Fear of Freedom

Putin's Fear

Does anyone know why Putin is doing what he's doing? His version, a military action to curb neo-Nazism and genocide against non-Ukrainian nationals and to ensure his borders from a country he deemed a threat to Russia's sovereignty as a nation. Nothing could be further from the truth than what he is espousing with his rhetoric saying Russian citizens in the Donbas and Luhansk regions of the Crimea are being systematically targeted and executed. That this is genocide, and he is there to assist the Ukrainian people in their attempt to oust President Zelensky and his so-called Nazi Regime. 

As we all have seen by his most current actions, this man, this dog, has committed crimes against humanity only equaled to Adolf Hitler in World War II. To target innocent people, women, children, infirmed, elderly, doctors, nurses and hospitals in his ruthless attempt to force his will on an unwilling people, is irreprehensible, incorrigible, and psychopathic and needs to be stopped by any and all means at our disposal, up to and including his death. Am I out-of-line to express these thoughts? In Russia, I would be, but fortunately and by the Grace of God, I am an American and a Proud American at that. And it is for that very same reason I can say what I just did and not worry about retribution from some non-elected bureaucrat who knows less about his responsibilities than the person who appointed him, to be threatened, detained, arrested, convicted without due process of justice and imprisoned. In other words, I have the freedom to say it. Therein lies Putin's fear. 

Freedom, "the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint", or "absence of subjection to foreign domination or despotic government", and finally, "the state of not being imprisoned or enslaved". 

I would like to see a Russian dictionary's definition to freedom or if the word freedom even exists in the Russian diction. It has been proven that it definitely doesn't exist in Putin's sense of logic. The word freedom never entered his thoughts, much less his words when he launched this atrocious action against a free and peaceful people of Ukraine. Ukrainians learned from Russia, learned their languages, their dialogs, customs, way of thinking, studied at their universities, trained on their military bases, operated their military hardware, and then, they remembered all that they had learned, taught those after them, all the while Russia ignored them, treated them like expendable liabilities not worth the worry, first in any conflict, first to die over something Ukraine would not benefit from. 

Then it happened, Ukraine tasted freedom, and in that freedom, they found a voice, and that voice rang throughout Ukraine, from border to border that now they could choose their own destiny and choose who will take them there and choose their successors, in other words, they were going to govern themselves, based on a democratic society. They were going to choose who they listened to, who they would ally themselves with, who they would trade with, not be told. And it was in their discoveries of even the most basic of freedoms we possess, Ukrainians had been denied, as most enslaved peoples are. 

They built an army, knowing one day they may have to turn them towards Russian men, and trained them in the ways Russia had trained them, with Ukrainian improvements, built an air force, a navy, a lot with western technology, Ukrainian technology and Ukrainian improved old and still in use, Russian technology. The Ukrainians understand Russian war tactics, how they move, their vulnerabilities tactically and their weaknesses mentally and know how to exploit them. A mistake on Putin's part to attack an army his Russia helped train a long time ago. Great foresight there Putin.

In their struggles to maintain their freedoms and defend their country, their people, a new voice rises to their struggles, Volodymyr Zelensky, an actor, a comedian and educated man, and understood the people he called brothers and sisters. A man used to a stage, comfortable in crowds, enjoyed socializing with countrymen and loved showing his country off to the world. He is a proud Ukrainian, a Ukrainian who understands the needs of Ukraine and its people, a Ukrainian who not only stands behind his people, but he also leads his people. He places himself between his fellow countrymen and Putin's crushing power to defend his people, his country. At no time in my memory have I witnessed the strength, the determination to withstand such an invasion of this magnitude and with such fierceness to overwhelm a country and its government and to try and decimate an entire people. 

So few Ukrainian soldiers compared to what Russia is throwing at them, but resistance strength is growing as Russia pushes harder, he chooses to stay, rather than fighting Russia in exile. He will meet Putin head on, such as a true leader would do. He is a True Leader, a Hero for the People, he is not only a man for the people, he is a man of the people. 

This is not the Ukraine Putin expected, or is this war not going as Putin expected, or did he expect it, did he plan on using it as a part of his propaganda to support his accusations that the Ukrainian citizens are acting like Jihadist and blowing themselves up and driving by in cars shooting soldiers and civilians? As Putin's men and allies kill civilians as they try to flee  through so called safe corridors provided by Putin. Sounds like Hitler sending Jews to the showers to me. Is this the excuses, the lies he will tell the mothers' of the young untrained boys sent in first, that these Jihadist citizens killed your son and he died a brave death defending Mother Russia?

