I'm sorry. Didn't you just call folks a fool for having one interpretation of events and want to set us straight for believing propaganda? If you really believe we provoked this war, it's hard not to believe you aren't buying Russian propaganda hook, line, and sinker.
I didn't form my views from a diet of cable news. Like I am sure is the same for you, I have tried to find a variety reasoned and informed sources and have concluded with my brain and critical thinking skills (I do try to use those Jakey, but I'm sure you would think the education I grew up with leaves me incapable of such) that while our actions aren't perfect, we certainly did not remotely provoke Russia into this action. Putin and Co's own hubris and ambition did.
And my argument wasn't even a moral one. I am saying this is an assymetric war. Each side is trying to make the other side give up by taking actions beyond fighting on the battlefield. For Russia this has meant destroying powerplants in the dead of winter so the people freeze, destroying grain and other exports, and when that doesn't work directly dropping bombs on town squares, trains of civilians trying to flee, and buildings with the world Children written in giant letters in Russian. While I am sure you don't condone these actions, they sure don't seem to get you worked up like Ukraine's asymmetric response. Ukraine and her allies do this by isolating Russia and restricting creature comforts like iPhones and World Junior Championships. It's not just politics, it is a direct action in the war. It's not fair to the Russian people, no doubt. But war isn't. I don't presume your value judgement on these actions, but for me the Ukrainian ones I can support in the face of what their opponent is doing.
I don't want to be arguing about this on a hockey forum so I will stop after this. I don't hate Russians. I am ecstatic about our picks and can't wait to see them over here. I hope the war ends and we can be back to normal soon. But until then I understand why Russia can't participate in international events. I'm not a Russian history scholar, that's true. But I hope you can understand that I came to this view by looking at all the perspectives and information I could reasonably gather and then forming a view.