February 17, 2024
We are drowning in a tidal wave of violence. Across the country and around the globe, we are surrounded by people who believe that murderous violence is the path to victory in every sphere— from petty arguments to geopolitical dominance. On Valentine’s Day, the Kansas City celebration for the Chiefs’ Super Bowl victory was marred by a mass shooting that killed one person and injured 21 others. The shooting was apparently the reckless consequence of a disagreement among children so young that their names were not released, (Source: “2 juveniles charged in mass shooting at the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl parade,” by Nick Ingram, Scott McFetridge and Jim Salter, Associated Press (ap.com), 2/16/24).
Those of us who are sentient beings can see the clear link between the ubiquity of guns and the tragedy in Kansas City, a Democratic city in a Republican ruled state. For Republicans, the suggestion that guns be regulated in any way is an anathema. Missouri has “some of the least restrictive gun laws in the nation,” and there is no age limit on how young you can be to own a gun, (Source: “When is a gun illegal in Kansas City? These are the remaining gun restrictions in Missouri,” by Glenn E. Rice, The Kansas City Star, 2/16/24). 800 police officers were on hand in Kansas City on Wednesday, but that did not keep those 22 people safe.
In 2024, there have been more mass shootings than days, (Source: gunviolencearchive.org), but the bloodlust of the Republicans never abates. It is futile to appeal to their conscience, because they have none. If we are wondering what their end game could be, we need look no further than the death on Friday of Alexei Navalny in a Russian gulag above the Arctic Circle, (Source: “Death of Alexei Navalny is confirmed, family calls for immediate return of his body,” by Leila Sackur, NBCnews.com, 2/17/24). Navalny had already survived an assasination attempt in August 2020, when FSB agents tried to poison him with Novichok, a military grade chemical weapon, by escaping to a German hospital,(Source: “The Death of Alexey Navalny, Putin’s Most Formidable Opponent,” by Masha Gessen, The New Yorker, 2/16/24).
Despite knowing that his return to Russia would mean certain imprisonment and death, Navalny returned to continue his crusade against Putin’s corruption. His 2021 film about Putin’s $1.3 billion palace which boasts an underground hockey rink and a vineyard, was viewed by 20 million people within one day of its release, (Source: “Alexei Navalny: millions watched jailed critic’s ’Putin’s Palace’ film,” BBC.com, 1/20/21). Navalny’s film made the link between Putin and his pals’ obscene wealth and the impoverished standard of living of ordinary Russians. Putin’s response to criticism was to lock Navalny in a cell in the remote Polar Wolf prison. Putin caused Navalny’s death as surely as if he personally pulled the trigger. We know that because Putin’s response to any opposition is to jail it or kill it.
Yet, this is the man that one of our two major political parties has gone all in to support. Republican House members have consistently refused to vote for military aid to Ukraine. Puritanical automaton Mike Johnson’s determination that the House would not be “rushed” to pass a $95 billion dollar aid package in all likelihood contributed to Russia’s victory Saturday morning in Avdiivka, a “military stronghold [for Ukraine] for the better part of a decade,” (Source: “Avdiivka, Longtime Stronghold for Ukraine, Falls to Russians,” by Carlotta Gall, Marc Santora and Constant Meheut, The New York Times, 2/17/24).
Tucker Carlson, the most prominent right wing pundit, platformed Putin with a softball “interview,” allowing Putin to ramble, unchallenged for two hours. And of course, we can’t forget Putin’s BFF, demented carnival barker and Republican presidential front runner, Donald Trump, who said last week that he would not protect NATO allies if Russia invaded if they did not “pay [their] bills” and would encourage Russia “to do whatever the hell they want,” (Source: “Trump says he would encourage Russia to ‘do whatever the hell they want’ to any NATO country that doesn’t pay enough,” by Kate Sullivan, CNN.com, 2/11/24).
We need to understand that Republicans see Putin and Russia not as geopolitical rivals, but as role models. They admire and empower him because he does what they would like to—silence dissent, murder opponents and use state funds to line his own pockets. I can only imagine that those in the press trying to shoehorn this presidential contest into the tired horse race narrative imagine they’ll be safe from the ire of a vengeful Trump. They just need to remember, Alexei Navalny was a straight, white man.