Well said. We know it but still need to hear it. Especially from someone who has seen so much more than most of us. I will heed the message as much as possible. Not everyone who likes the President is bad, I know that. They have been deceived just like Germany was. That we understand now, where before it was difficult. Like most things you have to experience them yourselves to understand. Hate takes energy we could put to better use. My mother always told me, bad attention is still “attention.” Which this man craves. Thank you and keep enlightening us. The best to you and your country. We stand with you. ❤️🙏🏻🇺🇦🇺🇸
Great article. It is a challenge to resist hating Trump - especially here in Canada where his 51st state comments tend to elicit a “fuck you” response. And yet - you are right. Hating Trump only gives him power.
So when I think of Trump, I wish for him the thing that he fears most - irrelevance. (Canadian MP Charlie Angus said that this is Trump’s greatest fear and I agree). Imagine a world where no one talks about him, no one thinks about him. It puts a smile on my face.
I am British and I have decided not to waste my energy on hate. I will strengthen my communities, keep looking for the joys in life and not let fear or helplessness ruin my life. Thank you Victor. My son is engaged to a beautiful and talented Ukrainian woman who came over here on the UK’s special visa scheme. If there is a silver lining to every cloud, this is our family’s.
First, thank you, Victor. Thank you for continuing to write. Thank you for sharing your insight and wisdom. This was absolutely the message I needed to hear today. And I will remind myself and others of it every day. The history and present of Ukraine has been so difficult AND resilient and fierce. And that is why I will be sharing your newsletter far and wide. You know - like others who have suffered under profound oppression and violence - what it takes to overcome oppression: unity. And right now, many Americans (even ones who for Dems and progressives are angry and attacking each other and elected Dems) - this only helps Trump/Putin. SO again, a million thanks and a million blessings to you and Ukraine. We will all prevail and UKR has been the shining light that reminds us of this every day. Slava Ukraini! 🇺🇦
Forgive me,I couldn't stand trump back from the 1970ies 😩 He's is, and will Always be, a Dirty Hustler, who's only ever cared about Himself and His Image, and he hasn't gotten any Better with Age. Thank You, for being a better,more understanding,human being Viktor, and will reStack ASAP 🙏🇺🇦💔
Same here. I was in the airline industry when he took over the Eastern Shuttle. That was the closest thing to printing money in the airline industry. He flew it right into the side of a metaphorical mountain in short order. I had a few friends working there. 😔 ✈️ 🛩
Thank you for this, Viktor. I admit to spending too much time raging about Trump, and the idiots who voted for him over Kamala. I really never truly hated anyone the way I hate Trump. However, I am trying to pull myself out of that and instead focus on what positive things I can do. I'll still keep up to date with all the absurd danger but sprinkle it liberally (as it were) with hope and encouragement, with your daily reports helping a lot.
So what are we supposed to do when writing/dealing/talking about him? Sorry, but I'm going to hate Trump right along with hating Putin the despot that Trump aspires to be. I'm really not into loving your enemy. Fascists don't compromise unless they gain something and you lose. The MAGA heads that just had their lives destroyed by the guy they voted for will certainly benefit from joining the Trump haters working to take Trump down. IDK if anyone is paying attention but MAGA isn't compromising. They are destroying and I'm perfectly fine with hating them for that.
Viktor, your message today caught me in a terrible mood, a sense of helplessness and anger. I felt, at first, that you are so close to me that you know my thoughts. Indeed, you offer part of the best advice anyone could offer, and the wisest of my people here in the U.S. echo your urging to find joy in life, bond with like-minded people, and protest. But just as I make efforts toward those answers, my anguish grows at the destruction of human lives, and of the natural world. I detest Trump’s “values,” understand and decry his actions, march in the streets, reach out to my Ukrainian friends here, to the other communities in dire need, and seek partnerships with others whose presence and gifts have long been diminished by racism, religious xenophobia and more. Yet even as I am and do all I think it’s possible, mean spirits in powerful positions sweep it all aside as so much dust on the mirror in which they see themselves. I am truly more angry than hateful. I can’t change how the world seems to work; I try to support the good, one person or family at a time. You, the people of Ukraine, are one example whose lifetime has been one of struggle. The same is true of the Arab people of Israel/Palestine, the Jews themselves, and many more. At the age of 78, I confess that I am quickly losing hope that we can overcome our own American mythology and see that we are making ourselves the enemy of truth and justice. Please, Viktor and other readers, I hope that our shared presence will prove me wrong.
I wish it were that easy. Just watching what he is doing to you and your fellow Ukrainians makes me enraged-perhaps because I am helpless to truly help?
Well, as I always say to myself when hatred threatens to fog my mental clarity, let's make our anger productive.
We do know he is not an ally, we do know he's up to no good, we do know he is a person with no moral code, no moral compass, no sense of shame, no sense of guilt, no sense of empathy. We know. Period.
Wow, Viktor; this is a fantastic and an important analysis: and a lesson for us all. You’re absolutely right that he gains power from being thought about… knowing that his name is being spoken everywhere. Thank you so much for reminding us…
This makes so much sense President Biden said this all the time and he tried to unite us but maga would not have it. Yes you’re right I admire Ukraine and the solidarity there is strength in numbers! I believe that! We had that after 9/11 it brought us all together. Trump took us and pulled us apart!
