Defying Despots' Dignity

5 Rabbit Holes

“Broadening the horizon beyond the immediate. A reminder that the world is vast, and our place in it is still being written.”

While US news holds our myopic attention like obedient goldfish, there is other news we should be thinking about.

1.Putin’s Stuck in a Nightmare Scenario

Putin can’t back out of the war he started because his “personal survival” is at stake. Like The Little Engine That Could, Ukraine is proving how the “smarter, not harder” principle works. Through rapid innovation in drone technology, Ukraine has brought Russian soldiers to their knees, literally. Once a Russian Soldier hears the whir of a drone they know the only option is to surrender. When Putin started the war he threw cannon fodder at the Ukrainians. The cost of employing one soldier can not compare to the cost of a drone. Russia is running out of human resources. I have nothing against the Russian people nor any people ruled by despots.

“A despot is a ruler or leader holding absolute power, typically exercising it in a cruel, oppressive, or tyrannical manner... Synonyms include tyrant, autocrat, dictator, oppressor, and potentate.” — Merriam-Webster

The Russian people seem unable to recover from the collapse of the USSR, lost in a dream of living a free life. Meanwhile, the Baltic countries—who led the resistance that toppled the Soviet Union—have reestablished their independence, joining NATO and the EU. In June 2024, Vilnius, Lithuania was named one of the happiest cities in the world for people under 30. I was there in August, 2025 and could see why.

2. Victor Orban’s Nightmare

While I am not well-versed in all of Hungarian history, I am watching how the country is beginning to shift away from its despot toward Péter Magyar and the Tisza Party.

The Respect and Freedom Party (TISZA) is a centre to centre-right, pro-European, and populist movement. In recent elections, turnout reached nearly 80%—the highest in post-communist Hungarian history. Young people turned out in droves.

• The Shift: “This is the end of an era,” some say of the shifting power.

• The Reaction: “We must bear this defeat with dignity.”

3. The Pig in the Python is on the way out

The top of the Baby Boomers’ generation turns 80 this year. We are busy contemplating death with dignity, bucket lists to complete, keeping our brains from rotting. My calendar is a minefield of doctor’s visits and self-care appointments; I even triple-booked myself recently.

We are blamed for ruining this country born of the greatest generation. Gripe, gripe gripe….. I don’t have time for that.

Americans under 30 are often cited as the most “miserable” age group due to social media and economic anxiety. After reading the New York Times article I shared last week I have hope. I believe in the 90/10 theory: 10% of the “rotten kids” get 90% of our attention, which means 90% of them are doing just fine. We are making way for them to turn this world around.

4. 10 Things We Can All Do to Protect “d”emocracy

The Primaries are on! Arkansas was first and the results are in. What exactly is at stake? That is a rhetorical question and one I am not going to ask out loud because it will only cause noise. Instead you can read what Democracy Docket proposes.

Note: If you are a fan of our current president, I suggest you skip the link. I am sticking to my self-imposed rule of not offending my readers.

5. Walking Away with Dignity

My core values aren’t negotiable; they are the moral compass I live by. In 1980, a class required us to write our life goal in one sentence. Mine has guided every decision I’ve made, personally and professionally:

My goal is to help people get where they want to go. I am a flawed human being and I have failed at times, but I always take responsibility. Last week, I felt rewarded by my readers. Then, on Saturday, my mood plummeted due to a single email. It was a gut punch. I went through the stages of grief, called my best friend, and hugged my foster dog.

I crawled out of that rabbit hole realizing I was experiencing the “shoot the messenger” effect. It is a tested psychological phenomenon. Look it up—but don’t blame me if you can’t get out of the hole!

Up for a discussion?

Let me know if your hope has been renewed this week. Have you experienced the “shoot the messenger” effect? My response to the one who pulled the trigger is: if you don’t like the answer, don’t ask the question.