It has been puzzling to observe the tone used in press coverage about Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy since he took office in April of 2019. The United States has had actors become Governors (Reagan, Schwarzenegger), Representatives (Bono, Grandy), Senators (Thompson) and Presidents (Reagan) but any novelty of a "star" being in politics seemed to wear off quickly and any commentary directed their way focused more on their current acts than prior roles.
In contrast, despite Ukraine immediately becoming subjected to a previously unimaginable power squeeeze between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, references to Zelenskyy have consistently reiterated his prior roles as a comedian and actor rather than leader of a democratic country undergoing continual attacks from Russia while being extorted by the President of the United States for domestic US political purposes.
Here is one recent example:
https://news.yahoo.com/ukraines-zelensky-onetime-comedian-turned-president-rallies-nation-against-russian-invasion-155041324.htmlThis reportage seems intended to discount the importance of anything taking place in that region and as a result, excuse the failure of other countries to devise more effective responses to events in Ukraine. Essentially, these reports condition those in the rest of the world to conclude Ukraine is a bunch of rubes in some Borat country who were dumb enough to elect some sketch comedy actor as President so how can we possibly take anything going on there as worthy of our concern?
Based on his speech aimed at the Russian people and distributed via social media
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-zilnPtZ2Mhe seems to have a very clear grasp of the problems facing not just Ukraine but the entire world and he seems uniquely gifted at summarizing those problems for all audiences.
This really shouldn't be a surprise. Maybe a comedian is the BEST person to have in this absurd situation. A gifted comedian requires top notch perception skills to identify the hypocrisy and other human foibles in life, magnify them to the size of a skyscraper for comedic / dramatic effect then condense that illuminated picture down to something short and pithy that can play to all crowds to deliver a message in SECONDS that sticks.
You are told that this flame will bring freedom to the people of Ukraine. But the people of Ukraine are already free. They remember their past and are building their own future. They are building it, not destroying it, as you are told every day on TV. Ukraine in your news and Ukraine in reality are two completely different countries. The most important difference is ours is real.
By attacking us, you will see our faces. Not backs -- our faces.
Meanwhile, American politicians are focusing on how to spin gas shocks and other economic disruptions to their political advantage while the entire western world seems on the surface to content itself with a "sucks to be Ukraine," hands-off policy. Fifty to one hundred years from now, regardless of what happens, people will remember the name Zelenskyy and his words backed by his courage. And his wikipedia entry of the future won't start with "Volodymyr Zelenskyy, politician, former actor and comedian..."
WTH