Well said. We know it but still need to hear it. Especially from someone who has seen so much more than most of us. I will heed the message as much as possible. Not everyone who likes the President is bad, I know that. They have been deceived just like Germany was. That we understand now, where before it was difficult. Like most things you have to experience them yourselves to understand. Hate takes energy we could put to better use. My mother always told me, bad attention is still “attention.” Which this man craves. Thank you and keep enlightening us. The best to you and your country. We stand with you. ❤️🙏🏻🇺🇦🇺🇸
Great article. It is a challenge to resist hating Trump - especially here in Canada where his 51st state comments tend to elicit a “fuck you” response. And yet - you are right. Hating Trump only gives him power.
So when I think of Trump, I wish for him the thing that he fears most - irrelevance. (Canadian MP Charlie Angus said that this is Trump’s greatest fear and I agree). Imagine a world where no one talks about him, no one thinks about him. It puts a smile on my face.
I am British and I have decided not to waste my energy on hate. I will strengthen my communities, keep looking for the joys in life and not let fear or helplessness ruin my life. Thank you Victor. My son is engaged to a beautiful and talented Ukrainian woman who came over here on the UK’s special visa scheme. If there is a silver lining to every cloud, this is our family’s.
First, thank you, Victor. Thank you for continuing to write. Thank you for sharing your insight and wisdom. This was absolutely the message I needed to hear today. And I will remind myself and others of it every day. The history and present of Ukraine has been so difficult AND resilient and fierce. And that is why I will be sharing your newsletter far and wide. You know - like others who have suffered under profound oppression and violence - what it takes to overcome oppression: unity. And right now, many Americans (even ones who for Dems and progressives are angry and attacking each other and elected Dems) - this only helps Trump/Putin. SO again, a million thanks and a million blessings to you and Ukraine. We will all prevail and UKR has been the shining light that reminds us of this every day. Slava Ukraini! 🇺🇦
Forgive me,I couldn't stand trump back from the 1970ies 😩 He's is, and will Always be, a Dirty Hustler, who's only ever cared about Himself and His Image, and he hasn't gotten any Better with Age. Thank You, for being a better,more understanding,human being Viktor, and will reStack ASAP 🙏🇺🇦💔
Same here. I was in the airline industry when he took over the Eastern Shuttle. That was the closest thing to printing money in the airline industry. He flew it right into the side of a metaphorical mountain in short order. I had a few friends working there. 😔 ✈️ 🛩
Viktor: Excellent food for thought.
Wow, this is a powerful read, especially coming from a Ukrainian who has, I feel, even more reason to hate him than any of us do.
Thank you for this, Viktor. I admit to spending too much time raging about Trump, and the idiots who voted for him over Kamala. I really never truly hated anyone the way I hate Trump. However, I am trying to pull myself out of that and instead focus on what positive things I can do. I'll still keep up to date with all the absurd danger but sprinkle it liberally (as it were) with hope and encouragement, with your daily reports helping a lot.
This is brilliant, Viktor! You really made me think. Thank you so much. Sending tons of love from Southern California. 😘😘
So what are we supposed to do when writing/dealing/talking about him? Sorry, but I'm going to hate Trump right along with hating Putin the despot that Trump aspires to be. I'm really not into loving your enemy. Fascists don't compromise unless they gain something and you lose. The MAGA heads that just had their lives destroyed by the guy they voted for will certainly benefit from joining the Trump haters working to take Trump down. IDK if anyone is paying attention but MAGA isn't compromising. They are destroying and I'm perfectly fine with hating them for that.
Viktor, your message today caught me in a terrible mood, a sense of helplessness and anger. I felt, at first, that you are so close to me that you know my thoughts. Indeed, you offer part of the best advice anyone could offer, and the wisest of my people here in the U.S. echo your urging to find joy in life, bond with like-minded people, and protest. But just as I make efforts toward those answers, my anguish grows at the destruction of human lives, and of the natural world. I detest Trump’s “values,” understand and decry his actions, march in the streets, reach out to my Ukrainian friends here, to the other communities in dire need, and seek partnerships with others whose presence and gifts have long been diminished by racism, religious xenophobia and more. Yet even as I am and do all I think it’s possible, mean spirits in powerful positions sweep it all aside as so much dust on the mirror in which they see themselves. I am truly more angry than hateful. I can’t change how the world seems to work; I try to support the good, one person or family at a time. You, the people of Ukraine, are one example whose lifetime has been one of struggle. The same is true of the Arab people of Israel/Palestine, the Jews themselves, and many more. At the age of 78, I confess that I am quickly losing hope that we can overcome our own American mythology and see that we are making ourselves the enemy of truth and justice. Please, Viktor and other readers, I hope that our shared presence will prove me wrong.
I feel much the same, Bruce. All we can do is try our best. Standing shoulder to shoulder with you...
I wish it were that easy. Just watching what he is doing to you and your fellow Ukrainians makes me enraged-perhaps because I am helpless to truly help?
Well, as I always say to myself when hatred threatens to fog my mental clarity, let's make our anger productive.
We do know he is not an ally, we do know he's up to no good, we do know he is a person with no moral code, no moral compass, no sense of shame, no sense of guilt, no sense of empathy. We know. Period.
Now act!
Wow, Viktor; this is a fantastic and an important analysis: and a lesson for us all. You’re absolutely right that he gains power from being thought about… knowing that his name is being spoken everywhere. Thank you so much for reminding us…
This makes so much sense President Biden said this all the time and he tried to unite us but maga would not have it. Yes you’re right I admire Ukraine and the solidarity there is strength in numbers! I believe that! We had that after 9/11 it brought us all together. Trump took us and pulled us apart!
I think hating him might be one thing but what we must resist is him getting is to hate each other.
We must listen to each other with open hearts, even if we are in opposing political camps.
People are being manipulated and lied to. They are not bad people because of it.