Ukraine Again?

While national powers hold a leadership confab in Beijing Russia’s Putin postures for the cameras once again while his troops occupy Ukraine, finalize trade agreements with China to stabilize Russia’s oil market and income stream, and a nuclear deal with Iran destabilizes the middle east yet again.

What is the world’s bad boy up to? Just that: imaging of a naughty kid making trouble on the school yard. But if anyone thinks this is a solitary game, they need to think again.

Russia is not about cooperating with the global community. Putin sense’s his nation’s frustration with a collapse of both national operations as well as world influence. Its image is tarnished. Too bad, too. Russia has an intriguing history and a cultural richness that ought to bring wonder to the artistic souls throughout the world.

How did things go so wrong? Well we might try wondering how well Russian culture allows diversity. It doesn’t do well in this department of life.

Closed media. Controlled news outlets. Political mind control. Follow the line of thought or be nobody, be ostracized, be silenced, be dead.

That’s the dark side of Russian contemporary culture, and its long past. Inventiveness, artistic expression, personality development, and freedom seem to be doomed for the time being. Why? Until when?

The why is easy: power of the state is believed to be on par with political leadership and allure. For his home audience Putin smiles and puts on the charm. For the world stage he glowers and menaces, unless he is trying to appear charming and pleasant.

Putin shows all the evidence of having failed his elementary school education: he does not play well with others. And he gloats over it.

Long ago he learned that he could control others and accumulate what he believes is respect. Rather it is fear and he doesn't care. If others fear him he feels respected. It is an upside down affair, you see. Just like a kid to get it wrong.

No; getting along with others and earning respect is being a member of a team and helping to make good things happen. Putin does not do this. And the nature of Russian historic political leadership rules power is more important than teamwork.

For other national leaders who understand that peace, global progress and economic equality are the products of getting along and collaborating, it is frustrating to have to put up with the bad boy persona of Putin.

The reality is they don’t and ought not to. Tell it like it is and Putin needs to get with the program. His people’s well being and peace will be the results. If not his people will suffer from deprivation caused by their leader as he seeks personal power at the expense of peace. Ukraine is not power in and of itself. It is a symbol of power to Putin. And an expense for Russia to maintain. There go the roads, agriculture and infrastructure again!

You’d think by now Russian citizens would understand how this works. And insist that changes be adopted. But that takes their willingness to stand up to the play ground bully. In their own minds they seem to think making the bully a friend, at least in name only, is a short term safe bet. 

It is not. Soon they will discover this if they don’t step up to their duty.

November 17, 2014