The opinions expressed here are those of the author and not necessarily those of NightMoves or AAN.

We are going through a very stressful time in America right now and is affecting all of us regardless of our status. To begin with our “leader” is an incoherent,, bumbling, fumbling, out of touch human. Our second in command is a total embarrassment on the world stage with her lack of knowledge and decorum and has no business whatsoever of being the VP. We continue to see this great country fall apart at the seams as prices continue to rise on everything from gas for our cars and trucks to food for our table and medicines for our health. We are still in the pandemic, though thankfully, at its lowest and most promising point in over two years. There are daily shootings and murders of innocent people, law enforcement, children and seniors all over the country as gun safety and laws have just been tossed out the window like dirty bath water.

Still, despite that, we have so very much to be grateful for unlike those in Ukraine. We can bitch about prices and lack of some things we like and enjoy, but we can still put gas in our cars, still have a job and income, able to still put food on the table and a roof over our heads. But most of all we should all be thankful that we do not have planes and bombs flying over our heads, taking down our buildings, hospitals and homes. We don’t have tanks roaming through our streets and tear gas and rockets tearing down anything in its path. We don’t have people grabbing whatever they can and fleeing the country for another place to be safe. But thanks to the clown circus in Washington we have to wonder just what will happen next for us, and the world, and how will it affect us today, tomorrow, next week, next month and in the future. In the meantime the real heroes of what is going on in Ukraine with Russia are thousands of miles away doing everything they can to preserve their country and loved ones.

Ukraine has a president in Zelenskyy who is a true hero and who has the best interests of his people at the forefront. He is fighting for their preservation  and to be able to live a normal life again. He is getting help from the allies and neighboring countries as people, over 6 million have fled to Poland, Romania and other countries. The U.S. has also pitched in to help Ukraine, but could be doing much more, but because of the clown show, red tape and Dumbocrat against republican it is taking far too long to give president Zelenskyy and the Ukraine the help they need.

In the meantime you have several volunteer groups from the U.S. and right here in Tampa Bay, over in Ukraine doing all they can to rescue people and get them to safety. Project Dynamo in Tampa has done a fantastic job getting hundreds of Ukraine people out of harm’s way and to safety. A veteran’s group here in Tampa has also been over there doing all they can to get people out of the country and into a safe haven. There are other groups of volunteers from around the country who could not just sit back and allow this to happen without helping free these innocent people from harm. Once again, the American people are showing their care, love and desire to help in many different ways through various legitimate charities. The number of American companies that have stopped doing business with Russia continues to grow every day and even some professional athletes from the U.S. and other parts of the world are donating, money and time to the effort to help the people of Ukraine.

While all this is going on thousands of miles away from our shores we all hope and pray for a quick resolution and end to this invasion. But I ask everyone to please say a prayer for these courageous people whose resolve is to be applauded and marveled. I also ask that you take a minute and look around your surroundings and all that you have in front of you. Be grateful that the shoe is not on the other foot and that our life in the U.S.A. goes on. Even with all the various hardships we face like our unpredictable weather, high prices on just about everything and an incompetent “leader”, we can still wake up every day to the sunshine and go about our business without the worries the people of Ukraine face every day. Instead of being hateful, it is time to be grateful America. God bless the U.S.A. and the wonderful, resilient people of Ukraine.

Art Koch, National Features & DVD Editor, NightMoves Magazine and AAN