Musings on Ukraine and the State of
world

Musings on Ukraine and the State of Democracy

These past days have left our heads and hearts in a tangled and broken mess of thoughts and emotions:

• Horror as we watched Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine with the full intent of destroying its nascent democracy;
• Horror as we watched images of destroyed structures and fleeing refugees;
• Cheering as we witnessed a former comedian, now president, inspire the world and his people with courageous resolve;
• Hope and renewed confidence in humanity as world leaders joined to swiftly condemn Russia’s actions and to impose crippling sanctions;
• Fear that, should the conflict spill into NATO territory, we have witnessed the start of WWIII.

We stand in solidarity with Ukraine. We do so by joining the fight to preserve our own democracy, knowing that our strength as a nation is essential to the outcome of the broader fight. Interference in our elections, a criminally collaborative former president, January 6, and escalating cultural wars were part of Putin’s strategy in his global game of chess and war on democracy.

Utah is set to be an unwitting pawn in that game if we don’t fight. Many good bills came from this legislative session, including many aimed at victim advocacy and criminal justice reform. However, legislators undermined democracy when they drew gerrymandered congressional and legislative district boundaries and tried to end vote by mail, thereby seriously restricting access to the ballot. They introduced bills that robbed public education of funding when our per pupil spending is last among states. And, they worked to limit student exposure to a rounded view of our history and culture in ways reminiscent of Nazi Germany.

Stand with Ukraine. Stand with American democracy. The world depends on us. Speak up, speak out, run for office. The filing deadline is 5 pm Friday.

and his people with courageous resolve;
Hope and renewed confidence in humanity as world leaders joined to swiftly
condemn Russia’s actions and to impose crippling sanctions;
Fear that, should the conflict spill into NATO territory, we have witnessed the
start of WWIII.
We stand in solidarity with Ukraine. We do so by joining the fight to preserve our
own democracy, knowing that our strength as a nation is essential to the outcome
of the broader fight. Interference in our elections, a criminally collaborative former
president, January 6, and escalating cultural wars were part of Putin’s strategy in his
global game of chess and war on democracy.
Utah is set to be an unwitting pawn in that game if we don’t fight. Many good bills
came from this legislative session, including many aimed at victim advocacy and
criminal justice reform. However, legislators undermined democracy when they
drew gerrymandered congressional and legislative district boundaries and tried to
end vote by mail, thereby seriously restricting access to the ballot. They introduced
bills that robbed public education of funding when our per pupil spending is last
among states. And, they worked to limit student exposure to a rounded view of our
history and culture in ways reminiscent of Nazi Germany.
Stand with Ukraine. Stand with American democracy. The world depends on us.
Speak up, speak out, run for office. The filing deadline is 5 pm Friday.