Ukraine on the Membrane

Facebook always asks, "What's on your mind?"  I always reply, "Cerebrospinal fluid."  And my fluid is in a tizzy.

I didn't need the ominous apparition of a blood moon (on tax day, no less) to portend that all is not well with the world.  Clusters of earthquakes continue to shake, rattle and roll along the Ring of Fire.  A ferry of high school students capsized off of Korea - did that Italian cruise ship captain find a new job?  And the Cubs lose both games of a double header to the Yankees - well, that's par for the course.

Speaking of courses, my eldest recently lamented, "Why do I have to take World History in high school?  It's not about our part of the world.  And history is about the past; thus, the word history.  Seems like a waste of time."  Or something to that affect...

And I immediately agreed.  I told him to just download Mel Brook's History of the World, Part I from Netflix instead.  It covers the same material and is slightly funnier.  It's good to be the Dad.

No, of course that wasn't my response.  I opined philosophically, "Those that don't learn from history, are doomed to repeat it."  That is, unless their DVR's are set for "first run only."

Anyway, I raise this topic because I disturbingly read that Jews in a town in eastern Ukraine are being required to "register" for a "fee" and to provide detailed lists of their assets.  It's like 1939 all over again.  And only one good thing came out of 1939:  the birth of Papa Bruce (not that Hitler consulted with him prior to invading Poland)!

Speaking of Poland:  My grandfather Salomon (more commonly known as Sam) was born in Torskie, Poland.  That was way back in 1910.  But today, Torskie is located in the Ukraine.  No, the town didn't move, but the borders did.  So, that's what's making this anti-semitic manifestation all the more disconcerting.  Perhaps Mr. Putin needs to retake high school World History as well.