The Biggest Story of 2013 That You Haven't Heard About - Part 3
I've been posting over the weekend, which I almost never do, about what I believe is the biggest story of 2013, and given my reasons. So now here's the latest update, from Der Spiegle's online English service:
(Note also that Germany support Klitschko's run for the presidency and his party's position of closer ties with the EU. So the reporting may be slanted in that direction. Remember always know your media sources and take their reports with the appropriate "grain of salt.")
But Klitschko isn't the only unusual character in this drama. There's also Ruslana, Ukrainian pop phenomenon (although she's much more than that). Here we have a wildly successful star leading the troops from the stage each and every night, throughout the freezing cold night in the Maidan. Along the way, she's made it clear she wants no special consideration or attention. She's not enlisted her fellow entertainers and shows up without any entourage, calmly overseeing events throughout the night. This woman has already shown her stripes by supporting Ukraine's first go-round in establishing themselves as an independent democracy during the Orange Revolution in the middle of the last decade eventually serving in the Parliament for a year or so. It seems she's a woman of talent and action, someone to be seriously reckoned with, especially in comparison to so many emotionally crippled, drug-addled individuals in her industry.
Those were two of the most interesting characters here among a whole slew of engaging people I observed over the weekend, watching the live feeds with my wife who translated for me from time to time. Contrast these two (and many others) with the visit this weekend of none of other than good old John McCain to Kiev, where he straightened out the Kiev regime as to the U.S. government's position on all this, letting them know there will be sanctions against individuals who...well, you get the picture. (You can read more about McCain and the U.S. government's activities by clicking HERE.)
The really good news in all of this is that the so-called "anti-Maidan" demonstrations in another part of town consisted mostly (if the sources I accessed are to be believed) of paid demonstrators bussed in and out of the demonstrations site on a daily basis have not caused any confrontation. And the government did not attack the Maidan (so far), so after the initial violence in late November, all has been peaceful, remarkably so, as we're recounted the past couple of days.
I stick with me assessment of the most compelling and remarkable aspect of these demonstrations: the presence of religion, the presence of faith throughout. The public prayers continue. Participation in these prayers appears sincere. The Ukrainians haven't rejected their religious past, they acknowledge God's presence, they serve the rest of us as an example of Who's really important in all of this. We can learn from them.
Our own society has embraced secularism and steadily pushed God out the back door. I think much of what we see around us, much of the reason for our social woes and, yes, our economic dysfunction, can be traced to this pushing of God out the door. It's not so much that we suffer the "vengeance" of the Lord, as that we're missing His help, having rejected Him over and over for so long.
Something to think about as we digest the lessons from the Maidan.
On Thursday Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Serhiy Arbuzov announced his country would sign the free trade and association deal with the EU "soon," following talks with EU authorities. Arbuzov failed to give a specific deadline for signing the deal or to explain his government's change of heart.Of note here is first, that the opposition leader is Vitali Klittschko. Yes, as in the heavyweight boxer. He's not ordinary "schlub" and even during his successful boxing career, if you knew anything about him, you knew that. Unusual fellow: educated, well-spoken and physically as tough as nails, perhaps a match for that other Slavic physical specimen, Russia's president Vladimir Putin, who never shies away from showing off his well-conditioned physique along with his boxing and martial arts skills. Heck, I wasn't the only one who wondered whether a match between Klitschko and Putin might be the best way to settle Ukraine's future relations with Russia - whether they should be as close as Putin wants, or at arms length, as Klitschko (and apparently many Ukrainians) prefer.
In an interview Thursday evening with German television network ARD, opposition leader Vitali Klitschko reacted skeptically to the Ukrainian government's diplomatic offensive in Brussels. "Our president has promised to sign the agreement countless times over the past three years," Klitschko said, confirming his intention to stand for the presidency and stressing the need for reform. "We have to fight for our vision and our country," he told the network.
(Note also that Germany support Klitschko's run for the presidency and his party's position of closer ties with the EU. So the reporting may be slanted in that direction. Remember always know your media sources and take their reports with the appropriate "grain of salt.")
But Klitschko isn't the only unusual character in this drama. There's also Ruslana, Ukrainian pop phenomenon (although she's much more than that). Here we have a wildly successful star leading the troops from the stage each and every night, throughout the freezing cold night in the Maidan. Along the way, she's made it clear she wants no special consideration or attention. She's not enlisted her fellow entertainers and shows up without any entourage, calmly overseeing events throughout the night. This woman has already shown her stripes by supporting Ukraine's first go-round in establishing themselves as an independent democracy during the Orange Revolution in the middle of the last decade eventually serving in the Parliament for a year or so. It seems she's a woman of talent and action, someone to be seriously reckoned with, especially in comparison to so many emotionally crippled, drug-addled individuals in her industry.
Those were two of the most interesting characters here among a whole slew of engaging people I observed over the weekend, watching the live feeds with my wife who translated for me from time to time. Contrast these two (and many others) with the visit this weekend of none of other than good old John McCain to Kiev, where he straightened out the Kiev regime as to the U.S. government's position on all this, letting them know there will be sanctions against individuals who...well, you get the picture. (You can read more about McCain and the U.S. government's activities by clicking HERE.)
The really good news in all of this is that the so-called "anti-Maidan" demonstrations in another part of town consisted mostly (if the sources I accessed are to be believed) of paid demonstrators bussed in and out of the demonstrations site on a daily basis have not caused any confrontation. And the government did not attack the Maidan (so far), so after the initial violence in late November, all has been peaceful, remarkably so, as we're recounted the past couple of days.
I stick with me assessment of the most compelling and remarkable aspect of these demonstrations: the presence of religion, the presence of faith throughout. The public prayers continue. Participation in these prayers appears sincere. The Ukrainians haven't rejected their religious past, they acknowledge God's presence, they serve the rest of us as an example of Who's really important in all of this. We can learn from them.
Our own society has embraced secularism and steadily pushed God out the back door. I think much of what we see around us, much of the reason for our social woes and, yes, our economic dysfunction, can be traced to this pushing of God out the door. It's not so much that we suffer the "vengeance" of the Lord, as that we're missing His help, having rejected Him over and over for so long.
Something to think about as we digest the lessons from the Maidan.
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