ICYMI: The possibility of nuclear war, Florida's new bill and more
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1. Col. Yevgeny 'Eugene' Vindman talks about where Russia has faltered in attacking Ukraine
By Austin Bogues and Tim Swarens
"It’s hard for me to watch what (Vladimir) Putin is doing to those people and his own country," Vindman said. "I also think about my mother’s grave in Kyiv and my other relatives buried there. Will I ever be able to visit their graves and lay flowers upon them? Will anything be left? I’m not sure."
2. Everything I needed to know about life, I learned from basketball
By Jim Sollisch
Basketball was the first thing I was any good at. And the first thing I really wanted to get better at. First love is transformative. And so I dribbled to elementary school left-handed, shoveled half-courts on freezing days in January, threw foul shots till I made 20 in a row.
Playing basketball gave me a work ethic, taught me to trust my instincts, to step up for others. My 10,000 hours on playgrounds, driveways and gyms shaped who I am, at 63, more than anything else in my life.
3. America is wallowing in political silly season. Putin's war in Ukraine should sober us up.
By Daniel Darling
Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine came as a shock to Americans, most of whom have never lived in a world where one European nation invades another.
But for students of history, it is actually the fragile peace, secured by NATO and the liberal world order, that is the historical anomaly. Democracy in so many nations, peace among neighbors and the free flow of goods and supplies across borders stand in stark contrast to human history, one marked by empire and conquest and war.
4. Will Putin turn the war in Ukraine into a nuclear crisis? We can't rule it out
By Alexandra Vacroux
We do not know whether Putin will allow continued shelling of nuclear power plants or the use of tactical nuclear weapons in Ukraine. We do know that we cannot rule this out.
5. Ukraine war diary: 'My 10-year-old son is now making camouflage nets for military'
"They (are on) purpose bombing our hospitals, schools, kindergartens; they are destroying our towns. They are striking with their ballistic rockets and missiles launched from strategic bombers. They strike centers of our cities. It is now the war for annihilation. They are trying to eliminate Ukraine and Ukrainians. Though they have lots of problems. And it is very difficult for them to move on. They have loads of casualties. What do I feel in this situation? I have millions of thoughts."
6. The Ukrainian girl who sang 'Let It Go' from a bomb shelter gave us all hope
For more than two years, we have lived in fear that we or someone we love could die of COVID-19. Just as we dare to feel a reprieve, we are reminded that entire families are dying from war. As critics rightly point out, this has always been true. Now, because of brave journalists and citizen storytellers, we are bearing witness to the suffering in Ukraine from the increasingly discomforting comfort of our homes.
7. As Putin terrorizes Ukraine, Russians like me flee his totalitarian crackdown at home
When Russian President Vladimir Putin began a devastating war by sending troops across the border into Ukraine, he simultaneously launched a war against my country, Russia.
While millions of Ukrainians are escaping the horrors of war and fleeing for the European Union, thousands of Russians are trying to escape, too. Young and educated Russians, in particular, are fleeing what Russia is about to become: a totalitarian police state with a devastated economy.
8. As Florida 'Don't Say Gay' bill goes to DeSantis, we need 'Don't Say Florida' legislation
On Tuesday, the Florida Senate passed the controversial “Don’t Say Gay” bill, which restricts discussion of sexuality and gender identity in classrooms. The legislation now goes to the desk of Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is expected to sign it into law, highlighting once again that Florida is an inappropriate topic for young children.
9. Russia shut down free press during Ukraine invasion. I'm risking jail to tell the truth
On Feb. 26, I got a letter from the Russian agency in charge of censorship. It officially is the Federal Service for Supervision in the Field of Communications, but we call it the Ministry of Truth. The letter said that New Times' stories (as well as those by nine other outlets) about the "shelling of Ukrainian cities and the death of civilians" were "untrue information."
10. 'Ukraine is fighting for the world.' Now, the world must stand and fight with it.
Ukraine is a sovereign nation whose population in 1991 voted 92% in favor of establishing a Ukrainian state independent from the Soviet Union. Russia’s devastating assault on Ukraine is just the latest sign of Vladimir Putin’s refusal to recognize Ukraine’s sovereignty, a refusal he violently signaled in 2014 by annexing Crimea and sending troops into eastern Ukraine.
He wants to reestablish the Russian empire over the bodies of dead Ukrainians.