Ukraine Must Survive

 Ukraine must survive.

Ukraine must survive because it is a country where people can still organize themselves to determine their collective future. Ukraine is a place where governing power is gained and lost, by revolutions and by elections. It is tedious to tut-tut Ukraine for the sad facts that corruption and right wing extremists exist there, in part. It is in fact more to the glory of Ukraine that their population has been trying, and sometimes successfully confronting, these bunions on the walking feet of their democracy. After all, Ukrainians have walked through the tall gates and all over the decadent mansions of their overthrown corrupt billionaire former president. Americans haven't. Ukrainians have chosen a Jewish leader, a member of a minority ethnic group historically oppressed, and rallied universally behind him. More than did some political parties I know close to home. When a socialist revolution happens and endures, it will be on the periphery of empire such as where Ukraine is. (Etymologically, u kray - means "on the edge of the country" or "frontier.") It is on the edge where change can happen, where people power can prevail, not in the center, where repressive forces are concentrated (Washington, Brussels, Beijing, and Moscow.) Therefore, for people to have the power anywhere, Ukraine, where the power of the people is everywhere, must survive.