Dear Ben Cohen: Above you see a photo of the Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker . Its equipped with a compressor (no ice and salt . It has two blades; one for ice cream and the other gelatto (the Gelatto blade allows no air in the mixture but you know that (ice cream maven that you are) Why am I posting this? Because , most of the time I buy my favorite brands of Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream and relish them with my wife and friends. After reading this, I am relishing your brands a lot less .
www.thedailybeast.com/…
Before I speak of the Ukrainian community in the Hudson Valley and the outpouring support for the Ukrainian resistance and the refugee community here in my hometown (We have a lot in common with Vermont( another discussion), I want to make an attempt to correct a serious error on your part before this gets ugly!
As one progressive to another, I am in total agreement at the size and scope of both the US Military budget and the Military Industrial Complex. We spend more money on “Defense” than the next 20 countries combined! (18 of those are our allies) This enormous budget leaves inadequate funding for much needed services (Education, Heath Care, Infrastructure) and many of our people are suffering as a result. Even a 10% reduction and re-acceleration would improves the lives of so many,
I’m in agreement that many of our past lies were based upon lies, deceit, and a media campaign to drum up public support for these unnecessary conflicts. The Vietnam War was justified by the Gulf of Tonkin incident (never happened ) The Iraq War — The Weapons of Mass Destruction — another big lie (at least Judith Miller spent some time in jail) but countless others were never called into account.
Having said all of that , none on the above applies to Ukraine! Vladimir Putin is clearly the aggressor!. He is a Oligarch in the ugliest traditions of Czar Peter the Great. He ,like his partner in crime Donald Trump, created an ugly nationalism and a “us against them culture” He has persecuted Homosexuals, enacted legislation prohibiting wives to bring rape charges against their husbands He has solidified the alignment of the Russian Orthodox Church, making it an “arm of the state . He claims the Ukraine is and always was , part of Russia! This is historically inaccurate, if not an outright lie. Are you aware of his philosopher Alexander Dugan , whose views on Homosexuality, women’s rights , religious liberty, are no different than the religious right in our country . You stood against them here , why are you embracing them over there?
I am reaching out in a last effort before this gets ugly: before you sink to the bottom the ranks of Glen Greenwald, Matt Taibbi, Jimmy Dore: all suppose-it progressives who show on Tucker Carlson. Do you really want to go that rout!
Please come to the Hudson Valley and meet with representatives of the Ukrainian Refugee Community. Listen to their stories and why that they had to pack up and flee for ther lives. I ‘ll pay for the gas from Williston Vermont to Accord NY. Its approximately a 3.5 hour drive.
I don’t want to use my machine and stop buying your ice cream and call for a boycott. But what is right is right (you know that) Please don’t soil the good work you have done fighting the good fight with that
In Solidarity
James Leo