occasional reflections on culture & politics
The invasion of Ukraine violates international law and basic human decency. Civilian infrastructure is targeted, atrocities are committed, and propaganda masks aggression. Calling it a “special operation” is a cynical euphemism for state-sponsored terror.
Putin and Lavrov have repeatedly lied about Crimea, Donbass, NATO, and Ukraine. Expecting honesty from proven liars is naïve. Their words are strategic tools of manipulation, not diplomacy. Belief in their narratives enables further violence.
Art and performance are inherently political. Silence in the face of tyranny is complicity. Artists like Gergiev and Riefenstahl illustrate the spectrum from resistance to propaganda. True art demands introspection and moral clarity.
A direct appeal to Russian citizens to reject the war and reclaim their dignity. The regime’s brutality is not inevitable—it’s a choice. Resistance is possible, and silence is no longer defensible.
Criticizing Putin does not mean condemning all Russians. The distinction is vital. Many Russians oppose the war and suffer under the regime. Moral clarity requires targeting authoritarianism, not entire populations.
Putin’s actions echo the worst crimes of the 20th century. The West’s appeasement and delay mirror past failures to confront fascism. History demands vigilance, not nostalgia. Evil must be named and resisted.
Living under dictatorship means fear, censorship, and moral compromise. The post contrasts democratic values with authoritarian control, urging readers to appreciate and defend their freedoms before they’re lost.
Putin’s regime meets the criteria of fascism: ultranationalism, suppression of dissent, glorification of violence, and cult of personality. Denial of this reality enables complicity. The label is not rhetorical—it’s descriptive.
A poetic invocation of urgency and presence. The speaker calls for action in the face of despair, affirming that the time to live, resist, and create is now. “Nunc est” becomes both mantra and moral imperative.
Putin’s war tactics in Ukraine—targeting civilians, denying national identity, and justifying violence through ideological narratives—are framed as genocidal. The moral and legal threshold has been crossed. The West must stop equivocating and act decisively to prevent further atrocities.
Erratic Attempts 