Whoever, owing allegiance to the United States, levies war against them or adheres to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort within the United States or elsewhere, is guilty of treason… US Code Title 18, Chapter 115, Section 2381
The Prize
It’s hard not to feel “treasonous” today. Treason, “(A)dhering to our enemies or giving them aid and comfort,” is the reality of our morning news. We (not my President); we of the United States are formally and with malice aforethought, turning our back on democracy, and joining forces with dictators. We (not my President) are spitting on and showing disdain; we are committing dishonor, to the 46,000 Ukrainian troops who have already lost their lives fighting the Russian invasion of their nation. What’s happened? The United States, in the cowardly dark of night, “paused” military aid to Ukraine.
Why would we turn our back on what is clearly a black and white situation? The worst reason in the world; the vanity of the President of the United States. Donald Trump wants to “match” Barack Obama, to show that he’s “as good” a President as Obama was. And the 44th President has something that Trump doesn’t have – a Nobel Peace Prize. For Trump to get “the prize”, he has to have “a peace”. And the only “peace” available is in the Russian-Ukraine War.
It’s Personal
Trump has a “side” in that war, and it’s not the side of the United States of America. Instead, to Trump, it’s all personal. For whatever reason (perhaps a later essay), Donald Trump is “beholden” to Vladimir Putin, the dictator of Russia. It’s been true since he came down the “golden escalator” in 2015. (And while we constantly hear other Republicans say that the first Trump Administration was tougher on Russia than anyone else, Trump’s own words betray his fealty to Putin).
Donald Trump made it clear in his very direct diatribe against President Zelenskyy of Ukraine, that he holds a deep-seated grudge against him, personally. Trump wants payback for Zelenskyy not making up dirt on Joe Biden in 2019. And Trump blames Zelenskyy for his first impeachment trial in front of the United States Senate, another public humiliation in a long list.
Today, Trump has little influence over Putin. But he holds a cudgel over Ukraine, the power of the United States, and the ability of Ukraine to continue their battle. So Trump’s using that cudgel to try to force Ukraine to “surrender” to Russia, giving up substantial portions of their nation. And if Zelenskyy won’t do it, then Trump will do whatever he can to get the duly elected President of Ukraine removed from office. Certainly there’s another Putin stooge in the wings, waiting to fulfill Russia’s goals.
A True Leader
Zelenskyy proved his mettle again and again. He is, like Trump, a TV actor who became a politician. But unlike Trump, Zelenskyy was forced to grow in the job. He led his nation through the existential crisis of invasion. He stood tall as the missiles fell in Kyiv, and orchestrated the defeat of the 17 mile thrust of Russian tanks to the capital.
And he has sustained his nation in the three year-long battle against Russian aggression. Zelenskyy is a war leader, a symbol to his nation, eschewing suits and ties for the uniform of battle, as his nation has eschewed normal life to face a mortal enemy.
And Trump can’t even tie his necktie correctly.
Democracy
I believe in democracy, both here in the United States and in the world. I believe that Donald Trump is a threat to our American democracy. His lack of concern for the Constitution, for the balance of power, for the personal privacy of American citizens, all mark a man willing to trade our “life, liberty and happiness” for personal power. And Trump’s actions toward Ukraine betray his personal venality. It’s ideological treason, truly adhering to the enemies of freedom, and giving them aid and comfort. He’s doing it here, and he’s doing it in Ukraine.
The Trumpists will call me treasonous. They will say I am denying the duly elected President of the United States his “well earned mandate”. They will say it is I who is “fomenting insurrection” and “giving aid and comfort” to our enemies.
I say he’s committing treason. His supporters will say I am.
So I will reference Patrick Henry, speaking out against the British Crown in the Virginia House of Burgesses, eleven years before the signing of the Declaration of Independence. His fellow legislators cried out “treason, treason!!” And Henry said:
“If this be treason, make the most of it”.
