When this whole impeachment stuff started, instead allowing myself to get angry and all pissy about it because I knew it was going to be long exhaustive process – I decided the very best thing that I could be was curious.
So I first got curious about Ukraine – which is right at the center of everything.
Where the heck is Ukraine? And why is Ukraine important?
So, I started by Googling and I found a map
And I looked at Eastern Europe and found Ukraine
But then I saw Ukraine on this map…
And a little red light went off and I said
Oh I get it…. Ukraine is that cute little kid in Kramer vs Kramer – remember that movie? It was a custody battle between Dustin Hoffman and Meryl Streep and this poor kid was stuck in the middle.
So – Russia is Dustin Hoffman and Meryl Streep is NATO
And that’s pretty much the gist of everything right there….
Back in 2014, the little boy wanted to go with Meryl Streep but Dustin Hoffman said, “hell frickin no!”
A lot of stuff has gone down between 2014 and now –
but regarding the US, the most important thing that happened is that in 2018, Russia invaded and they just took over Crimea – this peninsula that used to be part of Ukraine – and that peninsula contained important port cities and it is the only route through this body of water called the Sea of Azov
Then the Russians built a bridge connecting both sides of this thing called The Kerch Strait – So, now Crimea has a bridge attached to Russia
And Russia said “F You” to anyone who came near and they confiscated over 750 ships and they attacked ships they wouldn’t let these poor Ukranian people into their own the Sea of Azov to get to their own cities…
So the US got pissed and slapped sanctions on Russia.
It’s interesting that you don’t put sanctions… you slap them! BAM!
But that’s a word we hear a lot these days… “sanctions”…
What are they?
Well, it’s kinda like being grounded when you were a kid. When I was grounded, I couldn’t ride my bike or watch TV or have friends over… so, with Sanctions, they do stuff like freeze people’s bank accounts or make sure they can’t get a Visa to come to the US…
Sometimes it seems like sanctions might be a slap on the wrist, but apparently the sanctions the US put on Russia for taking over Crimea hurt them and they are pissed off about it…
But as you might imagine Ukraine is in a tough position…
The European Union has helped them out with 16 billion in aid since 2014 and the US so far has given Ukraine around 1.5 billion
But long story short… the map says it all… the EU wants Ukraine – NATO wants Ukraine and Russia wants Ukraine. It’s a custody battle.
There’s so much more to this story… if you guys are interested I would love to elaborate because I’ve learned so much – so let me know
And by all means, if someone knows more about Ukraine than I do – which is probably most people – please enlighten us… I just ask that your comments be kind please….
Till the next Two Minute Take – I say, please consider Country over Party – State over Party and Please Stay Curious – not angry!!
Thanks all!