Pick Your Battles

Apr 8 2023 - Updated Apr 18 and again Apr 26

Ukraine is fighting the Russian invasion.

Ukrainians are fighting for independence, for survival, and for the freedom to decide the future direction of their country themselves.

Russians are fighting for the imaginary Glory Days of the past, the resurrection of the Soviet Union, or something resembling the long gone Imperial Russia. A place in the Sun in the World Stage.

Palestinians and Israelis are continuing their decades old conflict, with rockets, raids and other deadly attacks.

There are too many people on both sides, who cannot let go of the grievances of the past, and too few people who can rise above the fray, and make the necessary compromises needed for a peaceful future for the region.

The Chinese military is rehearsing the encirclement of Taiwan.

China is still fighting the revolutionary civil war they won in 1949. They see Taiwan as a threat to their rule; if Taiwan can be prosperous without their communist rule, why not the mainland?

North Korea continues to test missiles and develop nuclear weapons.

The Kim regime knows they will not stay in power, or alive for that matter, in a democratic system like the one in South Korea. Internally they need an external enemy to unite the country behind the Supreme Commander, and externally, they need a credible threat of death and destruction, for the outside world not to attack them.

The Taliban are banning women from work and education, and in general from the public visible part of society. They do not like music, unless it is religious, and foreign TV-shows, that violate their interpretation of Sharia Law, are banned.

They are essentially at war with modernity, and want to return to an imaginary place and time that never existed, at least not outside their imagination.

And Sudan is descending into an all out civil war…

*****

Meanwhile, back at the ranch…

Republicans are banning, among other things, books, classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity, (pornographic) classical art, drag performances in public places, and of course, abortion.

And Ron DeSantis is at war with Mickey Mouse.
Well, not really, just Disney.

Florida's Ron DeSantis threatens Disney with tolls and taxes

“Who's the leader of the club that's made for you and me?
R-O-N D-E-S A-N-T-I-S!”

*****

Apr 18 2023 The Guardian - Update

And while areas of south Florida are still underwater from last week’s floods, the Florida governor, following in the footsteps of the freedom loving Jedis, is continuing his courageous fight against the Evil Empire, creating “more Disney drama” in a “truly unhinged display of ego”.

OK, I made up the Evil Empire part, but the quotes are, respectively, from State representative Anna Eskamani, and Brandon Wolf, the press secretary for Equality Florida.

Ron DeSantis threatens prison near Disney theme park in latest retaliation

*****

Apr 26 2023 The Guardian - Update, again

This is turning into a major Saga.

Disney sues Ron DeSantis in battle over control of Florida resort

Disney sued the Florida governor, saying he had subjected it to “a targeted campaign of government retaliation”.

I wonder if the next episode will include Mickey Mouse and Ron DeSantis in a fist fight.

I could have named this post “Of Mice and Men”, but sadly the title is already taken.