Unraveling Ukraine and Complicating Soccer

Militant Ukrainian protesters, which include both far-right
ideologues and moderate pragmatists. Photo:
Sergey Ponomarev, New York Times.

My last two Index columns have been a bit more political than past ones. In the first, I address the protests in Ukraine as an example of a complex news item that needs research and discussion to unravel. This piece received a very generous letter ("Response to Conor Gearin," middle-right) the next week from a Ukrainian former journalist living in Kirksville (who would have thought?) He cleared up a confusion in the way that I was understanding  the political left in Ukraine: I was using it to mean Ukrainian liberals, those wanting closer ties with the European Union and greater civil liberties, but according to him, to Ukrainians the left means communists more exclusively.

The info about the situation in Kiev is generally still accurate, but check out your favorite international news outlet for updates about what has happened over the past two days. Things are coming to a head, and nonviolent voices are getting edged out on the front lines, though according to the New York Times, nonviolent activists are still in the majority.

In the second piece (bottom of the page), a speech from Fred Gray, Rosa Park's lawyer and longtime activist, caused me to reflect on a place of both diversity and prejudice near me: pickup soccer games at the Student Rec center. Thanks for reading.