AN INEVITABLE 'Z'

  Do you remember when 'Z' stood for good things, for right, for idealism, for heroism? Z was a slashed letter on a wall or on a piece of clothing worn by the villain. It stood for Zorro, a wealthy Don who was a secret hero, a champion of the oppressed, the needy, those seeking justice. Z stood for good things, for encouragement to all, that the actions of one person could indeed have an effect. Thus, we are all responsible to do the right thing, to make the right choice. Even when the choice is difficult. At least we continue to have a choice though I wonder for how much longer that will be.

Today, Z stands for the worst of humanity. It stands or represents oppression. It represents autocracy. It represents a cold and brutal approach to life, a go to hell attitude towards anyone standing in the way of some egotistical brute. It stands for people who are willing, perhaps even eager, in their mad world of delusion and twisted ambitions, to do their own 'cancel culture' in their rejection of any progress which has been made in the search for peace and cooperation among nations.

More specifically, Z stands for Putin. It stands for a victory of autocracy, of inhumanity, of war waged upon children, upon infrastructure that supports a population. It represents the crushing of all the good things in life. It represents hopelessness for those caught up in the brutality of it all, and for those of us who know we need to do more, to "step up to the plate' as expressed by the Ukrainian Ambassador to the UN. And by the brave Zelensky who remains in Ukraine even as he admits fear as to his fate, knowledge of his fate, should he be captured by Russian forces.

Now, people of the earth, it is time to take a stand for to do otherwise is to invite in, open the door, to make room for their inevitable meaning of Z. It will stand for Zed, the end of it all, the end of the alphabet of humanity, certainly as we now know it, as we live it. Yes, it is not perfect. Man is not perfect. Recall that old but true adage that "to err is human". 

It has taken a 'l o n g' time for humanity to progress   and continues to have need for more. In the midst of war, one that should never have been, people give in to some of their basest emotions. Even as victims are crushed. Even as people are asked to make choices - take sides - for there is no neutrality in such a blatant violation of territorial integrity and the war crimes committed - with full intent - perpetrated, by Russian forces. By the commands of Putin, a man who is a threat of first degree to humanity and its continued existence upon the face of this earth. If indeed this earth, already so violated by us, will itself survive should an almost inevitable nuclear war be waged, initiated by Putin. Once that is set, once it begins, there is no turning back. It is all automated, and even as humanity lays dying, no human is needed anymore, for all the buttons will have been pushed as we destroy each other.

What is shocking is the whining. Those who feel they have been discriminated against. Perhaps so, perhaps they have a righteous complaint, but now is not the time to push for perfection. It is not the time. Now we have time only to concentrate on defeating this existential threat to humanity. There will be no stopping this bully unless we greet him with force, the only language a bully will grasp. We have learned, tragically, to the tune of millions upon millions of dead, that mad dictators know no bounds, respect no boundaries, and will continue on their destructive paths unless stopped. Cold.

Yet, here we are, involved in sanctions, sending arms to a country being destroyed, all the arms insufficient unless air cover is provided via a no-fly zone or via planes sent to Ukraine to defend itself in this combat between a David and a Goliath.

We must concentrate on that. Only that. Now is the time for humanity to unite, even as Putin threatens neighboring nations, knowing that the world will not tolerate further invasions. There is a treaty in place, and we know that only if Putin is convinced that the treaty will be honored will we finally have a chance to defeat him.

 As for the border snafus, and yes, there are, I am sure some of it arises out of prejudice; however, again, now is not the time. Certainly, if Jews can stand with Ukraine, a country which has a grossly negative and bloody history with its Jewish population, if Jews can put aside the past for the time being and be front and center in support of these heroic fighters trying to keep their country alive, then so can everyone else! There will be time to redress all grievances when victory is achieved, when Putin is on the receiving end of justice.

We can only hope and pray and fight for the right. We need to keep that Z as the sign for goodness and justice, rather than its new use as the symbol for evil and the worst of humanity. Z is for Zorro, not for Zed and the end.