update: ok, here's the post. It's getting more attention than I imagined so I'm not going to make a new post for it. Feel free to read it, comment if you want... I enjoyed writing it, enjoyed thinking about what I'd write. I've really enjoyed following along with the other posts, too... but I should say that, obviously, not all of them reflect my own thoughts, ideas, beliefs. I think (hope) that you already know that. I think it's good for us (for me, for sure) to remember that we are not islands isolated from other people. But we don't just jump in and swim in the polluted water, either.
ok- here's the text and the pic that accompanies it on the 3six5 site. Enjoy! :)
I thought I’d be in Kyiv, Ukraine. Instead, I’m near Warsaw, Poland. My stay has so far been completely overshadowed by the death of the president and too many other high-ranking officials 3 weeks ago while en route to a memorial service for Polish officers massacred in Katyn, Russia, 70 years ago. Poland went into shock then mourning.
All around Warsaw are black posters: Smolensk 10.04.2010 We will remember! Yesterday, we visited a friend. Talked about the tragedy. There are all kinds of rumors afoot: The pilot was forced against his better judgment to land; Terrorists were involved; Russia did it.
In Ukraine, home of my heart for 10 years now, the new president just made a deal- Cheap gas for the Ukrainians; in exchange, the Russian Black Sea Naval Fleet stays in Crimea for 25 more years. This has sparked a cry of outrage. Selling out to Russia! Ukraine’s losing her sovereignty! Parliament ratified it 2 days ago…but not before the 2 sides fought- literally. One MP received head injuries; they wrestled and fought like angry 8 year olds, threw food, set off smoke grenades and super-glued the voting machines.
We live in the shadow of Russia, in the shadow of real life chess games we don’t understand; nor do we see the game board or the hands that move the pieces.
But- it’s spring. Time to throw off the heavy cloak of mourning. Time to look beyond the shadow of the past. There’s blue sky above. A beautiful flag flying. The trees are budding. Time to go forward into the sun. Poland is. Ukraine is trying to.
Me? My gas bill will likely go down.
But more than that, I have a love in my heart that no conspiracy theory can shake or touch. Life is a wonderful thing. Hope is alive and well.
re the pic: the pic, btw, is of the Palace of Culture and Science in Warsaw. Built by the Soviets, interesting bit of history at wiki: Palace of Culture and Science
