"The View Beyond The Balcony" by Randy Weeks
On October 21, 2026, Steve Witkoff, U.S. Special Envoy met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg, Russia. Witkoff was in Russia to negotiate the release of 74-year-old American schoolteacher Stephen Hubbard, who had been imprisoned by the Russian government since 2022.
At the time of his arrest, Hubbard was living in the Ukrainian city of Izyum with his Ukrainian partner. The Russian government claimed that Hubbard was serving in Ukraine’s military forces, so they arrested him. Because he was an American, inside sources say that Hubbard received more inhumane treatment than did other prisoners, including beatings, sexual humiliation, withholding of food, electric shocks, and probably more.
During the successful negotiations, Witkoff said to Putin on camera: “You talk so much about my president, President Trump, being a humanitarian; you are a humanitarian also, sir, and I salute that, I commend you, and I thank you again.”
Let that sink in. Now, take a look at a few of Vlad the Humanitarian’s war crimes. The following comes from AI and relates only to the period of the invasion of Ukraine. Prior to that, there was much more of the same ilk from Vlad and his predecessors.
In 2023, Putin oversaw the forced abduction and relocation of thousands of Ukrainian children. (NPR)
Over 16,000 to 20,000 Ukrainian children have been forcibly taken to Russian-controlled locations.
International organizations have documented that the Russian government has made widespread use of illegal detention, sexual violence, torture chambers, and executions.
Prior to the unprovoked and hostile Russian invasion of Ukraine, under Vlad the Humanitarian’s control, heinous, inhumane treatment occurred in Chechnya, Georgia, and Syria, to name just a few places. Wikipedia cites inhumane actions including crimes against humanity, genocide, torture, rape, looting, and enforced disappearances as well. Of course, Vladimir Putin is a humanitarian! Right? Wrong! In fact, he is the polar opposite of such. And now, under our President’s regime, Putin is called a humanitarian by a United States government official and appears to be kowtowed to.
As a licensed mental health counselor, I know that many times adults who have not received appropriate validation in childhood subconsciously seek outside validation from others who, quite often, bear the same or similar characteristics as those who raised them and who have not given them the appropriate love and care that all children want, need, and deserve. A significant number of those factors can easily push one toward narcissism. Out of fear, shame, and feelings of inadequacy, they must glorify themselves in order to feel worthy. They fear rejection should anyone else see their deep inner wounding. They can be like an injured dog that will bite you when you’re only trying to help it.
I strongly believe that Vlad the Humanitarian knows exactly what he’s doing and is laughing behind the backs of all citizens of the United States.
Since I was a child, Russia has been considered our main enemy. Fun fact: When I was a child in the winter of 1957–1958, we were told we shouldn’t eat from the beautiful blanket of snow that had fallen because the Russian satellite Sputnik had contaminated the snow with radiation. In truth, the slight radioactivity was due to direct environmental fallout from America’s testing of nuclear weapons. I was sad that we couldn’t have the snow ice cream I craved. Nevertheless, I “sneak-ate” the snow anyway. Perhaps that explains my glowing personality!
As is often the case, Bob Dylan penned the song “With God on Our Side,” which chronicles many of the inhumane events throughout our own nation’s history. Here’s a relevant verse:
I learned to hate the Russians all through my whole life.
If another war comes, it’s them we must fight.
To hate them and fear them, to run and to hide,
And accept it all bravely with God on my side.*
Is it better to have God on our side or for us to be on God’s side? Pause and think on that.
…and that’s the View from Beyond the Balcony.
Randy Weeks is a Licensed Professional Counselor, a Board Certified Telemental Health Provider, a Certified Shamanic Life Coach, an ordained minister, singer-songwriter, actor, and writer. He may be reached at randallsweeks@gmail.com.
*(Bob Dylan, “With God on Our Side” Copyright © 1963 by Warner Bros. Inc.; renewed 1991 by Special Rider Music)
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