Ukraine's quest to have a democratic society and a free nation dedicated to the improvement of their infrastructure, human rights, social services, defense and their government designed to support the rights of the people who freely elected them and gives them the voice to decide has sent a shiver of cold fear down Putin's spine. To see the Western Alliance and NATO as well as the European Union welcome them and seek their entry into the E.U., NATO and the Western Alliance and Ukraine has every right to accept. Only Putin sees this as a threat, not even the countries Putin trades with sees his action as illegal and unjustified, as they too traded with Ukraine.

Why should Putin see this as a threat to Russia's security, unless he plans to further his idiotic dream for a New Russian Empire that he likes to hint to, just as Xi hints of a New Chinese Dynasty, those days are past, and Putin fears his future. As Xi imagines himself more as an Emperor likens to Putin imaging himself as Tsar. What he needs to understand they world has had its share of Tsars, Czars, Fascist, Dictators, Zealots, Emperors, Tyrants, and those who profit from the suffering enslavement of others, and they are tired of it.

Freedom and all it implies scares Putin, with freedom, he loses control, with freedom, voices are liberated, with freedom, choices are made and with freedom, changes are made. He loses his people's trust. He loses respect and no one will have faith in him. His fear will defeat him.

Later, 

Smiling Pig

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Goodbye and Good Riddance

Goodbye McDonalds, PepsiCo and Coca Cola

It is sad to think that companies who built their riches and success in a country that supports human rights, of its citizens and their rights to live without fear of reprisals from their governments when they see atrocities being committed against a people who want to govern themselves, make their own decisions as to the path they want to forge in the defense of democracy, the same as American citizens fought for in every major war we have been involved with, a people's right to self-govern themselves and choose without outside interference and political influence that would not benefit the citizens, but rather support some foreign dictator's inane ideologies under the guise that he is protecting the sovereignty of his country and his people, that you do not stand with the beliefs that it was a democratic belief that America was founded on, to be properly represented by people of our choosing and not that of some rabid demonic dog bent on creating a New World Order with him and China in control. 

Shame on you! You do not deserve to profit from the American people, you do not deserve to enjoy the same privileges that the companies who have heeded to the American government's plea to cut ties with Russia and its allies and support the people who helped you get to where you are at now. Instead, you choose profits over democracy. You are feeding the enemy, those bent on destroying the democratic way of life. You support oppression, slavery, human rights abuses and atrocities against man, with only your profits in mind. You are choosing the wrong path, looking in the wrong direction and believing in something the world will not put up with, not just the American citizens. 

You seem to forget how strong the American consumer is, you seem to forget those before you who placed profits over the needs of the Americans who you thought needed you, they were wrong, just as you will be reminded of soon once your coffers are being depleted trying to regain the status you had before you made the ridiculous decision to keep doing business with tyrants and rabid dogs. It is then you will understand the true meaning of that old American adage, "you have made your bed, now lie in it..." I am sure the Russian dogs will appreciate the American fleas willing to lie with him.

You' re infected now, infected with something much worse than what we have already been put through with the pandemic we are suffering, to which there is no cure for, and that is the ire of the American consumer, the most powerful weapon in the world. We drive the economy, and we dictate who can and who can't do business and who choose where we will spend OUR DOLLARS and who will profit from them, not you or anyone else, including misaligned governments. You seem to forget who has the final say, it's not the American government, any foreign government or any one individual, much less a greedy corporate infrastructure, the American consumer will bring you to your knees and then the world consumers will finish it. It is the beginning of your demise.

Who has the most to lose, Americans? I don't think so, fortunately we live in a country of the most powerful weapon a government, or corporation has ever encountered, the power of the American consumer and his choice of where he spends his money and who will profit from it, and it will not be you. You've opted to turn a deaf ear to the call to cut all ties with Russia and its allies, you can suffer for it. Your name will leave a bitter taste to the American consumer's pallet, and it will last for many decades to come. Your profits will decline, your shareholders will sell off stocks, your Wall Street backers will walk away from you once they see the will of the American consumer. Americans won't suffer, you will suffer, and you will suffer dearly. Welcome back Royal Crown Cola, America will rise and place you back where you belong, standing with democracy and the American way of life!

