While we're waiting for President Trump's "energy ceasefire" supposedly agreed to by Ukraine and Russia to take effect, how about a little musical fun to distract us from the unpleasant reality.
Today we present a version of a novelty song which has been around for six decades: "She Taught Me How To Yodel". The link goes to Frank Ifield's performance of the song on The Ed Sullivan Show 7/5/67.
Frankie was born in the UK but his parents wisely moved to the land of Oz when he was a tot. He grew up in rural Australia [Is there any other kind? Ed.] where he started performing hillbilly music in his teens. He released singles which were successful in Australia and New Zealand. In America, not so much.
But that's not the version Walt wants to share with you today. We are pleased to repost this performance by a good Ukrainian girl, Софїя Шкїдченко (Sofia Shkidchenko), on Ukraine's Got Talent, in 2018.
This video has had something like 211 million hits since it was posted in 2018, and close to half a million likes. The title onscreen says that Ms Shkidchenko was 11 when it was recorded, but Ed. read elsewhere that she was born in 2005, which would have made her 13.
We're not sure if Sofia has been able to remain in Ukraine since the Russian invasion, but we understand she is actively continuing her music career internationally, performing concerts and sharing new vocal and yodeling projects across her YouTube channel and social media platforms.
She has performed live and taken part in charity events and international competitions, including appearances in Boston and on Poland's Got Talent and Spain's Got Talent. She regularly drops original tracks and covers blending pop, jazz, and traditional yodeling. Of course yodeling is not part of Ukrainian culture or tradition, but hey...
Ukraine gained its modern independence on 24 August1991, when the country's parliament adopted the Declaration of Independence of Ukraine, as the Soviet Union began to dissolve. On 1 December 1991 over 90% of Ukrainian voters approved the independence declaration in a national referendum. On 26 December 1991, the Soviet Union officially dissolved itself, and the global community of nations recognized Ukraine as a free country.
"Slava Ukraini!" (Слава Україні!) is a Ukrainian national salute meaning "Glory to Ukraine!". It serves as a symbol of Ukrainian sovereignty, resistance, and national pride, and is the official military salute of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The customary response to "Slava Ukraini!" is "Heroiam slava!" (Героям слава!), which means "To the heroes — glory!"
They say nothing much happens in North America on summer weekens. [Other than mass shootings at ethnic festivals and street parties. Ed.] This weekend, however, was different.
On Saturday evening, United States Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) died suddenly at the age of 71 after experiencing cardiac arrest at his Washington DC home. RIP, Senator.
The FBI is "assisting local authorities" with their investigation. DC's Office of the Chief Medical Examiner's preliminary finding determined the cause of death to be an aortic dissection due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
Such things happen. But... although there's a family history of heart disease, the late senator is not known to have had any serious episodes before. He appeared hale and hearty during and immediately after his trip to Kyiv, where he met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and pushed for increased sanctions against Russia.
Senator Graham's sudden death raises suspicions and speculation about foul play, which the lickspittle media hasten to call "unfounded" and "conspiracy theories". Further microscopic and toxicological testing is pending to finalize his death certificate.
While we are still free to speculate without being dismissed as tin-hat fascists, let us ask who might have wanted Senator Graham killed.
* Corrupt Ukrainian officials, afraid that their skimming off Western aid will be exposed?
* Vladimir Putin, as a warning to the US of A to stop interfering in his failing attempt to conquer Ukraine?
* The Iranians, as revenge for the killing of their penultimate Supreme Leader?
* Deep State, which still exists, working hard behind the scenes to put their puppets back in power? Would an FBI investigation reveal a Deep State connection? Ha!
* The Democrats, especially the "Social Democrats" now in control of the Party?
* All of the above?!
Walt, for one, is not ready to be told, "Nothing to see here, folks. Go back to your summer sleep." We call for a thorough investigation by a disinterested agency. Walt suggests the Mossad, Israel's national intelligence agency, responsible for foreign espionage, covert operations, and counter-terrorism. Well, why not? Those who have done nothing wrong have nothing to fear!
