Party Pooper

Here we are, on the brink of COVID being just about over, at least for the time being. Many of us are sitting on piles of money we saved over the past two years. The job market is booming. We can actually experience life returning to normal for real - and celebrate it. But now, there is this Ukraine thing, Night after night, as many of us sit in comfort watching cable news, we are subjected to the endless heart-wrenching stories of Ukrainians fleeing the Russian attack.

You may say to me, “What kind of attitude is that? Can’t you see that the lives of millions are being destroyed and that the Russian army is turning Ukraine into a parking lot, and you’re upset because your unmasking party has been spoiled?”

My primary emotion isn’t sadness, but anger, in that this whole drama is so unnecessary. Ukraine didn’t start this war. It was no threat to Russia, except in the mind of one person. We could see it coming months off, and seemingly could not stop it, because Mr. Putin holds a nuclear saber, which he has rattled. So, we imposed crippling economic sanctions on Russia that are hurting millions of people, including ourselves and others way outside Russia’s borders, all except the guy who has caused the problem in the first place. Patience, we are told, the economic pain will kick in after a period and leave Putin in an untenable position. Meanwhile, what happens to Ukraine? I heard one analyst say that Putin is driving a car that has no reverse gear.

We have seen this movie before, quite literally. The hero searches the world for his missing daughter, and finally finds her, being held by the villain, who has a gun to her head. The villain smiles and says to the hero, “So what’re ya gonna do about it?” The hero manages to precisely shoot the villain in the head and tearfully embraces his freed daughter. But that’s Hollywood.

There have also been inspiring movies, I should say, about an underdog bravely fighting to defeat a seemingly invincible foe, which we are seeing in real life in Ukraine.

Anyway, as you may have guessed, my mood tends to get a little warlike in  these situations, but you’re lucky, I am not trusted with my finger on any button more serious  than the ones on the TV remote. For the moment, though, I’ll simply fold up the party tent and save it for another day. At least New Orleans was able to squeeze in Mardi Gras this year. I’ll take that as a good sign.