Later, 

The Smiling Pig (he's laughing today)

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RABID DOGS

Rabid Dogs

In Texas when a dog is considered rabid and is a danger to the public, it is shot or put down. It seems there are a few global leaders who have gone rabid and have become a threat to the world's people, their safety, their livelihood and much more important, their freedom!

Putin has decided to invade Ukraine based on a very small division of Pro-Putin Ukrainian traitors that have aligned themselves to a Tyrant bent on creating a "New Russian Empire" and enslaving entire countries to further his aggressive vision on a future Russia. Traitors who oppose self-will of the people, who cow toe to Putin's demands like cowering dogs licking at his feet, while their people suffer the inhumane treatment and atrocities by Putin and his army. Putin claims this is to protect the people of the Donbas and Luhansk Regions, land belonging to Ukraine, not Russia as well as the Crimea Region which was illegally taken by Putin. The President of Ukraine, Vladomir Zelensky never invited or requested Russia's help in the Pro Russian separatist that have been attacking Mr. Zelensky's people with Putin's help and blessings. He, (Putin) has attacked cities and condones the death of citizens, women, children and the elderly. A coward's tactic to instill fear in a free people to control them, enslave them and as in the days of the "Great Russian Revolution", to disappear in a Gulag somewhere in Siberia to be forgotten and struck from Russian history as if it never existed. 

To ostracize Putin with sanctions is nothing more than a slap on his hands, deal with this RABID DOG as anyone would do in Texas, put a bullet in his head and drop him where he stands. Let anyone who stands with him to be considered as a part of his pack of rabies infected ideologist, fall with him, (Trump is on the list) and suffer the same fate as he will suffer. Even his own Russian citizens are rallying against him along with the rest of the world to put an end to his maniacal, egotistical vision of his empire. There will never be another Russian Empire that Putin dreams of.

To impose his will stating to secure Russia's future on the world stage and to see Ukraine as a threat to Russian National Security due to Ukraine being invited to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to secure their own country against such attacks by Putin and using Donbas and Luhansk as an excuse to validate his invasion of a Democratic Country is beyond ridiculous, it's sadly pathetic on his part. He fears free will of his people, afraid to let them voice their opinion as to his actions are setting his own people up to suffer the repercussions of his inane act of war on a people who want nothing more than to govern themselves and make their own choices as to what is best for them, not some Rabid Dog that sees them as nothing more than expendable in his efforts to regain what the rest of the world broke apart with the Russian Communist Government in the 1980s. It is apparent Putin failed to take notes. It won't work anymore.

It is time to stand as one, not as individuals, against Putin and his aggression against a FREE NATION GOVERNED BY FREE PEOPLE and put him DOWN before his ego causes harm to innocent Russian citizens. He started a war he can't win, there are too many who see democracy as more than a political platform, they see it as a way of living their lives. 

PLEASE SUPPORT UKRAINE AND THEIR ENDEVORS TO REMAIN A FREE NATION!

Later,

The Smiling Pig

Stories posted here are the exclusive property of the Smiling Pig. No other use or reproduction of the content contained here is permissible without written prior consent.

Stories posted here are the exclusive property of the Smiling Pig. No other use or reproduction of the content contained here is permissible without written prior consent.

Seriously?

