7/2017
As John Travolta’s character Vinnie Barbarino used to say in the TV sitcom Welcome Back Cotter (1975-79), “I’m so confused.”
First, there is this news story (1) about some Ukrainian-Russians that stole a bee farmer’s bee-hives.
I have to ask, were they Russian or were they Ukrainian? If you ask them, neither identifies as both. The Ukrainians say they are Ukrainians, even those that grew up under Russian rule, and that they are not Russian. The news reports daily that the Russians are invading Ukraine and trying to ethnically cleanse it. If you ask a Russian if he is anything else, well just stand back because the least you will get is a verbal lambasting and you may have to resort to physical self-defense.
And then there is the issue that Russian bashing is now the rage. Since Trump took office. Before Trump, the Russians and socialism were all the rage in liberal-think. They (liberals) have been in bed with the socialist agenda and their “Hero’s Have Always Been Russians”, so to speak, since liberalism was born. Of course, Putin has made hay with that. What I mean is that by publicly complimenting Trump, bashing Trump-haters and sending emissaries to meet with Trump, he has effectively fueled the fire for the liberals to drag Trump across the media coals whether he means what he says or not.
And thirdly, we have been told that the Russian Mafia has arrived. It must be true because there have been countless movies with Russians portrayed as the character(s) everyone loves to hate or be scared of. They are rumored to be involved in drugs, theft, human trafficking, prostitution… .
Surely, this isn’t a case of a confused Russian thug who was told to go out and get some of America’s sweet honey pot and he came home with 488 Montana bee-hives instead of 488 virgin maidens?
So, which is it? Putin or the Russian Mafia?
“Law enforcement suspects that Ukrainian-Russians are stealing bee-hives to finance organized crime rings.” (1) The beehives were reported to have been worth $170,000. We all know from books and movies that a thief can only expect to get about 30% return on stolen goods. So just how much crime does $51,000 buy in this place called the Russian-Ukraine, or is that Ukrainian-Russia? I’d estimate that profits from drugs, theft, human trafficking and prostitution in the US accounts for more than the national budget of any 2 other first world countries. And this bee-hive theft occurred in the US. Talk about setting your sights low.
Thoughts on disorganized American-Ukrainian-Russian crime from your grumpy Uncle/Brother Dave.
Weary