It has been one year
since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Ukraine is still fighting and
those who support their efforts to defend their sovereignty are still
with them.
In my home state:
To say it is
difficult for the brave people defending Ukraine is an
understatement. A small sample of their world:
Those trying to
help:
Please take a moment
and consider what it would be like if your country were invaded by a
hostile power intent on destroying everything you have known.
I know I have been focusing on
the Ukraine War for many of my recent posts. But it will have long
reaching consequences for all of us. Not just because of the
shocking loss of life and destruction of infrastructure but because
it has laid bare something that perhaps many of us did not realize.
I speak of the way in which people see events. We have experienced a
little of that here in the US with our political divisions. But in
the case of the Russian invasion of Ukraine we see delusion taken to
an even more extreme degree that has resulted in this horrendous
conflict.
These
interviews were conducted in Russia by, I have to say, a very brave
group of people. This video was very difficult to watch. Because
after watching it I came to feel that I might have been being too
generous with the people of Russia, giving them a pass for being
deluded by the propaganda of their government. This video made me
realize that perhaps there are those in Russia who really support the
atrocities committed by their government.
I know there are
many people who do not support Putin and his war. But it is those
who do that are a real danger, not just to their own country, but to
the world. Those who dare to speak out deserve respect.
The reality that is,
or was, Bakhmut. This video is a month old. So I fear that some of
the people in it may not still be with us. This video is only available on YouTube, but there is a link within the window. Or, if you prefer, you can go there and search for "The Battle for Bakhmut" by Vice News.
I would wish that
some of the people in the first video could meet some of the people
in the second. But I fear that there is little hope that it would change their mindset.
We
have just had a major storm move through our area, which has also
impacted much of the United States. Travel has been a challenge with
snow compacted roads and freezing temperatures. I am grateful that I
have a warm home to come to. Yet as I sit here I think of those who
are not so fortunate. I
think of the people in Ukraine who are left in darkness and cold
because of relentless shelling by Russian forces. I
think of the people in Iran who are left in the darkness and cold by a totalitarian regime which would sooner kill those in opposition
then change.
Many
Christmases have gone by with our world at war. Many have been far
away from their loved ones and their homes. The
story of the Christmas Bells is
one man’s plea for the meaning of Christmas.
My wish for those in Ukraine and those in Iran is the promise of that Christmas peace.
Does it feel sometimes like the whole
world is at war?
The Russian invasion of Ukraine goes on
without let up, killing civilians and destroying infrastructure for
no valid reason.
Here is a recent update:
Meanwhile, as the world watched the
events unfold in Ukraine, Iranian protests, which started with the
killing of a woman in detention for not wearing a headscarf, have not
abated. Even with the violent crackdown by Iranian security forces
they seem to be growing.
Then we move to China, which has used a
zero tolerance policy to control Covid-19, at the expense of daily
life and life itself, for its citizens. A recent fire, which killed
and wounded multiple people as it was unreachable by rescue workers
due to Covid-19 barriers, has only exacerbated people's anger.
On the surface these three situations
seem unique. The first is a territorial land grab, the second is reaction to murder
and the third is frustration and anger due to lock downs. But if you
look beneath the surface you see populations that are fed up with
circumstances created by autocratic regimes. Or just fed up with
autocratic regimes, period. Where will all of this end? I don't
know. But it is a warning to others who would follow in the
footsteps of dictators. Revolution is not necessarily only for the
history books.
It is Veterans Day today. I can't
think of a better tribute to all of those who have fought for freedom
then to post about the liberation of the city of Kherson in Ukraine,
and many of its surrounding villages.
We have watched in sadness these past months the spread of Russian forces in Ukraine. They only brought
death and destruction to those in their wake. As the Ukrainian military has freed more of its territory the people
of Ukraine truly have something to celebrate.
In their words:
For many who live in freedom it is not
easy to understand what those under Russian occupation have had to
live with. But their reaction at liberation is a clue.
No, the war is not over. But in this
moment in time good has triumphed over evil and we can take a moment
to celebrate with the brave people of Ukraine.
We all go about our lives living in our
own reality. We see things and understand things through lenses
fogged by information sources that may be less than accurate. What
is truth, what is a lie? What is propaganda? With Russia's war on
Ukraine we seem to be seeing the results of years of propaganda at
work.
This fellow is a Russian, currently
outside of his country, who has a YouTube channel covering varying
topics on his country. This one is about how Russian's see us. Or
at least his take on that. I found it interesting. The first 28
minutes is his “message” and the rest is Q & A.
Propaganda is a very dangerous thing.
If not checked it can have disastrous results. We are seeing that in
Ukraine.
Possibly a different reality than seen
in Russia. This fellow is a Ukrainian YouTuber.
But what happens if someone starts
believing his own propaganda? Perhaps a dose of reality for Mr.
Putin?
Russia decided to conduct referendums
in the occupied territories of Ukraine, asking if they want to become
part of Russia. Like so many people I suspect that the outcome has
been preordained. But if one looks a little closer it is possible to
see the real verdict.
In Ukraine:
But there is another kind of referendum
going on, this one in Russia itself. This fellow gives a nice
overview of what is actually happening and an honest and blunt
reaction.