I received a call recently from a holding and investment firm interested in talking to me about an available IT position they are needing to fill. I thought all was going well, a good raport was developed and things seemed to be clicking off fine as to my experience and knowledge. I kept hearing perfect, awesome, great experience, etc...etc...etc. I really started feeling excited about this position. I mean pay was acceptable, benefits looked good, i.e.: health package, dental, vision, 401K, short term and long term disability, FLA, FMLA and regular reveiws, what more could one ask for in a starting position. They then starting telling me that they were the exclusive recruiter for this firm and they thought I would make a great fit, asking how soon I could start to work, would I submit to a drug screen (which I made add in Texas you are supposed to be on the payroll when submiting for a drug screen) and full background check? 
So I said "Sure, I wouldn't mind at all. This is a normal requirement, set me up." 
Then came, "Would you mind taking a typing assessment test? We require 45 words per minute to qualify for the position. If you are still interested I will send you the link as soon as we finish this interveiw." 
I informed them I wouldn't mind at all taking an assessment test. 
"Great sir, I really appreciate it. I will get you the link within five minutes of the conclusion of this interview. One more thing though, we require a credit report on you that you will need to obtain and supply. Do you have a problem with that?" 
"A credit report for what?" was my reply. 
"Well the position is with a holdings and investment firm and your credit worthiness is very important to our client." was the reply.
"Does the position you called me about require me to complete money transactions?" I asked.
"No sir. it doesn't." was the reply I received.
"Please repeat the position again that you called me about." I requested of the caller.
"Network support and connectivivity." they asnswered.
"Will I have access to customer accounts and financial information?" I queried further of them.
"Oh no sir, not at all." came their reply.
"So I won't be cleared to view the client's information at all?" I continued.
"No sir you won't. You will just make sure they can connect to their accounts." was the reply.
"So at some time in the future will I be asked to submit to any line of credit or investment opportunities?" I drilled.
"No sir, it is against company policy."  came their reply.
"So please tell me what my credit worthiness has to do with you asking me to fill the position you called me about. I would think my lack of ever being prosecuted, charged with or convicted of embezzlement, larceny, fraud, failure to disclose, theft or even a traffic ticket offense would be more than enough to satisfy my "worthiness" in obtaining this position. Wouldn't you agree?" came my somewhat cynical answer.
"I understand sir. If you are not interested in the position, would you happen to know three or four other people that are looking for a job that has the same technical background as you?" they asked.
"Oh, so now you want me to do your job too." I came back with. "Seriously?"

Needless to say, I was no longer interested.   


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Lives Matter

So much on the news lately seems to revolve around how a certain ethnicity or race matters and trying to pit the views of the viewers in that what they are trying to get across matters to their race, culture and/or ethnicity stating that either white lives matter, black lives matter or brown lives matter and to me this just doesn't add up or as my father would say, "Just doesn't cut the muster in what truly matters.". Why would one race matter over the other by touting how much their lives matter over that of anyone else's lives? 

What is it that truly matters? I would think it would be overcoming our prejudices that would be a good start in understanding what truly matters, not their race, culture or ethnicity as being what they feel matters. Should we believe that it is those things that separate and defines us, that all that matters is agreeing with their idioms and jumping on board? No. Then that would redefine that individual and change more than just their beliefs. 

I was raised in a very devout and hard-line Southern Baptist family where my father was a minister of the faith, but in all my talks with him he never used his faith in a prejudicial  manner or to solidify his prejudices except against hate, bigotry or moral cleansing. He used his faith to educate and overcome those ignorance's we seem to harbor and hold to and in some cases to nurture until it consumes our beliefs so much that the chance of seeing something in a new or different perspective is shunned because we feel it is a personal attack against us and due to our own ignorance we feel there is no other way, but our way.

By the mere statement that a specific race, culture, ethnicity is what matters is already painted by a prejudiced state of mind. I'm reminded of President Abraham Lincoln's speech at Gettysburg, VA. and the opening  line of his address to the people of this young country, "Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal." It doesn't mention any specific race, but rather he uses the word "all" to see us as one people, not one race, culture or ethnicity. Until we understand what really matters there will be very little or no change and we will keep struggling against and battling those things we cannot accept in order to plant seeds in those ignorant to the truth.

I am not saying we should not be prejudice, we should be very prejudice. If we weren't Adolf Hitler's idea of a so called "master race" would not have been protested against and he would have gone unchallenged, then an entire race, culture and ethnicity would have been wiped off the face of the earth. I encourage people to be prejudiced, prejudiced against ignorance, hate, immoral beliefs, ethnic cleansing and the list grows daily. And it is that list we need to shorten and remove those things in our lives that pits one against another due to race, culture and ethnicity.  

It doesn't take a racial, cultural or ethnic cleansing to create a superior race. It only takes understanding and love to do that. Seeing others and accepting them as we expect to be seen and accepted. Stop closing doors to protect our prejudices against others and welcome them in our lives and not trying to change the other, but to change together. Overcoming ourselves is where the change begins.

It is not our race that defines us, it is our race we let separate us and until we understand that it is our prejudices and ignorance that define and separate us, there will never be a change, but rather a constant struggle to change. It's time to stop struggling and realize it is lives that matter.

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Where Does it go from Here?

