I cannot but express my constant doubt that the tragic situation between Russia and Ukraine -- and the similar (but, granted, not quite identical tragedy in Ferguson, Missouri, USA) have more in common than the MSM would ever notice.
Two multiethnic nations (U.S. and Russia), located on the extremities of "Europe," are arguing about issues about which they both -- to be sure, in different ways -- have to deal with: namely, how does huge countries hold in one piece in our new century, with multiple voices calling (understandably) for greater autonomy/freedom?
We're all interested in the exchange of views, free speech, and open debate.
So, instead of an "expert analysis," I cannot help but propose another scenario in today's international "theater of the absurd" in which America and Russia have performed so actively in recent months.
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My modest proposal is a televised debate between representatives of the United States of America and the Russian Federation, on the racial/ethnic/linguistic tensions of these two great geographical expressions, as well as issues regarding their vast neighboring spaces, Mexico (USA) and Ukraine (Russia).
I am, to those who know them, suggesting, for participation in this debate, Al Sharpton and Vlad Zhirinovsky -- some would say, without irony -- patriots (of course "crazies" by current "sane" Russia-U.S. standards). I bet you they would
get a larger audience than the oh-so-boring idiotic Psaki uptalk State Department press conferences/Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announcements with their fuzzy proclamations.
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Among the problems about which our two orators could exchange ideas:
Al --The USA-Mexican territorial/immigration issue (along with an aside on the Ferguson case); Vlad -- the Russian-Ukrainian fiasco (together with ethnic problems faced by the Russian Federation).
I could go on and on about possible topics ... But I don't want to bore you.
Zhirinovsky image from; Sharpton image (in his younger days) from