The current unpleasantness in the Middle East has diverted the world's attention from Russia's invasion of Ukraine. And, particularly in the US of A, there is a growing chorus of complainers that America should reduce or even end support for those fighting for the freedom and independence of Ukraine.
What can these people say, now that Ukraine is doing what it can to support the American-Israeli efforts to overthrow the murderous regime of the Islamic Republic of Iran? In a speech given on Tuesday to a group of members of the British Parliament, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for joint efforts in building up anti-drone defences against Iranian missile and dreone attacks.
Ukraine has become the world leader in drone technology for warfare.
On a daily basis they can now manufacture not only enough drones for their own need, but also drones for the needs of other countries. Ukraine now has technicians on the ground in all of the Arab countries surrounding Iran that have been attacked by Iran. And they are training the armies of those countries in the techniques of drone warfare.
President Zelenskyy said that "right now, there are 201 Ukrainians in the Middle East and Gulf region, and another 34 are ready to deploy... If, together with partners in the Middle East, we build a system like Ukraine, they will be able to track attacks from Iran or from the Houthis in real time, analyze them, keep improving their defense, giving people critical infrastructure and trade routes."
Dear readers, Ukraine is on our side! Seems to us the least we can do is give them all the aid we can in their desperate fight for freedom!
Thanks and a tip of the ushanka to Agent 5 for sending us the URL for this one.
In "Walt's predictions for 2026" (WWW 31/12/25), I predicted that no matter how you slice it, the Ukraine is going to get sliced, diced and screwed in whatever "peace settlement" is negotiated this year. Sadly, I must now double down on that call, as it appears from this ayem's news that the Ukraine is going to screw itself!
Gee, Walt (I hear you ask), what news it that? The mojo wire has just spit out a report from Canadian Press that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appointed former Chrystia Freeland, once the darling of Canadian Liberals and protegée of Blackie McBlackface, as an "adviser on economic development".
The lovely and fragrant Ms Freeland, formerly Canuckistan's Finance Minister, Foreign Affairs Minister, and Deputy Prime Minister, was a legend in her own mind in Ottawa. It was said that swhe could count up to 3, and even recite from memory almost all the 26 letters of the alphabet in the correct order.
After she was smart enough to get off the burning deck of the Trudeau government last fall, thus precipitating an election which the Gliberals surprisingly won, they got her a sinecure as the Warden of Rhodes House and CEO of the Rhodes Trust, the charity responsible for the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship programme at the University of Oxford. See "At last! Canada gets rid of feminist phoque-up Chrystia Freeland", WWW 24/11/25.
Apparently Walt's (and others') negative comments came to the attention of the board of governors of the Rhodes Trust, because that appointment was cancelled, leaving Canada's arch-Karen (the one who said people having trouble paying their bills should cancel their subscriptions to Disney+) with nothing to do but go and meddle in the Ukraine's problems.
In a post on social media today, President Zelenskyy -- who apparently is unaware of Ms Freeland's lack of both knowledge and talent -- said, "Chrystia is highly skilled in these matters and has extensive experience in attracting investment and implementing economic transformations."
In fact, as Walt pointed out in "Ding, dong, the Wicked Witch of the North is dead!", WWW 17/12/24 is nothing more than a clapped-out sometime journalist who happens to be partly Ukrainian and can supposedly speak the language, although she's never been heard to do so. She also learned, like Kamala Harris, that if you want to go up, you first have to go down.
She was named by Prime Minister Marx Carnage as Canada's "special representative for the reconstruction of Ukraine". Although she left the Gliberal cabinet in September, she still represents the Toronto riding of University--Rosedale in the House of Commons. Conservative MPs said the Hon. Ms Freeland's acceptance of this new position puts her in a conflict of interest. In a social media post this morning, Ontario MP Roman Baber wrote, "[Freeland] is still a sitting member of Parliament. Not only did she lack the decency to resign her seat, this is a blatant conflict of interest. Liberals get away with everything!"
