Pat Oliphant for February 21, 2014

At least he is doing something…

Yeah, laugh at Putin, laugh at China, laugh at North Korea. Nearly a hundred years ago people laughed at despots in Germany, Italy, and Russia, on the presumption that laughter would make them slink away. In all they presumed and laughed too much. .Most of us are plankton bobbing in the currents of history. The gods love men of steady sense and hate the proud, but first must have their entertainment. Eventually we will pay to play and end the game..As my old uncle used to say, “I joos sayem, I don splainem.”.Will this rotten winter weather never end?

By the same logic, there should never be any international criticism of any other country. Putin has made a few remarks about America, has he not? Putin’s a big boy. He knows that if he dishes it out, he needs to take it. Also, isn’t there a big hoopla about imprisoning people for dissenting political opinions? Or is that part of the ‘business’ we should just ignore?

Putin is scared of girls, gays, democracy, human rights, and apparently deodorant, from what I’ve heard…..

Russia’s new tzar

Putin is getting plenty of oil and gas money to attempt the comeback of the USSR. His PR machine is also working to make him seem heroic. It seems to be having an effect at home and internationally..But if people in the West admire Putin, it would be an error similar to when people initially admired the Communists and the Nazis; and Mussolini because he “made the trains run on time.” People might admire the outward efficiency and toughness, one vigorous man in control, in contrast to the perceived weakness and inadequacies of their own leaders in dealing with problems..Those were mistakes then and it is a mistake, now. Despotic leaders have an initial glamour and allure. They have streamlined agendas and exude power. They seem to be Winners. But they do this by mixing basic truths with lies and thereby skew reality in their favor. .It is an ethical and moral Ponzi scheme. Before it falls apart, it has attracted more followers and this seems to legitimize expansion of the movement. Onlookers might be frozen to indecision how to react: .“The best lack all conviction, while the worst Are full of passionate intensity.”.Evil often has a beauty that dazzles and makes for a wavering of basic self interest in its victims. If it isn’t recognized for what it is, and opposed, people lose ground and might never regain it. It reminds me of a section of chilling dialogue in the first “Alien” movie:.“Ash: You still don’t understand what you’re dealing with, do you? Perfect organism. Its structural perfection is matched only by its hostility.” .“Lambert: You admire it.” .“Ash: I admire its purity. A survivor… unclouded by conscience, remorse, or delusions of morality.”.Needless to say, I am fascinated by the emergence and progression of yet another despot, and the flabby international reaction to his actions. I fear Putin, and I despise those who enable him.

I, too, fear Putin…he is too close to the old USSR type of thinking… ;)