I believe that we are in the dark times. I call it the dark times because it seems like we may be heading into a confrontation with Russia that may escalate into nuclear war. Hopefully that isn’t the case.
Remember the Cuban Missile Crisis? In October 1962 I was stationed at a U.S. Air Force bomber and missile base in Idaho. The Cold War had escalated into a showdown between the United States and Russia. Is history repeating itself? Again?
We came as close as I ever want to experience what could have happened 60 years ago, but it seems like yesterday now. Between the United States and Russia there are probably enough nuclear missiles to destroy the entire world. Sixty years ago it was true.
I look at what is happening in Ukraine right now as a possible step into Armageddon. One mistake on either side could be the catalyst for that to happen. Just because any nation that has the resources to aggressively attempt to take over another country doesn’t make it humanely right.
As a Vietnam era veteran I remember all too well what that war cost in all lives lost. Both sides. And the same is happening in front of our eyes on the national media. The same as what we saw on our televisions many years ago.
The Russian war machine headed by Putin is invading the small democratic country of Ukraine. And Ukrainian President Zelensky is standing his ground. He told Putin “you will see our faces, not our backs.” Personally I get really tired of bullies using force to get their way. And there are lots of bullies in this world. Including in our country.
This is a portion of what I wrote a few years ago and it’s also true today:
You are the warrior sent by the head of state,
Who armed your hands with terrible death
Tanks, missiles and more.
Each one in your own world,
Facing the fears of war and
Unleashing your weapons,
With flaming fire, bringing death.
He is the president, the ruler, who gives you,
The warrior, what he thinks you want,
To destroy his enemy, not yours.
With no remorse, just in his own power,
To corrupt those around him,
With promises of wealth and greed.
Not caring about anyone other than himself,
And his money and his golden throne.
You are the rebels, people of Ukraine,
Who with the others who follow you,
Will win in the end, rising up against
Injustice and the ones who bind you in chains,
Breaking those chains and bringing
Peace to all who believe in your just cause.
My thoughts in the past few days went again to The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. In the Book of Revelations in the Bible there were four riders who symbolized the evils to come at the end of the world. Conquest rode a white horse. That rider’s objective was to conquer the world. Sounds like Putin to me. There are too many world leaders who ride that white horse so that people will follow them and their ideals. Not my ideals.
War rode a red horse. The color of blood. Ever since Vietnam I’ve been against all wars. Who benefits from wars? Not us, the women and men who have fought them, and so many of us have died. What about all the innocent people who have perished in wars of conquest? Not just warriors die in battle. And now in Ukraine. So many innocent civilians are being killed to satisfy one man’s bloodlust.
Famine rode a black horse. The color of the Underworld. The color of Death. Any time there is a war, famine follows. Food supplies are blown up along with the infrastructure for cooking food. Resources are destroyed in the process including the land where crops are grown. Refugees will put a strain on whatever country they are trying to escape to. And many who can’t will surely starve to death.
Death rode a pale horse. The color of ghosts and spirits. I believe that the spirits of the people who are, and have died, in Ukraine will haunt the country until they find peace. Why can’t a peaceful solution be found there? Because of one man’s desire to conquer all that was lost when the USSR was broken up!
I personally think there is a fifth horseman of the Apocalypse. It’s the color of us. Yes, us. The color of all the peoples of the world who don’t believe in climate change. And for some the color of that horse is green. Greed. People who feel they should dominate all the peoples on our planet.
Until next time…in the future…hopefully!
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