Do you remember this scene? The photo was taken on 30 September 1938.
That's the Right Honourable Neville Chamberlain, Prime Minister of Great Britain at the time, holding aloft a scrap of paper signed by himself and Adolf Hitler, which he (Chamberlain) said guaranteed "peace in our time."
Today, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, went to Mar-a-Lago to see President Trump, much as Mr Chamberlain went to see Herr Hitler. Not that the US of A was threatening Ukraine... not out loud, anyway. But it is clear to all that the Leader of the Free WorldTM intends to make "peace" (and so win the coveted Wally Prize for Peace) by giving Putin at least part of what he wants. What Mr Zelenskyy wanted to know is just how badly his country is going to be screwed.
Giving Putin anything in return for a promise of dubious value would represent a hyuge mistake... in fact, a defeat. So says Howard G. Buffett, philanthropist and CEO of the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, who last month received .the Peterson Literary Fund's 2025 Journey for Truth Award.
In this video, Mr Buffett is interviewed by Diane Francis, columnist for Canada's National Post and contributor to The Kyiv Post. The conversation focuses on Mr Buffett's humanitarian work in Ukraine and his contribution to rebuilding Ukraine. The discussion deals with the impact of Russia's war on food security, war crimes, demining efforts, and the intentional destruction of Ukrainian culture and identity. It underscores the importance of supporting Ukraine and why Ukraine's victory matters.
Walt wonders if President Trump has seen this. If so, did he say, "Howard who?" Would the message have resonated louder in the President's alleged brain if it had been delivered by Mr Buffett's father?
Howard Graham Buffett is the middle son of... wait for it... Warren Buffett. He was recently named non-executive chairman of Berkshire Hathaway. If anyone knows the right and smart way to counter Russia's war of aggression, I'd say it would be Mr Buffett... not POTUS, who appears not to have heard or understood what happened less than a year after Mr Chamberlain brought back his little scrap of paper.
"Slava Ukraini!" (Слава Україні!) is a Ukrainian national salute meaning "Glory to Ukraine!". It serves as a symbol of Ukrainian sovereignty, resistance, and national pride, and is the official military salute of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The customary response to "Slava Ukraini!" is "Heroiam slava!" (Героям слава!), which means "To the heroes — glory!".
You've seen the video clips, over and over. What did you think?
Some say the chaotic contretemps between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President Donald Trump and Vice-President J.D. Vance reminded them of a Three Stooges short, with Curly played by Mr Zelenskyy, who is, after all, a trained comedic thespian.
To me, it resembled a staged WWE tagteam match, in which both bad guys got into the ring at once, trapped one of the good guys in their corner and proceeded to beat the shit out of him... except that this wasn't physical, just verbal, so maybe we should say "beat the bullshit our of him."
For sure, there was a lot of "talking over", not so much "talking over" in the sense of a rational discussion. For those who had trouble following the video, here's a transcript of the meeting as it broke down. Mr Vance lights the fuse and Mr Trump explodes!
Zelenskyy: Yes, yes, but after that, he broke the ceasefire. He killed our people and he didn’t exchange prisoners. We signed the exchange of prisoners. But he didn’t do it. What kind of diplomacy, JD, are you asking me about? What do you mean?
Vance: I’m talking about the kind of diplomacy that’s going to end the destruction of your country.
Zelenskyy: Yes, but if—
Vance: Mr. President, Mr. President, with respect, I think it’s disrespectful for you to come to the Oval Office to try to litigate this in front of the American media. Right now, you guys are going around and forcing conscripts to the front lines because you have manpower problems. You should be thanking the president—
Zelenskyy: Have you ever been to Ukraine that you are saying what problems we have?
Vance: I’ve actually watched and seen the stories and I know what happens is you bring people, you bring them on a propaganda tour, Mr. President. Do you disagree that you’ve had problems with bringing people into your military? And do you think that is respectful for—
Zelenskyy: I will answer you—
Vance: To come to the Oval Office of the United States of America and attack the administration that is trying to try to prevent the destruction of your country.
