament on February 22, 2014 voted to remove Yanukovych from power (on the grounds that his whereabouts were unknown, and he thus could not fulfil his duties), and to free Yulia Tymoshenko from prison. On 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 January 1, 2016, Ukraine joined the DCFTA with the EU. Ukraine supported anti-Russian sanctions. 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. As of February 2019, Ukraine minimized its participation in the Commonwealth of Independent States to a critical minimum and effectively completed its withdrawal. The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine did not ratify the accession, i.e. Ukraine has never been a member of the CIS. On February 21, 2019, the Constitution of Ukraine was amended, with the norms on the strategic course of Ukraine for membership in the European Union and NATO being enshrined in the preamble of the Basic Law, three articles and transitional provisions.
On April 21, 2019, Volodymyr Zelenskyy 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 approved Oleksii Honcharuk as prime minister. On March 4, 2020, due to a 1.5% drop in GDP (instead of a 4.5% increase at the time of the election), the Verkhovna Rada fired Honcharuk's government and Denys Shmyhal became the new Prime Minister. At the June 2021 Brussels Summit, NATO leaders reiterated the decision taken at the 2008 Bucharest Summit that Ukraine would become a member of the Alliance with the Membership Action Plan (MAP) as an integral part of the process and Ukraine's right to determine its own future and foreign policy without outside interference. Ukraine signed an application for membership in the EU in February of 2022. Since the start, the war existed over the conflict and debate among the West and Russia over the future of Ukraine. Ukraine was in the crossfire. Russia still illegally and immorally preempetively invaded Ukraine unjustly. Crimea was annexed by Russia by March of 2014.
The Crimean crisis was followed by pro-Russian unrest in east Ukraine and south Ukraine. In April 2014 Ukrainian separatists self-proclaimed the Donetsk People's Republic and Lugansk People's Republic and held referendums on May 11, 2014; the separatists claimed nearly 90% voted in favor of independence. Later in April 2014, fighting 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 Donbas. 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. The Kerch Strait incident occurred on November 25, 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. Throughout 2021, Russian forces built up along the Russia-Ukraine Border, in occupied Crimea and Donbas, and in Belarus. On February 24, 2022, Russian forces invaded Ukraine. Far right people and fake leftists are wrong to blame the conflict solely on the U.S. and NATO (though NATO has a long history involved in militarism and other forms of horrendeous errors including its rampage of Libya years ago) when many of them refuse to support solidarity with Ukrainian people fighting for their lives. The Russian invasion of Ukraine crippled Ukarine's economy including its GDP. Ukraine had its right to experience its own independence.
One of the most influential rock bands of all time is the Irish rock band of U2. It was created in 1976 at Dublin, Ireland. The group of Bono, the guitarist the Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr. changed music. Their style changed for almost 50 years now, but their legacy remains as one of the best rock bands of all time. They had enormous success by the 1980's. The band talked about love, philosophy, life, and spirituality (especially since Bono is overt in singing about spiritual subject matter). Their style is post-punk. They have worked outside of the music booth to promote humanitarian and philanthropic causes. Their first album was Boy in 1980. Their first UK number one album was War in 1983 with singles like Sunday Bloody Sunday (to call for peace in Ireland among violence among Catholics and Protestants) and Pride (in the Name of Love). Pride was to honor the memory and legacy of the late Dr. Martin Luther King. U2 was always a political and socially conscious group. They made the Unforgettable Fire in 1984. Their best album was The Joshua Tree in 1987. That album made them superstars. Songs like With or Without You made them a household name. They did experimental albums like Rattle and Hum and Achtung Baby including Pop and Zooropa. Later, they made All That You Can't Leave Behind. Their comeback album was 2004's How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb.
In the 2010s, U2 released the companion albums Songs of Innocence (2014) and Songs of Experience (2017), the former of which received criticism for its pervasive, no-cost release through the iTunes Store. Their most recent album, Songs of Surrender (2023), consists of reimagined versions of 40 songs from their career.
U2 have released 15 studio albums and are one of the world's best-selling music artists, having sold an estimated 150–170 million records worldwide. They have won 22 Grammy Awards, more than any other band, and in 2005, they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility. Rolling Stone ranked U2 at number 22 on its list of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time." Throughout their career, as a band and as individuals, they have campaigned for human rights and social justice causes, working with organisations and coalitions that include Amnesty International, Jubilee 2000, DATA/the ONE Campaign, Product Red, War Child, and Music Rising. We know of them performing at the Live Aid concert at the United Kingdom during the 1980's. They were the first group to attain number-one albums in the US in the 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s. U2's legacy is about consistency, bringing alternative rock into the next level, and having the essence of a serious rock band with universal appeal across the world.
By the mid to late 1980's, grunge was formed. It was a different genre of rock music. It was the complete opposite of metal or even soft rock. It came from the Pacific Northwest. Many people involved wore working class clothing, flannel shirts, and other clothing. Some were filled with beards and didn't like bourgeoisie mainstream culture. The themes of grunge were about social alienation, self-doubt, neglect, social isolation, and a desire for freedom. Grunge musicians were heavily Generation X. Back in the day, Generation X in some of their members felt that the benefits of society didn't come to them. Reaganomics increased economic inequality, jobs were lost, and there was a recession during the 1980's and from 1991-1992. Grunge merged metal and punk. Back in 1987, Mark Arm of Green River made the EP called Dry as a Bone. Seattle was the homebase of grunge culture including the city of Portland, Oregon. The Melvins were the most influential of the early grunge bands being formed in Washington, D.C. by 1983. Sub Pop producer Jack Endino described grunge as "seventies-influenced, slowed-down punk music." Grunge artists readily use the electric guitar. Some of the vocals used in grunge had a gritty sound. Pre-Gunge bands were Green River, Mudhoney, and Mother Love Bone. Soundgarden was created in 1984 along with Green River. Screaming Trees was made in 1985. By 1987, grunge music evolved to be firmer in their content. Kurt Cobain by the late 1980's was forming music, and during the 1990's, he became the icon of grunge music.
On this Memorial Day, I certainly know of 2 relatives who passed away in the battlefields of warfare. One person was my late 4th cousin Willie Lee James (1947-1968). He is from my paternal side of my family who passed away on November 1, 1968, at Tay Ninh, Vietnam. His parents were Hezzie James and Dora Lee Fisher (1923-2009). Dora Lee Fisher's parents are William Fisher (b. 1903) and Hallie B. Fishter (1906-1985). Hallie B. Fisher's parents are Ethel Kelly (b. 1885) and John Satchell (b. 1982). Ethel Kelly's parents are George Kelly (b. 1830) and Easter Perkins (1840-1910). Easter Perkins' parents are George Perkins I (b. 1815) and Esther Perkins (b. 1816). George and Esther Perkins were my 4th great grandparents.
Another paternal relative who died in Vietnam was my 3rd cousin Charles Jones Jr. who lived from 1948 to 1968. He passed away in Vietnam in 1948. His parents were Charlie C. Jones Sr. (b. 1905) and Elizabeth Stratton (1913-1995). Elizabeth Stratton's parents are Alfred Stratton (1884-1951) and Virginia Burton (1883-1968). Virginia Burton's parents are James Burton (1848-1931) and Ann Eliza Brickhouse (1857-1921). Ann Eliza Brickhouse's parents are Johnson Brickhouse (b. 1826) and Julia Perkins (b. 1835). Julia Perkins' parents are George Perkins I (b. 1815) and Esther Perkins (b. 1816).
By Timothy
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