Skype Question from Abroad Hits V. Close to Home

A discomforting question this week from an old Berlin buddy, Eva-Marie. Though she turns 90 next month and laments she can no longer read (lamentable because she was a literature teacher), but she can still ride her bike! I Skype her every month or so to hear her news and keep my Deutsch from falling to ruins. The Politzei stopped her recently and asked her why she was riding so fast. I am confident she replied suitably exasperated, “Because I am in a HURRY!!!”

So this week Eva-Marie wants to know, “Mensch! Was macht der Obama da?I thought he cared about democracy and self-determination and such. Why isn't he the one calling for elections in Crimea? I mean, most of the people there are Russian and want to be part of Russia. When did they ever get 96% vote for anything in the U.S?”

I concede, “Not in recent memory,” and plead, “Well, it's all Khrushchev's fault for giving the Crimea to Ukraine anyway.”

“Aber, was macht Obama jetzt?”

A critical eye must admit when an action is indefensible no matter who else approves it.