Zelenskyy: A lot of questions, let’s start from the beginning. First of all, during the war, everybody has problems, even you. But you have nice ocean and don’t feel now, but you will feel it in the future. God bless, you know. God bless you and bless you.
Trump: You don’t know that. Don’t tell us what we’re going to feel. We’re trying to solve a problem. Don’t tell us what we’re going to feel.
Zelenskyy: I’m not telling you—
Trump: Because you’re in no position to dictate that. You’re in no position to dictate what we’re going to feel. We’re going to feel very good. We’re going to feel very good and very strong. You’re right now not in a very good position. You’ve allowing yourself to be in a very bad position and he [Vance] happens to be right about it.
Zelenskyy: From the very beginning of the war—
Trump: You’re not in a good position. You don’t have the cards right now. With us, you start having cards.
Zelenskyy: I’m not playing cards.
Trump: Yeah, you’re playing cards. You’re gambling with the lives of millions of people. You’re gambling with World War III. You’re gambling with World War III. And what you’re doing is very disrespectful to the country, this country, that’s backed you. Far more than a lot of people said they should have.
Vance: Have you said thank you once, this entire meeting?
Zelenskyy: A lot of times. Even today.
Vance: No, in this entire meeting.
Zelenskyy: Even today.
Vance: You went to Pennsylvania and campaigned for the opposition in October. Offer some words of appreciation for the United States of America and the president who’s trying to save your country.
Zelenskyy: Please. You think that if you will speak very loudly about the war—
Trump: He’s not speaking loudly. He’s not speaking loudly. Your country is in big trouble.
Zelenskyy: Can I answer?
Trump: No, no. You’ve done a lot of talking. Your country is in big trouble.
Zelenskyy: I know.
Trump: You’re not winning. You’re not winning this. You have a damn good chance of coming out, OK? Because of us.
Zelenskyy: Mr. President. We have stayed in our country, staying strong. From the very beginning of the war when being alone. And we are thankful, I said thank you.
Trump: You haven’t been alone. You haven’t been alone. We gave you, through this stupid president, $350 billion. We gave you military equipment. And your men are brave. But they had to use our military. If you didn’t have our military equipment, if you didn’t have our military equipment, this war would have been over in two weeks.
Zelenskyy: In three days, I’ve heard it from Putin. In three days. This is something—
Trump: Maybe less. It’s going to be a very hard thing to do business like this again.
Vance: Just say thank you.
Zelenskyy: I said a lot of times, thank you to the American people.
Vance: Accept that there are disagreements and let’s go litigate those disagreements rather than trying to fight it out in the American media when you’re wrong. We know that you’re wrong.
Trump: Well, you see, I think it’s good for the American people to see what’s going on. I think it’s very important. That’s why I kept this going so long. You have to be thankful. You don’t have the cards. Your people are dying. You’re running low on soldiers. You’re running low on soldiers. It would be a damn good thing… and then you tell us I don’t want a ceasefire. I don’t want a ceasefire. I want to go. And I want this. Look, if you could get a ceasefire right now, I tell you, you take it. So the bullets stop flying and your men stop getting killed.
Zelenskyy: Of course, I want to stop the war.
Trump: But you’re saying you don’t want a ceasefire. I want a ceasefire. Because you’ll get a ceasefire faster—
Zelenskyy: Ask our people about a ceasefire, what they think.
Trump: That wasn’t with me. That was a guy named Biden who is not a smart person. Excuse me, that was with Obama, who gave you sheets and I gave you javelins.
Zelenskyy: Yes.
Trump: I gave you the javelins to take out all those tanks. Obama gave you sheets. In fact, the statement is Obama gave sheets and Trump gave Javelins [missiles]. You got to be more thankful because let me tell you, you don’t have the cards. With us, you have the cards. But without us, you don’t have any cards.