 I can remember when all it cost me to get a job was the price of a Sunday newspaper, a cup of coffee, an ink pen or pencil and experience. You found a nice corner booth, settled in, started perusing the wanted section and circled the the job you were interested in, then wake up early Monday morning, sat by your phone and started making phone calls to prospective clients and the really nice thing about it is that you actually kept to talk to a real live person and expressing your desire to interview with them, wow, what a concept.

Now you have a computer running an algorithm and parsing your resume that may have taken you hours or even days to compile, depending on your age and at my age days would be the norm, only to rip it apart picking out bits and pieces just to send back an email from "donotreply@youwantthisjob.com", to be told, "We received your resume." and then all you are  supposed to do is wait until someone finishes the donut and coffee on their third morning break to try and decipher the parsing trying to figure out what position you are applying for.

Then comes the long awaited email, "Hello, we are in the process of reviewing the information you sent in consideration for the position of whatever it was you applied for. Please be patient as our globally recognized talent recruitment team members goes over your information that really couldn't be worth a hill of beans to us and matches your skills and experience in our awesome $3 billion dollar building overlooking the most serene landscape you've ever seen. We should get back to you shortly in about three to six months, give are take a business quarter. From your over paid less experienced than you team at donotreply@hahahayouthinkwereallycare.com" as spittle drips from your lower lip back in your coffee cup that you had to go to some discount strip shop borderline use by date cheapest coffee they have on the shelf and hoping it does not say "Contents of this package are recycled from You Want This Job employee break room."

As the six month and possibly an extra business quarter time from At You Want This Job, Inc. is running out and your job inquiry is about to be deleted, you get that email you have been waiting for as you drink your cup of slightly flavored coffee recycled coffee grounds, "Congratulations, you have made the cut! But before we proceed any further we need you to take an assessment test at one of our co-partner sites designed to have you jump through additional hoops for our own enjoyment and amusement, but I really urge you to take the "practice assessment test" first so you'll be better prepared to take the final assessment test so that we may get some additional fun out of the dead end maze we are sending you through. Please click on the link below so that we may better evaluate how really stupid we think you are. Good luck and have your billing information ready as we sit back and laugh our butts off while you believe you think you're getting a job here with people who could care less if you get the job or not. So please follow this link, debitorcreditcard@suckyouraccountdry.com and make us laugh."

Out of desperation, starvation and filed eviction notice you click on the link. "Well hello stupid person who doesn't realize what's being done to you and we really couldn't care less member at Suck Your Wallet Dry, Inc. affiliated with those who enjoy a good circus show of never ending idiots who there seems to be no shortage of, welcome. Please have your debit or credit card ready as we begin the process of squeezing every last penny from your wallet and start you on your road to financial failure and bankruptcy. Good luck and we really hope you have the funds to cover this assessment no one will ever read as the link is a dead-end from no where to we could care less."

Still thinking there is something to the position you applied for, you fill in your personal information from the financial institution at "Astronomical Interest Rates Second Rate Financial, Inc." and click the "Are You Really This Stupid?" button to have your last penny being drained from your wallet, you see the price, $1,500.00 or whatever you have left in the bank or limit on your credit card, you decide personal starvation and a pissed off significant other isn't worth going bankrupt over, you click the "cancel and close" button, but not before a pop up window appears in your browser, "Hey stupid, can you really not afford this and deny us of a good laugh?", you proceed to close it out and still another pop up window appears, "Okay and only because you've given us such amusement, today and today only we are going to offer you a whole 3% discount on the practice assessment test package that we know we will make up getting you to buy other needless training material that prepares you for nothing.", you still proceed and try to close the page only to once again be accosted by another pop up window belittling you, or trying to, into submission in order for them to increase sales and their stock selling price on the NYSE or some other Wall Street firm hell bent on increasing profit margins on a company one of their uneducated get rich quick I can create a useless money making rip-off website brother, sister, aunt, uncle, cousin or in-law relatives uploaded that they feel they can abuse at your personal and financial expense just to prove P.T. Barnum's quote, "There's a sucker born every minute." on a bet made in a bar.

I can remember when looking for a job cost no more than the price of a Sunday Edition newspaper, a cup of coffee, experience and a quiet spot in a corner booth, 45 cents, less tip.



Stories posted here are the exclusive property of the Smiling Pig. No other use or reproduction of the content contained here is permissible without written prior consent.