Maybe it’s just me, hanging around with nonviolent communication students and teachers too much. But,

Always the big, “BUT”

But,…maybe AND is more appropriate.

And, if Putin’s big concern is to spoil Ukraine’s hunger to join NATO, then a full military assault seems maybe counterproductive, killing women and children, bombing bread lines and schools. Wouldn’t that kind of thing be why Ukraine is looking for NATO alliance, because of concerns that Putin and his overpaid Generals might forget that carrots are more effective than sticks when you are trying to persuade less wealthy, and more hungry for safety, people that your big stick next door isn’t an unfortunate event threat to their carrot crops and tops, and all those other greens and blues and even reds; who seem to have a peculiar affinity for ballistic sticks, even when spoons of sugar are so much less expensive, less damaging to well-manicured nails, and landscapes. The important classy stuff making up a delicious series of more fortunate events.

When I was trying to persuade those bratty neighbor children that they need not gang up against my less-affluent kids, it didn’t occur to me to lob grenades over the fence, instead of suggesting a pizza party. But maybe that was mainly because I was hungry too, for food, and health, and safe nonviolence.