Agent 2, who (like Agents 1 and 5) is of Ukrainian descent, wants to know what I think of all this. hoo-rah. In answer, I have emphasized the first part of the third-last sentence. I can't help but be reminded of this movie scene.
Another movie that comes to mind is The Irishman, in which Jimmy Hoffa (portrayed by Al Pacino) and Frank Sheeran (Robert De Niro) lay down two rules: never be late and never wear shorts to a meeting.
Tony Pro arrives 15 minutes late wearing shorts and a clownfish-print shirt, which Hoffa takes as a sign of disrespect.
I say this as a supporter of the Ukrainian people's fight for survival, as well as of the President and Vice-President of the United States of America: When you go begging for help, you dress up -- same as when you go to get a loan from the bank. You don't argue with the bank manager. And when the loan is granted, you say thank you. Period.
That's not to say that I condone the bullying behaviour of America's leaders. Berating Mr Zelenskyy may play well with some of the home folks, but it embarrasses others, and doesn't earn America's leaders any respect. None at all.
As for who "won"... the only one laughing is Vladimir Putin.
Still catching up after much time spent amongst the winter's snows. In Munich, Germany, on February 14th, Vice-President Vance delivered one of the best speeches of his life. This was within hours of yet another Islamic terrorist attack, and J.D. pulls no punches in speaking truth to the European liberal elites about "the enemies within" our Western civilization. Only 20 minutes, a must watch.
This video is closing on 1.5 million views on YouTube, and deservedly so. You'll find a transcript on the YT page, useful in following along.
Were the Euro-wienies paying attention? We're coming down to crunch time on Russia's war of aggression against the Ukraine, and on the vital question of European security. Thanks to President Trump's new approach to foreign policy, we're on the verge of a new Cold War. Time for the fence-sitters to jump one way or another.
Further viewing (added 18/2/25 at 1830 FMT) "Listen to Your People, Don’t Go Hard Left: - Victor Davis Hanson summarizes and adds a hearty "Amen" to Vice-President Vance's Munich speech.
Just before the Big Boy Presser started, Senile Joe appeared for a bit of mutual admiration with... well, watch the introduction,
During the exchange that followed, President Brandon did his now-customary "Number 1, Number 2" shtick, reading slowly from notes to help him keep the numbers in the correct order. But the damage was done.
In a statement to Fox News, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX) said."This is the person who has first-strike capabilities with our nuclear arsenal. We are continuing to send a powerfully dangerous signal to our adversaries that the commander-in-chief is not in control of his faculties. The emperor has no clothes, and if he won’t step aside other senior leaders in the Democratic Party need to stand up and make him – for the security of our nation."
I don't know Yaroslav Hunka personally, but I know... or knew... many like him. Most of them are dead, now. I know their stories. And I know where their bodies are buried.
Mr Hunka is a Canadian citizen, who lives near North Bay, Ontario. More specifically, he is a Ukrainian-Canadian, born 98 years ago in what was then a part of Poland known to some as "Galicia", but to its natives as Ukraine.
Last Friday, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was addressing the Canadian Parliament, the Hon. Anthony Rota, Speaker of the House of Commons, introduced Mr Hunka as "a Ukrainian hero, [and] a Canadian hero", prompting MPs and dignitaries in the House to offer a standing ovation.
Today, Mr Rota resigned from his lofty position, saving the already embarrassed Prime Minister McBlackface from having to fire him. Why? Because, the lickspittle Canuck media told a shocked nation over the weekend, Mr Hunka was actually a "Nazi" (add: racist, anti-Semite, monster, yada yada yada) who served in the First Ukrainian Division, also known as the Waffen-SS Galicia Division a voluntary unit that was under the command of the Nazis. [Don't say "Germans". Ed.]
