Credit:Illustration: Andrew Dyson
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UKRAINE
Has human civilisation progressed so little?
On a cold November night in 1956, my English parents sat in their car listening over the radio to the last pleas for support from the world for the Hungarian Revolution against Soviet oppression. It was brutally suppressed by Nikita Khrushchev, with the support – even encouragement – of Mao Zedong.
It is terrifying that, in 2022, we are again seeing extreme violence perpetrated against a democratic European nation by an autocratic dictator who has manipulated his own laws to retain leadership for life, with the acquiescence of a similar bloke. Despite two catastrophic world wars, has human civilisation progressed so little? And where will be next?
Caroline Leslie, Hawthorn
Ukraine must enter into negotiations with Russia
In your editorial, you are quick to dismiss NATO’s expansion to the east (The Age, 24/2). This goes to the heart of the current crisis. Russia has been pleading with NATO for many years not to expand and install military hardware in countries bordering the Russian federation. This has been ignored despite assurances given by United States and European leaders in the 1990s. Russia considers this as an existential national security concern.
It is sad that Ukraine has been used as a pawn in this power rivalry. Current Ukrainian leaders have been coerced and given false hope by the West, only to be abandoned. Parts of the country are now in serious risk of being disaggregated.
What Ukrainian leaders could do now is to say no to NATO membership and enter in to negotiations with Russia. Otherwise, Ukraine will be the biggest loser, leaving a divided Europe and a weakened NATO. Vladimir Putin seems to have won the battle so far.
Siraj Perera, Camberwell
Why Ukraine should have been admitted into NATO
Ukraine fears Russian expansion and aggression, so it asks to join NATO. Russia fears expansion of the West, so the story goes, and therefore opposes Ukraine’s request. It is just like Cuba in the ’60s, the apologists say, although that was about the hostile deployment of nukes, not Cuba’s membership of a bloc or its right to self-determination or sovereignty.
Putin invades Crimea in 2014, and the West does nothing because Ukraine is not a NATO member. He invades again in 2022, knowing full well the West will do nothing because Ukraine is still not a member. This proves Ukraine was right to fear Russian expansion, and should have been admitted into NATO in the first place. It might have prevented the current, and 2014, invasions.
Geoffrey McNaughton, Glen Huntly
A country helpless against the might of Russia
Vladimir Putin has declared a “military operation” in the pursuit of territory. It is difficult to assess his complex thinking when he is surrounded by so much opulence and power. Ukraine’s defence forces will be no match against Russia’s superior technology and weaponry.
Frances Damon, Tooradin
The Coalition of the Willing … and now Russia
The Russian invasion of Ukraine is a murderous assault on the sanctity of the lives of thousands of innocent people by a regime led by warmongers. The justification for war is based on lies made by callous and unscrupulous people obsessed with power. No different to the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq by the Coalition of the Willing.
Don Stokes, Heidelberg
Biden, damned if he does and if he doesn’t
Russia’s incursion into Ukraine will end Joe Biden’s chance of winning a second term as president. While the world needs a strong United States, a war-weary populace will have no appetite for military action in eastern Europe. Paradoxically Biden’s weakness in the current situation is plain to see and will not go down well with American voters.
Barry James, Lilydale
THE FORUM
Our double standards
As heartbreaking as the invasion of Ukraine is, I take exception to the article, “The plight of Ukraine’s mothers and fathers has broken the world’s heart” (The Age, 25/2). Apparently the images of people fleeing with their suitcases show how the lives of “ordinary families” have been turned upside down.
It seems that the “ordinary families” fleeing decades of war and dislocation in Yemen, Syria, Myanmar, Afghanistan and countless other countries are not as heartbreaking to people in the West.
And our government will move refugees from Ukraine to the top of the list for granting humanitarian visas, ahead of Afghans and certainly in front of the poor souls who have been languishing in detention for nine years. It seems that white Christians suffer much more than people of colour and other religions and are deserving of far more sympathy.
Anne O’Keefe, Collingwood
Eliminate Putin
To consider serious sanctions against Vladimir Putin and the Russian oligarchs is delusional stupidity. It cannot work.
Putin has orchestrated a contemptible trap for Joe Biden and his allies. Sanctions will only be felt by the ordinary Russian people. The community, workers and their families will again endure pain and death of epic proportions equal to the war on the Ukrainians.
The best solution is the immediate removal, by whatever means possible, of Putin and other criminal purveyors of evil.
Vic Langsam, Frankston
Convenient distraction
While Australia remains in the “choir stalls” of the Ukraine conflict (The Age, 25/2), it would be a cynical but not unprecedented move by Scott Morrison to prolong the bellicose rhetoric for his own re-election purposes.
Australia needs to decry the Russian invasion and respond forcefully, but if the reason for the “forceful language” is mainly to bolster Morrison’s standing, then it is a sad reflection on the way Australia is governed.
Perhaps we are cluey enough to look towards the unfolding conflict without forgetting that our government is mired in rorts and failures, including in aged care, vaccine rollout, climate response and women’s issues.
Marisa Spiller, Harrietville
History repeats itself
Do these politicians not read history? False flags and protection of nationals have an eerie ring. Read Putin for Hitler, Ukraine for Czechoslovakia – it is “deja vu all over again”, as someone said.
Ukraine will be absorbed and our leaders will huff and puff but the house will still be blown down despite sanctions against eight second-level Russians (not Putin). Scott Morrison will say that we tried, we did our best. Sorry, Ukraine.
Roger Holdway, Sorrento
It’s time for all to protest
Why, oh why, aren’t the people of the West marching en masse on the nearest Russian embassy or consulate to protest against Putin’s barbaric invasion. Surely our churches could lead the way.
