Puffs

It seems like I’m reading a book about WWII when I hear the current news of the war Russia started with Ukraine. To me there are similarities, except, of course, in this past week Russia seems to be getting the worse of it.

I bring this up because last week I received another copy of the bi-monthly publication from ‘Nebraskans for Peace’. They sent the report to me because I was the editor of a newspaper, but even though I stopped working in that capacity, they continue sending the report.

I, too, am for peace, but I get amused at times from some of what they print. Last week they had their opinion on the war in Ukraine. Reprinted is the following:

“Nebraskans for Peace is committed to the creative, nonviolent resolution of conflict and views war as a practical failure at peacemaking.” (You think . . . what else you want to call it?)

It continued: “Confronting violence with violence, we believe, will never create the conditions for peace.” (I guess Ukraine could have just put up welcome signs and all their freedom and independence would be gone, and peace may or may not be theirs. How else do you confront violence? Ask residents of European countries in the 1930s and 1940s?)

They go on to suggest quite a number of ideas, some of which may be good. However, they are worthless if both sides in a conflict can’t agree to anything, let alone the withdrawal of Russian troops.

From all that I’ve read and seen Russia has no interest in seeking any negotiation . . . about anything.

Peace can be achieved only if both sides desire it . . . and I don’t know that Russia has any interest in it right now. That may come, but I don’t see it until some other things change.

A O

“Time.”

“Time can mean so much,” a line in a song long ago.

I thought I’d include a few quotes from years ago. Quotes you just don’t hear today (or rarely hear) and pass them on as they often were used in days gone by to pass on wisdom from one age to another.

I sort of got lost in thought, however, from when I first read those quotes and today writing for this issue of the paper.

• “Time heals all wounds.” That sure sound good and is accurate in many, many things. However, look at central Europe and its history in the last 100 years. Germany was deeply involved in starting WWI. After their defeat in 1918, it took only 20 years for a man with a deep hate to start WWII. However, after Germany’s defeat in 1945 it has taken about 75 years for another war to involve central Europe.

• “You will never find time for anything. If you want time, you must make it.” I don’t know how often I’ve used the excuse “I just don’t have time to do . . .”. Most often I just didn’t want to do that particular thing. Or, was afraid of what other would think if I did it.

In the American political sphere, it seems the Democrats don’t really care what the majority of people think of what they are doing. The few of them controlling things, just go ahead and do them. Republicans on the other hand seem to worry too much and so often don’t get a lot done because they are afraid of what others think. Time flies for both, but for different reasons.

• “Enjoy Life, there’s plenty of time to be dead.” That’s a quote I never heard before and it come from Hans Christian Andersen. Something to think about.

A O

As I said above, a few quotes you don’t hear anymore. These are from a Wisconsin magazine my brother-in-law sends to keep me “on the straight and narrow.” (From a Wisconsin point of view.)

A Wisconsin native relates: “I went into the Navy in 1967. When I’d come home on leave, my dad always advised me, “Keep your nose clean.” He was telling me to stay out of trouble and I’m glad I listened.”

Another man related: “My uncle Elroy was raised during the Depression. As I was growing up and listened to his stories he was fond of saying, “We were so poor we couldn’t afford to pay attention.”

A lady noted: “While playing cards with friends, I’d sometimes hear one of the losers opine to a winner, “You’re luckier than a skunk drinking buttermilk.”

A lady sent in this reminder: “Back in the 1930’s, the teacher at our one-room school used this line to remind the boys who ran outside in the cold without putting on their caps: “An empty dinner bucket never freezes.”

One quote I never heard before came from a lady up north: “I’ve baked more than a few apple pies. A friend always had to have a slice of cheddar cheese with his pie. He’d say: “Apple pie without the cheese is like a hug without the squeeze.”

A man passed along an ‘oldie, but a goodie’: “Put that in your pipe and smoke it.” The man knew his father wasn’t telling them to take up smoking.

A O