The 14th Waffen-SS Galicia Division (also known as the 1st Ukrainian Division of the Ukrainian National Army) was formed in 1943/1944, when a determined group of young men and women in Galicia volunteered to serve in a combat division destined for eastern front combat. Their goal: to engage and destroy the Soviet hordes menacing their homeland and to counter Nazi Germany's subjugation of their country.
Although initially Galicia's Volunteers would serve in a German sponsored military formation, in actuality the volunteers of the Galicia division wanted to engage all hostile ideologies -- from both the East and West -- in order to secure a free independent Ukraine. Source: Logusz, Michael O.: Galicia Division: The Waffen-SS 14th grenadier Division 1943-1945, part of the Schiffer Military History series.
Why would Yaroslav Hunka have joined the Ukrainian National Army, voluntarily or otherwise? Doing so doesn't make him a Nazi or a German, any more than having been born in Poland makes him Polish.
Consider the times, and the nature of the adversaries. For Ukrainians, the 1930s was the time of the Holodomor (Ukrainian for "death by hunger"), when millions of Ukrainians died of starvation (or, sometimes, execution) as a result of the Soviet Russian state's genocidal assault on the Ukrainian peasantry.
Mr Hunka and his compatriots lived through the Holodomor, only to be caught in the middle when the Russians decided to meet the invading Germans in the same land that is being fought over today. What should they do? Join the Russians who were determined to wipe them out, or with the Germans, who promised to liberate them from Soviet Communist oppression. It was a choice between the devil you know and the devil you don't know. Many, like Mr Hunka, chose the latter. But doing so didn't make him a Nazi!
After the fall of the Third Reich, 1000s of Ukrainians found themselves in Germany, in prison camps or, later, in refugee camps. Members of my own family, who had been taken to Germany as slave labourers, were forced to make another hard choice.
Many Ukrainian prisoners had no choice. They were handed over to the Russians, "repatriated" to the Soviet Union, where large numbers of them were shot for being "contaminated" by their experiences in the West.
Those who wanted to live, and had the choice, asked to go instead to other countries with established Ukrainian communities, like Argentina, Australia, and (of course) Canada. I say "of course" because Canada had been welcoming "Galicians" since 1905, when the famous "men in sheepskin coats" had flocked to the fertile lands of western Canada as the Austro-Hungarian empire started to disintegrate.
That, I would guess, is why Yaroslav Hunka chose to come to Canada -- "a good place for Ukrainians", then and now. I would guess, too, that Mr Hunka didn't receive any government handouts -- housing, food, medical care or anything else.
I imagine he got off the boat in Halifax with the clothes he stood up in and perhaps a few dollars in his pocket, and had to make his own way after that. That's how it was with people very near and dear to me. Some of them, like Mr Hunka, may have fought with the Germans against the Russians. Some of their descendants are in Ukraine right now, fighting against the Russians. But that's ot because they were or are Nazis. They were Ukrainians, and are now Ukrainian-Canadians. End of story!
Слава Україні! Героям слава!
Footnote: Shown above is the cenotaph featuring the emblem of the 14th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (1st Galician), at Saint Volodymyr's Cemetery in Oakville, Ontario, Canada.
"I mean, we ended the Muslim civil war, we brought peace and democracy to Iraq and all those other places, and we saved the world from Al-Qaeda, ISIS and the Taliban. So we won... right?"
Errr... actually, NO! Ever since WWII, and particularly since the fall of the Twin Towers, the Paranoid States of America has considered itself the World's Policeman, on a mission to spread freedom, democracy, and the American way of life (ugghhh, brrrrr) throughout the rest of the world, whether ROTW wants it or not.
After 9/11, the words "al-Qaeda" became shorthand for Islamic terrorism anywhere in the world. The cry "Allahu akbar!" was heard in London, Paris, Berlin [That's enough world cities. Ed.] and is still our best guess any time there's a suicide bombing or mass shooting or terror attack anywhere in the Middle East or the Western world.
With the US of A as the unwitting midwife, Al-Qaeda begat ISIS in Iraq and Syria. The Muslim civil war in Iraq begat the same in Syria. The American-led (but really America-only) missions in Iraq and Afghanistan ended in ignominious retreat.
