How social media helped answer a question about Trump's UN support for Putin
Surprise, but social media actually worked once on a thorny topic
It was a simple proposition on Facebook: “Any of my conservative friends (and relatives -- I do love you) care to defend this if I promise to monitor comments and delete personal attacks?” I included a link to a story about the United States opposing, with Russia, a United Nations resolution to condem Russia for the war Russia has waged against Ukraine the past three years.
Clear-headed people with sane abilities certainly can agree that the United State and Russia should be on more peaceful terms. It is good for each country, good for the world, and it makes people feel good, overall.
But, let’s get real; Russia invaded Ukraine for sham reasons and the United States president said that it Ukraine’s fault. Then, the UN vote. Oops, sorry, people who don’t trust Al Jazeera and its international audience, and clicked the previous link in this story. Here is FactCheck.org. And, Barron’s. PolitiFact. Fox News’ Brian Kilmeade, via one of several sources noting it, Mediate.com. The Moscow Times! Still not convinced? Breitbart, for crying out loud.
I remember a time — back in the idealistic 2006-to-2009 era — when forward-looking brainiacs said social media would better educate us. So, I thought, why not give it a try from here in Iowa, a red state with a lot of Donald Trump supporters, because I genuinely am curious to know: How did we get to this point and why do a lot of Americans accept it?
One person gave it a shot:
If you watch mainstream media you will likely believe Russia is super evil and started a war with Ukraine. If you do a little bit of research you'll find that the area of Ukraine voted to be a part of Russia. You will also find that the US intervened in the politics of Ukraine as far back as 2014 (maybe even farther back). The US did not like the leader that was elected and helped install a dictator (definition of dictator does not allow elections once in power) that would do the US bidding.
Russia for many years has said they will not allow NATO on their border and it was understood that it wouldn't happen. Once installed Zelensky, pushed to joint NATO and went against what the people wanted.
Just as we wouldn't allow a country like China or North Korea set up camp on our borders, Russia is simply protecting itself against NATO (why is NATO still a thing??) and an installed government that the people did not vote for.
There you have it. One person’s opinion, but at least he was willing to answer the question. Here is a response.
Nice try. If you do a little more research, you’ll find that vote was a total sham, hastily organized and at gunpoint by Russian soldiers, with implausible results and no international observers allowed.
Here is one link for more on the election.
Something that gratified me in this little exercise was that the social media platform actually served its purpose of educating others. The lessons came from readers who shared their knowledge.
Russia has never accepted Ukraine’s legitimacy for centuries, going well back into the czarist era. During the imperial era, Ukrainian nationalists were jailed and tortured by the czar’s secret police. Ukraine had a brief period of independence following the Great War which was ended when the Red Army invaded, slaughtered Ukrainians by the score, and forced the country into the Soviet Union. Then there’s the Holodomor, when millions of Ukrainians starved to death in a famine manufactured by Russia. In a particularly ignoble moment in its history, the Pulitzer Prize was awarded to the NY Times’ Walter Duranty for his “coverage” of the famine that history shows was nothing more than an apologia for Stalin. Sadly, the committee still has not revoked the award.
Here are references for the Holodomor and Duranty’s Pulitzer Prize. Coming up, a comment on the Budapest Memorandum.
You may wish to familiarize yourself with the Budapest Memorandum (1994) which outlined safety protections for Ukraine (as well as Kazakhstan and Belarus) in exchange for returning nuclear weapons to Russia after the fall of the Soviet Union.
The Gates of Europe is a history of Ukraine by Serhii Plokhy, a Ukrainian academic. The Ukraine has been divided and subdivided for centuries. Poland is a frequent occupier, esp the area west of the Dneiper. It has been a geographic and cultural boundary. East of the river, the left bank, has since Peter the Great been predominantly Russian. Other European countries have also had romances with Ukraine, esp its western parts.
More about “The Gates of Europe” here.
“The people should know that we have suffered a defeat without a war; that we have passed an awful milestone in our history…And do not suppose that this is the end. This is only the beginning of the reckoning. This is only the first sip, the first foretaste of a bitter cup which will be proffered to us, year by year, unless by a supreme recovery of moral health and martial vigour, we arise again and take our stand for freedom as in the olden time."
—Winston Churchill, October 1938 speech to Parliament after British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlains signed the Munich Pact with Adolf Hitler.
Five months later, the Nazis seized Czechoslovakia; 11 months later they invaded Poland and started World War II.
That is me, quoting Pat Kinney quoting Winston Churchill. You may follow Pat on Substack, the newsletter at the retired journalists’ nursing home.
We got to see some right-wing trolling on the Facebook post but it was minimal. Spoiler: you probably have heard or read comments like these before. The thread starts with a commenter referring reports about the Trump Administration siding with Putin in the UN vote.
It’s the story of the truth.
Well someone's truth. Not thee truth.
Sure Jan. Believe the Russian propaganda. Always a trustworthy source.
Believe whatever propaganda the mainstream and government puts at you.
Mainstream, mainstream, mainstream. For kicks, here is some mainstream reporting: “Russian proxies overseeing the referendums in occupied areas of Ukraine Friday have begun intimidating citizens who remain in war-torn areas, forcing them to ‘vote.’” This is the lead sentence of a September 2022 Fox News story. So, enough on this mainstream smoke screen.
Despite that admonishment, I thank the person who tried to explain Trump’s support for Russia’s ‘no’ vote in UN. I asked, he answered, and I hope it was a safe space to explain. However, having a safe place does not mean others must capitulate to false utterances, or that you do not have face facts.
Look into history and tell me how many countries under invasion hold elections? A large swath of their population has been forced to evacuate due to invasion. Also the Russian argument of NATO is hollow, as Ukraine was still a long way away from membership. The Crimea invasion accelerated the timeline, and the subsequent full-scale invasion made it much more likely. So Russia's fear essentially made it a self fulfilling prophecy.
Transparency: that last one was from one of my sons-in-law. He is a good guy. For the most part, people responding to my post were alarmed about the Trump Administration cozying up to a dictator like Vladimr Putin.
I am afraid that this is only the beginning.
I appreciate your opening a safe line of communication. I’m curious how conservatives feel about a lot of what is happening but haven’t asked. I’m asking from a place of wanting to understand, not argue.
The level of weird, considering historical precedent, increases every day with this administration. Logic and reason are not present. Just hyperbole and original recipe lies.
And this.
Like you, growing up in the era of the Cold War I never dreamed the US would ever side with Russia on any issue let alone something as blatant as this. WTF has happened to our country??!!
I wish I knew.
Lyle Muller is a University of Iowa graduate. He is board member of the Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting and Iowa High School Press Association, a trustee of the Iowa Freedom of Information Council, former executive director/editor of the Iowa Center for Public Journalism that became part of the Midwest Center, former editor of The Gazette (Cedar Rapids), and a recipient of the Iowa Newspaper Association’s Distinguished Service Award. In retirement, he is the professional adviser for Grinnell College’s Scarlet & Black newspaper.