On April 8th, Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene publicly declared that the Ukrainian government was “Attacking Christians” and that the Russian government was defending Christianity.
Marjorie, what planet are you on?
Let’s look at the numbers: Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has led to displacement and death of hundreds of thousands of civilians in Eastern Ukraine. Cities like Kharkiv and Dnipro have faced near-nightly shelling and missile strikes by the Russian military. The overwhelming majority of the civilians displaced and killed by these strikes have been (nominally or actively practicing) Eastern Orthodox Christians.
Does this sound like the actions of a government that actively defends Christianity? When we look at how widespread alcoholism, adultery, drug use, and other activities undoubtedly labeled “vices” by MTG are in the Russian Federation, does it really make sense to call Putin a defender of Christianity?
The reality is that Marjorie Taylor Greene already decided long ago that she was going to support Putin. Like much of the MAGA world, Marjorie sees Putin as a common ally in the war against liberal democracy and everything that makes America great. Claiming Putin is a “defender of Christianity” is just retroactive justification for over two years of violence and bloodshed. And it’s gaslighting.
Let’s look at the facts: Ukraine is a secular, multi-confessional state with nearly every religion represented in Ukrainian society. Catholics, Orthodox Christians, Jews, and Muslims all call Ukraine home - and none of them are less Ukrainian for adhering to any religion. Since Crimea was seized from Ukraine and occupied by Russia in 2014, Evangelical Christians have suffered under Moscow’s rule alongside the peninsula’s Muslim Tatar population. While Marjorie may view Putin as the leader of a bizarre holy war, the reality is that modern Ukraine embodies many of the concepts that are core to liberal democracy and is a natural ally of the United States.
MTG has made herself an agent of chaos and a pawn of Putin. She’s done so willing, openly and with actual malice. She is a threat to her colleagues, holding a sword over her own Speaker’s head while obstructing critical legislation. She is a danger to her nation.
Of course She does. Just one more thing she’s done & said & believes that Confirms She Is a Bat-shit Crazy Traitor!