Saddam Hussein and Muammar Ghadafi were deposed and killed, but today the countries they ruled remain no-go zones for Westerners, as does the entire Muddled East from the Mediterranean all the way to Pakistan. (The possible exception is Israel, although it has its own wars with Palestinians and Hezbollah to worry about.)
Instead of bringing the Islamic republics, sheikdoms, etc into the New World Order, American intervention (read: meddling) has turned the region into one huge shithole, stuck in the mentality of the Middle Ages and intent on bring the ROTW down to its level. I call our mission a failure, utter and complete.
Footnote: Regular readings should know that Walt fully supports Ukraine and Ukrainians in their reistance to the illegal Russian invasion and occupation of their land. Слава Україні! Героям слава!
I believe we should give the Ukrainians as much humanitarian and military assistance as we can, short of putting US or NATO boots on the ground. Why stop at that? Precisely because of the mess America has made of every foreign intervention since (and including) Korea. That kind of "help" is the last thing Ukraine needs!
Although there are some dissenters, the vast majority of Canadians support the Ukrainian resistance to the Russian invasion of their country. Support for a free Ukraine is visible "from coast to coast to coast", as witness this photo, sent to us by Agent 78, who was visiting the most famous town in Newfoundland.
Yes, Virginia, there is a Dildo in Canada's easternmost province, in the easterly part of the Avalon Peninsula. Agent 78 says the people there are very friendly and hospitable. The chief industries are fishing and sign-making.
And, having managed to avoid being swallowed up by Canada until 1949, they appreciate the Ukrainians' desire to keep their independence and the freedom to be who they are. God bless them, and God bless the Ukraine. Слава Україні!
Президент Володимир Зеленський узяв участь в урочистостях з нагоди відзначення 9-ї річниці Національної гвардії України й випуску офіцерів Національної академії НГУ та Київського інституту НГУ.
Graduation ceremony in Kyiv. New officers, soon off to the war. In Ukrainian, but I think a translation is unnecessary. Just share the feeling.
Weep with us, dear friends. And pray for these brave freedom fighters, many of whom will not return home. Pray that God will hear...and answer.
Many thanks to an old friend for sending us this link. And happy birthday to Agent 1, who has just today reached retirement age.
UNITED24 was launched by Volodymr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, as a venue for collecting charitable donations in support of Ukraine's fight for freedom from Russia. One of UNITED24's ambassadors is country music superstar Brad Paisley, who dropped "Same Here", the first single from his upcoming album, Son of the Mountains on Friday, February 24th.
The date is significant, marking as it does the first anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. "Same Here" features a special appearance by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. In an appearance on NBC’s The Today Show, Brad Paisley said of President Zelenskyy, "I think he understands that art is how you reach the most people, especially in the heart. He can give as many speeches as he can give, but it's a lot easier to hear something with a melody."
The song doesn’t mention the Ukrainian war specifically, it ends with Paisley and the President in conversation, recorded during a video call. You'll hear President Zelenskyy talking about the Ukrainians' desire for freedom saying, "There is no distance between our two countries in such values."
Walt's comment: Lots of Americans and Canadians, maybe even some Europeans, also yearn for freedom from the tyranny of wokeism imposed on us by the liberal elites. Many thanks to Agent 5 for sharing this anthem of freedom!
Thanks to Agent 5, we are able to share with you an encore performance of this lovely Christmas song, "The Carol of the Bells", given by a massed choir of American and Ukrainian singers at Carnegie Hall on 11 December 2022.
The song is actually Ukrainian, an arrangement by Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovych of an ancient polyphonic folk song.
The song was adopted by western culture, with new English words about bells, which are lovely enough in their own way, and which preserve the spirit of good cheer in the original.
The Ukrainian song, though, is not about Christmas at all, since it refers to pre-Christian traditions. It is about about spring, about the favorable signs brought by animals, about present love and coming prosperity. It is a song of affirmation and encouragement. Its very name, "Shchedryk," suggests generosity and abundance.
