Georgia on My Mind

"May we live in interesting times." seems we do.

I watch this reckless chess game for global domination of the world's resources and I can't help but remember those many nights as a high-schooler when my best friends and I would play RISK while becoming dangerously and belligerently shitfaced. The outcome was inevitable. Rather than lose, somebody would dump the board of its contents and call the match over.

Regarding the latest chapter in Georgia, opinions are many but patience and wisdom seem to be in short supply. I'm reminded of the closing observation in John Godfrey Saxe's poetic rendition of the ancient parable of The Blind Men and the Elephant:

So oft in theologic wars,
The disputants, I ween,
Rail on in utter ignorance
Of what each other mean,
And prate about an Elephant
Not one of them has seen!

I hesitate to rush to judgment, but think it prudent at the very least to educate ourselves before we unquestionably accept the prevailing sentiment that dismisses an extremely complex situation as a casus belli for war with Russia.