John Maltzahn, Stratford
Closer to home
Vladimir Putin’s talk of “spiritual space” to justify an invasion of Ukraine is very dangerous for Australia. Our First Nations people might hear of it and mount a very powerful argument about 60,000 years of spiritual space here. They would have no tanks but plenty of logic on their side.
Bob Muntz, Ascot Vale
A Trumpian world
Imagine if Donald Trump were still president. “Sir, what do you think of Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine?” “No, no. I spoke with President Putin today and he said Russia has not invaded, and I believe him.“
Rosie Elsass, Brighton
Dangerous link
Peter Dutton’s constant reference to China’s possible ambitions regarding Taiwan, and our government’s now bellicose opinions about this, does nothing to diplomatically help the situation. Linking this – as Peter Hartcher does (The Age, 25/2) – to the Russian invasion of Ukraine is at best unhelpful. At worst, dangerous.
David Jay, Fitzroy
Don’t even go there
Would the Prime Minister be happy to see his children risking life and limb fighting Russia? I doubt it. My son served in Afghanistan and saw his friends blown up or maimed for life in a war we should not have entered. Australia should stay out of this conflict in Ukraine.
Megan Peniston-Bird, Kew
A spirited response
What can ordinary Australians do? Don’t buy Russian vodka brands. Buy the excellent Australian brands instead and support the local economy.
Jim McLennan, Heathmont
Each little bit helps
Responding to the Ukraine crisis, as opposed to climate change, the Coalition suddenly understands that playing a small part to resolve a global problem is the honourable thing to do.
Russell Ogden, Inverloch
Our flawed force
The failure of Victoria Police to correctly authorise officers since 2014 was not an “administrative error” despite the pleas of the Chief Commissioner (The Age, 25/2). It is, however, indicative of a seriously flawed force.
Since Victoria Police was made largely operationally independent of civilian control (in 2014), we have seen a much more armed and militarised but less competent force. One that has ignored the objectives Sir Robert Peel intended for the new police, the Met, in 1829, the supposed model for all police forces in Western democracies. It is well past time to review what our police force is here for and what civilian oversight can be made to ensure it serves the community rather than itself.
Ian Killey, Bentleigh
Putting students first
As a retired teacher with many fond memories of many school camps, I am dismayed that they may be cancelled due to a new agreement struck between the education union and state government (The Age, 24/2).
Camps are all about the children. Yes, being on one involved a lot of extra time for teachers, planning them even more. But we worked for the children in our care, no time in lieu considered. It is a salaried job so everyone should accept it and enjoy the experience with those who matter most.
Kevin Mulvogue, Mount Evelyn
Rewards for efforts
With regard to the new agreement, your journalist says “it is the first time Victorian school staff have won time in lieu for extra hours worked on extracurricular activities”.
When I was teaching at a Victorian technical school in the early 1980s, we were paid time and a half in lieu for attending camps and parent-teacher meetings as well as tea money for the latter.
Russell Kealey, Corio
A very harsh policy …
I could not agree more with Waleed Aly – “The nation that cast out its own” (Opinion, 25/2 ). A disgraceful policy from our government and a sad reflection on us for allowing it to happen. I will not feel as secure with my Australian passport the next time I am overseas .
David Rowell, Mont Albert
… but it was effective
Waleed Aly seems to be a bit confused as to why Australians would want to shut COVID-19 out with strong border controls during a pandemic and why they felt safer with this program in place. Probably because it largely worked.
Murray Horne, Cressy
Combine the Games
The 2022 Winter Olympics was conducted entirely with artificial snow. Now that we have reached that milestone, why do we need separate winter Games? We could just tack them on to the regular Olympics and save money.
Chris Borthwick, Brunswick
Bouquet and brick bat
Adam Liaw’s tip about using enamel plates and cups rather than disposables at barbecues and picnics (Good Food, 22/2) is an excellent idea. But 7½ minutes to boil the five eggs for his picnic cobb salad seems an excessive waste of energy.
Elaine Hurst, Ocean Grove
AND ANOTHER THING
Credit:Illustration: Matt Golding
Ukraine
When questioned, Putin said: “See what you made me do.“
Donald Newgreen, Brunswick
Where have all the flowers gone …
Brendan O’Farrell, Brunswick
Mr Putin, wasn’t the world paying you enough attention? Oh, diddums.
Jan Dwyer, Rosebud
Authoritarian, revanchist, irredentist, imperialist. Russia has another “heroic” figure: Vladimir The Malignant.
Harry Kowalski, Ivanhoe
I suspect Morrison is very glad he learned the ukulele rather than the balalaika.
Michele Watson, Clematis
And if Trump had been in power…
Bruce Dudon, Woodend
Too much testosterone.
Joan Peverell, Malvern
Scott, send one of our new submarines.
Tim Wilson, Inverloch
The war is over if you want it. (John Lennon). Just imagine.
Patrick Walker, Coburg North
So will ScoMo stop all exports of Australian alumina to Russia? Mmh?
Kevin Fahey, Red Hill
Who cares about sanctions? Not Mr Putin.
Virginia Barnett, Mount Waverley
Seriously it’s time for women to run the world.
Cynthia Humphreys, Toorak
So we now know Putin was not playing chicken Kiev.
Francis Bainbridge, Fitzroy North
Peter The Great, Ivan The Terrible, Putin The Thug. Despots all.
Long live an independent and free Ukraine.
Edward Lithgow, Maryborough
Furthermore
Our new Chinese ambassador: Beware a smiling tiger.
Glenise Michaelson, Montmorency
Step back, Morrison warns China. Talk about the mouse that roared.
John Cain, McCrae
Obviously Clive hasn’t been taking his hydroxychloroquine tablets.
John Ryall, Whittington
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