"Shchedryk" was performed in Carnegie Hall in October 1921 by Ukrainian musicians seeking support for a Ukrainian republic. Its composer had been murdered by the Bolshevik secret police earlier that year. Most of what is now Ukraine would soon thereafter be incorporated into the Soviet Union.
The song was Americanized in 1936, not long after the Holodomor, the great famine in Soviet Ukraine, just at the beginning of Stalin's great terror. Its origins were forgotten, as was Ukraine in general.
The Ukrainian children's choir that travelled to New York this month to perform the song came bearing a gift, their presence and their performance, one that gently echoed back to us our appropriation of a song, but without resentment, only with generosity.
In all the fuss over the midterms, Walt has not forgotten the war in Ukraine.
Listen to the prayers for Ukraine, for peace and freedom from the Russian invaders, during the Divine Liturgy at Saint Elias Ukrainian Greco-Catholic Church, Brampton (Ontario) Canada, 6/11/2022.
The following week we received the good news of the liberation of Kherson from the Russian invaders.
Glory be to God! Glory to Ukraine! To the heroes, glory!
On 9/11, while Walt was thinking about other things (see three previous posts), the Telegraph reported that Ukrainian armed succeeded in retaking from the invading Russians over 2500 sq km of their country.
They punched a hole through thinly-guarded Russian front lines east of Kharkiv, and severing the Russian lines of logistics, forcing the withdrawal of large contingents of Russian soldiers from multiple locations, about as much territory as they gained since April.
Most important, the Ukrainians retook the cities of Izyum and Kupyansk. Without them, Russia can no longer supply its forces in the north-east or east of Ukraine, so further collapses, withdrawals and surrenders of Russian forces are to be expected.
The Telegraph predicts that the Ukrainians will keep control of what they have gained. The Russians are finding it hard to defend, let alone counterattack. They simply don't have the troops or the logistics. Worse (for them) their morale - that intangible essential in warfare - has hit a new rock bottom.
Today we learn that frustration with Russia’s staggering losses in Ukraine has spilled over into the tightly controlled state media. Viewers have been warned by a war commentator that Vladimir Putin has been misled by advisers, and said Ukraine cannot be defeated. Amazing! Like watching one of CNN's never-Trumpers admit that the Democrats are going to get thrashed in the mid-terms!
Boris Nadezhdin, who for years played the token liberal on state television, appeared last weekend for the first time in months, calling for peace talks. "We're now at the point where we have to understand – it's absolutely impossible to defeat Ukraine, using the resources and colonial war methods that Russia is using to win this war."
It's not yet time to break out the best vodka, but the signs are encouraging.
About a month ago, Dr Jordan Peterson (for whom Walt has all the time in the world!) wrote an article for the Daily Wire entitled "Russia Vs. Ukraine Or Civil War In The West?" In this thought-provoking piece, Dr Peterson listed the reasons why we're seeing an extended conflict in Ukraine, and explains why a culture war in the West has fueled the Russian fire.
Since the Daily Wire is accessible only to members, the article was not widely read or circulated. So Dr Peterson read it aloud on his YouTube channel. Click here to watch the entire video. It's over 51 minutes long. If you're thinking that's too much -- some other time, perhaps -- Ed. has prepared the clip below in which Dr Peterson sums up his message of warning.
We hope you will now be motivated to click on the link to the full video to understand why there's much more to the war in Ukraine than just resisting Russian imperialism. Those who, like Walt, cherish the ideal of a free and independent Ukraine, need to take a broader and deeper view of the conflict.
We cannot be assured that we are on The Right Side until we understand the moral, philosophical and ideological positions of the combatants. If it comes down to a civil war between those who stand for the values of Christian civilization and those who espouse today's politically orthodox secular humanism, whose side should we take?
Thanks to Agent 9 for pointing us in the right direction.
