Large Fierce Mammal

“An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.”

~ Winston Spencer Churchill on the policy of Appeasement ~

I instantly recalled the derisive words of Winston Churchill while reading some spoken by the Ukrainian Prime Minister as quoted in a CBC News piece published 9 November 2014 under the title, Vadym Prystaiko says West losing interest in Ukraine, ‘Everybody is afraid of Russia,’ says outgoing Ukrainian ambassador:

In September, newly-elected Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko visited Canada and addressed Parliament.

The same day, Prime Minister Stephen Harper reiterated Canada’s “steadfast” support for Ukraine “in the face of the Putin regime’s persistent military aggression.”

Ambassador Prystaiko says it’s obvious why Canada and other coalition countries are willing to take on ISIS but not help Ukraine fight pro-Russian separatists in the country’s east.
Cda Ukraine Ambassador 20140303

Vadym Prystaiko is leaving Ottawa and set to be confirmed as the new deputy foreign minister for Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko’s incoming government.

“Everybody is afraid of Russia,” he says.

But he cautions Canada against this approach. “Some seriously believe that feeding Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova to the bear will make him quiet… satisfy him so he won’t go further.”

Last year on this day, I wrote:

I began this piece with a reminder that time distances those now living from the lessons to be learned from the lives of those who have come before. Let me add this – Adolf Hitler didn’t invent genocide, and ideals of world domination exist as strongly today as they have always done. If it only takes a single generation to forget this, then the same can be said of anything, including skill at arms and a willingness to stand in harm’s way. When the Wolf is at the door, you will be happy that a few have never forgotten. ~ My Poppy is Red

There’s a song called The Green Fields of France that I included in a in my Remembrance Day 2010 article titled Lest We Forget – A Parting Shot, and I invite you both to read it and listen to the song as part of your observances today.

On this year’s Day of Remembrance, let us not forget the sacrifice of those who stood, and continue to stand, in harm’s way; but most of all, let us neither forget nor forgive the folly of those who continue to put them there, whichever side they’re on.