Support Where It's Due

The more I read, the more I wonder

If the support that we provide

To the Ukrainian Kiev Regime

Might be going to the wrong side.

 

The current regime--originally a coup--

Calls the rebels in southeastern Ukraine

“Anti-government terrorists” who

Are a nuisance, a threat, a bane.

 

Some say that groups of neo-fascists

Exert control on Ukraine’s moderate right.

One group, Svoboda, and the other, Right Sector,

Have helped incite a blood-thirsty fight.

 

Cities and towns in southeastern Ukraine

Have become war zones, so we can see

That when access to medicine, food, and water

Is cut off, the people are forced to flee.

 

One right-wing group has glorified Hitler

And a leader has talked of a Ukraine that’s purged

Of the “Moscow-Jewish mafia” along with

“Other scum”; and such talk has surged.

 

All this talk of ethnic cleansing

By the powerful Ukrainian right is scary.

If we lived in southeastern Ukraine,

I think we’d have a right to be wary.

 

I often don't agree with Putin,

But if the Ukrainians keep up their crusade

Directed at the ethnic Russians,

Won't Russia feel pressured to come to their aid?

 

Yes, it would be better for all

To find a diplomatic solution.

Even then we must be watchful

Of ethnic and other persecution.

 

Our leaders so far have been very quiet

About this huge political morass--

One reason being our relations with Russia,

Which always seem to be at an impasse.

 

We must explore both sides in this issue.

Supporting wrong-doers would be a crime.

But we’ve made that mistake before,

So this wouldn’t be our very first time.

 

(8-9-14)