With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility

With great power comes great responsibility.

There comes a moment so heinous, so repulsive, so lacking in tone and character as to define both man and country. Donald Trump and J.D. Vance have, in their public repudiation, denunciation and attempted humiliation of President Zelensky crossed a line that this office and this country have never stepped over in the near 250 history of our democracy.

Treating a friend in desperate need as mere worthless fodder, lecturing the President of Ukraine on how he was insufficiently grateful that the great and powerful had given the weak and damaged our temporary grace and assistance. Informing him, in front of the world, that if he did not sufficiently grovel, we would willingly allow his nation to be swallowed whole.

It was remarkable in all the worst sense of that word. President Zelensky, a man of endless courage and resolve, who has demonstrated the highest and best one can offer, subjected to a whipping by those who have abandoned all pretense of moral fiber or shred of understanding of the fundamental demands of their station.

Vladimir Putin could not have wished for better comrades than Donald Trump and JD Vance. For they have now announced that this country is not here to preserve and protect democracy from the forces that would destroy it but will become willing bedfellows with whoever offers them the best deal.

The statements of Mr. Trump and Mr. Vance showed no understanding of history, of what incalculable harm can result when there is no one to stand guard, when we treat the power given to us as weapon to use against friend rather than shield to keep them safe from the harshest winds.

What we witnessed yesterday was the ugliest of the ugly American. I feel great shame and, on behalf of all those who have even the tiniest sliver of decency, I offer sincere apologies to President Zelensky and the people of Ukraine. You did not deserve any of this.