Crimea Entitled to Associate with Russia

What do the people of Crimea want?

The core issue is what is the will of the people.  As long as it is not robbing anyone else or any other country of their rights, then that's what the focus should be.

I get that everyone is worried that Putin is going to keep grabbing more land in Ukraine, but I think we should cross that bridge when we get to it.  Why is it our business if the people of Crimea wish to no longer associate with the Ukraine ?   I don't pretend to be an expert with the situation, I'm certainly not.   I do know that the claim is that the government in Crimea is not legitimate but the one in Kiev, the Ukrainian capital, IS legitimate.  Didn't they basically run the President out of his office through force ?  How does that make them legitimate?   As usual, the US and Europe seem to be only supporting those that see things their way.  I feel confident the revolution was a justified revolt, but don't call it legitimate until the situation is settled and all have had a say in the situation.  Things are not always what they appear.  Just because Russia has historically grabbed land and influenced other countries through dictatorship doesn't mean we should all suppose this is the case once again.  Let's pay attention to the now.

Fair and free elections should be held for Ukraine and Crimea with the world uniting to monitor the situation and then let the people decide their fate.  Just because our government doesn't like Crimea attaching itself to Russia doesn't mean they and their European allies have the right to stop the whole thing.  The power should be with the people, and if the people of Crimea want to be tied closer to Russia then that's their decision.

When Putin forces himself on a region that has no desire or interest in associating with the Russian republic, that is when we should be rattling our sabers.  Not now.

In my humble opinion.

Not Officially Associated with the Independent Movement

I've been a little frustrated with this blog, to be honest.  It lurches up and down in traffic and seems to forever hover between 600 and 900 views per month.  Not bad, but certainly not good either.  I have had a hard time getting motivated since the last re-election and I think people are sort of sick of politics and so am I.   So, I am "remodeling" so to speak by changing my tag line at the bottom of my title "Marshall in the Middle".  Instead of "Formerly Known as Chuck Marshall's Humble Opinion".,  I've changed it to "Not Officially Associated with the Independent Movement".

A little history.  When I attended the University of Florida, we had a student paper "The Independent Florida Alligator" (Alligator- Gators- get it?) .  It was very popular and the paper was distributed all over that massive campus.   The paper was very well written and professional and tuned in to all the activities of campus.  So, my point ?  At the base of the title "The Independent Florida Alligator" was a tag line "Not officially associated with the University of Florida".  You see, during the tumultuous 60's this very liberal student paper got into a serious disagreement with the conservative administration and severed all ties.  Anyway, I always liked the way that sounded.  It gave the paper more power and more levity.  It said- this isn't a puppet of the U of F administration., we have our own mind and our own way of doing things but we're still allowed all over campus because we're just that good.   Also of course by mentioning they aren't "officially" associated with the University of Florida  they're saying that they ARE associated with the University of Florida.  It's an implied thing.  I love the subtlety.

So since I'd like to orient my blog more towards solutions to partisan politics rather than just about politics and at the same time I am not technically tied to the Independent movement the slogan somehow works.   That's what I want to communicate.  Our country is still the hope of the world.  If we can just stop running into each other, I think we can do a world of good for the good of the world.

Eventually, if the Independents get most of what they want (which is what I want), then I may change the tag line to reflect new challenges and irritants in the world., but in the meantime I am "Not officially associated with the Independent movement"....... but I am.  In my blogs I will be pointing out more of what the Independents are up to and arguing their way of thinking regarding the way we should all be governed and specific actions they have taken and actions the reader might take.  

Wish me luck.