MARCH 16

This is about one of the world's current hot spots that we often dismiss.  On this date in 2014, the people of Crimea voted to secede from Ukraine.  Most of the world pays no attention to that vote and still considers the area to belong to Ukraine.  It has been administered by Russia ever since.  It's amazing that this goes on.

Let's go back.  Ukraine is a border country of Russia in Eastern Europe and was part of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics until it dissolved in 1991.  Ukraine was then an independent country.  It is a rich, fertile land that fed much of Russia during the Russian Revolution.  It also has valuable oil reserves.

Ukraine sits between Russia, Poland, Romania, Belarus, several other Slavic countries and The Black Sea.  Crimea is a peninsula of Ukraine, somewhat similar to our Florida, that sits in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. 

So here the world sits; everyone says Crimea belongs to Ukraine and Russia should leave it alone.  Russia says, "nah-baby-nah!, nyet!, it's traditionally part of Russia and the people prefer it that way.  We are supplying arms to Ukraine to maintain the stand-off. 

What if someone wanted to take back Florida?  or Alaska?  Alaska was once Russian.  YIKES!

Which is it?