...and hold the Dioxin, please...

For me, it is difficult to say what caused me to stop and pay attention to the political goings on in the Ukraine, but it happened. I think the seed was planted by an individual that has since decided to drop out for a while. And yes, I am slightly bitter. In any case, he brought this situation to the foreground and from there, my own curiosity took over.

How many people wondered what was happening to Victor Yushchenko? Did they care, or was it just about nosiness and morbid curiosity? Did they know who he was and what he stood for? I'll be honest; until several months ago, I was clueless about it all and I was quite blissful in that ignorance. When I began paying attention, I learned that there was alot to consider. For me, there was a certain pull simply due to heritage and I can't really take credit for that; however, these were my 'peeps'. I started remembering the determination and perseverance, ok - stubbornness and simple pride, that some of the elder members of my family spoke of and I felt compelled to pay attention.

Hang on... I've derailed...

I learned that Mr. Yushchenko was poisoned (allegedly, my ass) and that during the height of the poisoning scenario, he could not get a proper diagnosis all the while in severe pain and what I can only imagine as great fear of an unknown illness. Difficult as it may have been to diagnose, even I could do better than 'food poisoning'. In light of that and other impending dangers, he remained strong in his convictions and went on to lead the opposition and actually win the election although it remains to be seen if Vladimir Putin is truly pleased with the outcome.

In light of the less than desirable uphill battle that Mr. Yushchenko has encountered, which may possibly shorten his life due to the poisoning, he actually maintains a positive attitude and an air of grace. This is a man who took great chances in striving to become the opposition leader and still feels that it played out as it needed to in order to put his country and the people in it in a better place. Selfless? Perhaps. In any event, it is slightly more than remarkable. Given the opportunity, I would proudly tip my orange hat to Mr. Yushchenko.

Things are handled differently here in the States, but the danger of such scenarios is always a possibility. You typically have the choice of those you want to keep company with, the environments you settle in, and the activities and actions you carry out. Always keep your eyes open, never be afraid to question, and foremost, keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Oh yeah, and you might want to skip the Dioxin.