I really can't believe some of what I've been reading here today.

[PosterChild]

303. My point is that...

... killing Vietnamese and Iraqis are not an examples of our activities aimed at "strengthening and encouraging democracy", particularly not in Ukraine or elsewhere in Eastern Europe. Rather, the activates of the The National Endowment for Democracy are typical.

(Please take a look at the linked list if you have not already. It includes such activities as sponsoring a Human Rights Film Festival.)

As far as having a poor record when we meddle, you might want to ask the occupants of the former East Germany for their opinion on our record. Or the people of Poland. You may want to ask the people of South Korea, and of Taiwan. In fact, it's even possible that some of the folks in the former USSR might have something of a positive opinion. Over all, I think our "meddling" has been absolutely, positively a successful, progressive force for democracy in the world.

The post I was originally responding to claimed that Russia's domestic civil rights violations are unrelated to the issue of our involvement in strengthening and encouraging democracy and freedom in Ukraine. This is wrong. Civil rights are fundamental to democracy, and that's why we have been promoting a greater understanding and appreciation of civil liberty and civil society in Ukraine. Russia's long and miserable history of civil rights violations puts them on the wrong side of history.

An example of the Russian understanding of civil liberty comes from Vitaly Churkin, Russia's UN ambassador, who observes that problems began only after steps toward membership in the EU were postponed. "Why did this problem have to result in street demonstrations? Why were the demonstrations encouraged by people from the EU?"

In fact, the choice between the European Union and the Eurasian Union is a cultural choice between authentic, progressive democracy and a regressive authoritarianism that aggrandizes the state at the expense of the human rights, human dignity and justice. We have every right speak our truth to the world and give aid and comfort to those who want to follow a progressive path. And our record on that, while not perfect, hasn't been all that bad.

Churkin doesn't seem to know about or to understand "... the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances" The Ukrainians do. Someone must have mentioned that to them.