People say Putin is mad, but he really is not. Others say he's badly miscalculated, and will be removed. But he didn't, and he won't be. At least not soon: he is in this for the long haul. It is a war he must win, and the West will let him: Ukraine's freedom is the price of Europe's freedom -- or the rest of Europe's freedom. We know it, but don't say it. And Putin knows it, so he will continue to the end. Ukraine will be re-absorbed into the Russian fold, come what may.

Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia has not criticised the invasion, even though it has already cost hundreds of lives and could turn Kyiv, the birthplace of Russian Orthodoxy, into a smoking wasteland. He merely issued a brief and bland appeal for prayer for peace: "I call on all parties to the conflict to do everything possible to avoid civilian casualties.".

War has come to the Ukraine. Guess what is not important? He/she ... them/their ... zie, zim, zir, zis gender pronouns.

War has come to the Ukraine. Guess what's not important? Rainbow colors.

War has come to the Ukraine. Guess what's not important? Pride parades.

War has come to the Ukraine. Guess what is not important? Gender identity.

War has come to the Ukraine. Guess what's not important? Men participating in women's sports.

Critical theories are no longer just matters of academic interest. Graduates from elite universities tend to lead our most powerful cultural and political institutions. In their rhetoric, critical theories are confidently marching into culture and politics. Adherents of critical theories are most likely showing up in your church, the school where your children learn, and your city council meeting. They are certainly in your neighborhood.