The Tribune op-ed “No fictional framework: I was born in Kyiv. War is neither a Marvel movie nor a video game.” (March 8) ran in a newspaper in a town near my hometown in Washington state. It touched my heart and challenged my mind, giving me pause to consider how I have been monitoring the unfolding news about the war Ukraine has been forced to fight. I cannot imagine losing my home to violent attack, along with my food, my safety, my community and my beloved view of my pasture outside my window.
I have never truly been physically threatened. I cannot imagine what being in this situation is like. Kristina Fialko wrote her piece with such equanimity, focus and heart. Thank you for your clear-mindedness; your respect, for your country and the reader; and the call to view these horrific events within authentic context rather than marginalized as digital fantasy.
I honor your ancestors and family. I honor your own grieving and hurting heart. I’m holding light for peace, healing and redemption.
— Suzy Wenger, Ellensburg, Washington
Sanctions and more sanctions
In late February shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine, President Joe Biden imposed harsh (his word) sanctions on the Russian government and some Russian oligarchs. Biden later said we should wait a month to see their effects.
Initially, the ruble dropped precipitously, but the Russian currency has recently regained most of its value, indicating that the sanctions have been largely ineffective. Yet when he recently was asked for his response to the atrocities committed by the Russian military, Biden said he plans to impose more sanctions.
As the saying goes: “Repeating an action and expecting a different outcome is one form of insanity.”
— James M. Berry, La Grange
Why do we continue to wait?
It is blatantly obvious the de facto dictator of Russia is a war criminal who fantasizes about rewriting history. For me, the invasion of the peaceful, hardworking, free people of Ukraine is an invasion of the civilized world.
Vladimir Putin is responsible for the deaths, displacement and suffering of millions of innocent human beings along with the billions upon billions of dollars in infrastructure destruction. He deliberately and cowardly continues to target civilians.
This barbaric, bloodthirsty, pathologically lying man should be brought to justice immediately. The United Nations voted overwhelmingly to condemn this invasion. We as a civilized society cannot and should not let Putin dictate what happens next. His continued threat of a nuclear response is what a deranged lunatic says to halt rational people in their tracks.
After the genocidal execution of more than 300 civilians in Bucha, I have one question: What is the democratic free world waiting for?
— Ed Mills, Gurnee
Bashing defense attorneys
It’s a bedrock principle of American law that every defendant is entitled to due process, including representation by competent legal counsel.
Accordingly, Democratic supporters of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s nomination to the Supreme Court quite rightly criticized U.S. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., for his citing her role as a federal public defender of Guantanamo Bay detainees as disqualifying her. At one point, he even equated that with defending the Nazis on trial at Nuremberg.
On the other hand, I’m sure that no Democrat has leaped to defend Richard Irvin, a Republican primary candidate for governor running in part on a law and order platform, from a similar charge raised by an ad paid for by the Democratic Governors Association. That ad states: “Richard Irvin’s real record on crime? For 15 years, Irvin has been a defense lawyer profiting by defending some of the most violent and heinous criminals. … Irvin’s been getting rich by putting violent criminals back on our streets.”
Like it or not, we have to face the fact that hypocrisy is a bedrock principle of American politics and brace ourselves against it as we enter the run-up to the coming elections.
— Bob Foys, Chicago
Dinkel’s stollen one of a kind
I am sad to hear of Dinkel’s Bakery closing as its stollen has become my Christmas family tradition for decades. Every year, I buy them and freeze them, but they quickly disappear not long after Christmas is over. Maybe the owner could publish the recipe somewhere so those of us who love the Dinkel stollen could bring back some nostalgia at our Christmas gatherings?
The Dinkel stollen is unique, and my family will truly miss it.
— Pierangela Murphy, River Forest
Handling Dinkel’s cakes with care
Back in the 1940s when I was 7, a Dinkel’s birthday cake was accidentally dropped on the floor. That was a trauma I still remember. Many tears were shed at the time, and extra care was taken through the years with the wonderful cakes to come.
Thanks, Dinkel’s!
— Carole Bogaard, Oak Lawn
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