Celebrating 35 years of Ukrainian independence

 

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!"

A message from Walt to the anti-everything protesters

A Pew Research national survey released this week shows that more than 70% of Americans are "angry" about the "state of the country". Just 17% say they are "proud" when thinking about the present situation in the Excited States of America.

The survey also found "only minor demographic differences in reported emotional reactions about the state of the country." For instance, "two-thirds or more across all age groups" were "angry about the state of the nation." In addition, the poll found that identical shares of white and black adults (72% each) say they feel angry, while roughly as many Hispanic adults (67%) are "angry" as well.

To all those who will be tempted to take to the streets tomorrow, The Glorious Fourth, to vent their anger, Walt has this to say:

Just for this one day... OK?!

Footnote: The signing of the United States Declaration of Independence, authored by Thomas Jeffeerson and a committee of five, occurred primarily on August 2, 1776 at Independence Hall (the Pennsylvania State House) in Philadelphia. The 56 delegates to the Second Continental Congress represented the 13 former colonies which had declared themselves the "United States of America," and they endorsed the Declaration of Independence which the Congress had approved on July 4, 1776. All of the signatories were white males of European descent. Some of them were slave-owners. Get that in ya!

President Trump says it's OK to say "MERRY CHRISTMAS" again!

Speaking of Canadian stamps... Canada Post Corp has announced its line-up of special issues for the coming holiday season. A stamp for Diwali (the Hindu festival of lights) has already been released. Designs have been approved to commemorate Nowruz, Kwanzaa, (((Hannukah))), Eid and "Winter Holiday". However, CPC spokesthingy Carol Singh said, there are no plans for a stamp bearing the word "Christmas", since that could be offensive to Zoroastrians, African-Canadians, (((Jews))), Muslims and secular humanists.

Meanwhile, on the warmer side of the world's longest undefended border, President Donald J. Trump (How sweet it still is!), speaking at the Value Voters Summit in Washington today, assured Christian conservatives that his administration will defend religious organizations. Promising a return to traditional American values, the President said "How times have changed, but you know what, now they are changing back again, just remember that!"

Mr Trump, the first sitting president to address the Values Voter Summit, listed the promises he's fulfilled to evangelical Christians, traditional Catholics and other conservatives, pledging to turn back the clock in "a nation that has drifted away from its religious roots." Today he added another promise, vowing to return the phrase "Merry Christmas!" to the American vocabulary, in place of the wimpy and politically correct "Happy Holidays".

He noted that religious liberty is enshrined in the founding documents of the United States of America. There are four references to the "Creator" in the Declaration of Independence, Mr Trump said, adding "I pledged that in a Trump administration, our nation's religious heritage would be cherished, protected and defended like you have never seen before. Above all else in America, we don't worship government. We worship God!"

Will petitions for secession succeed?

About this time 150 years ago, tens of thousands of Americans were fighting to get their states out of the Union. In part this was because they resented having the central government in Washington impose on them its policies of social engineering. Many thought President Lincoln's plans would lead inevitably to the mongrelization and decline of American society.

Well, the Federals prevailed, the slaves were emancipated, everyone became "equal" -- somewhat later, you understand -- and American society became the best on earth. Or not, depending on your point of view.

It took 143 years for Americans to elect a (somewhat) black president, the one who just got re-elected with the support of just a hair above half of those who voted. The rest -- a hair under half of those who voted -- don't seem to be taking it to well.

Should the disaffected minority take up arms to leave the Disunited States? Certainly lot. It wouldn't go any more good now than it did in 1861. Besides, the Supreme Court ruled unilateral secession unconstitutional.

So all you good ole boys can put your muskets away. However, America being the democracy that it is, you can still exercise your democratic right to petition for rederess. In fact, the Formerly White House has set up a website to accommodate your online petitions, including, if you so wish, petitions to secede from the union.

Well, guess what? Within a week of Al O'Bama's re-election, citizens from no fewer than twenty-one -- count `em, 21 -- states have filed petitions asking to secede from the United States.

The rule is that if you get 25,000 signatures or more, the White House has to respond to your petition. [Does "Chuck you, Farley!" count as a response? Ed.] Louisiana was first, posting its request on November 7th. It was joined by Texas on November 9th. There are 14,879 signatures on the LA petition as I write, and 22,375 on that of Texas.

Similar petitions from Alabama, Tennessee, and Oregon [Oregon? Really? Ed.] are also gaining traction, with each receiving thousands of supporters over the weekend alone. Other states trying to secede include Florida, Arkansas, South Carolina, Missouri, Kentucky, Colorado, New Jersey, Montana, North Dakota, Indiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Alabama, Michigan, Georgia and New Jersey [Shome mishtake, shurely! Ed.].

All the petitions quote a passage from the Declaration of Independence, which says: "Whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it, and institute new Government."

To sign one of the petitions, or post your own, go to "We the People". Let's see what happens.