Helping the People of Ukraine · 1:10am Mar 2nd, 2022
The average Russian does not want war with Ukraine. The Ukrainians certainly don't want war. But the tragedy of war has come to them, and even if peace comes soon, it will only have been bought by the blood toll of all too many lives.
While I could go in depth on my own opinions on the matter, that's not why I'm making this blog. I don't want to talk geopolitics right now; I want to talk about the ordinary people who are suffering - the Ukrainian civilians and soldiers who are suffering, and the Russians who are dying in great numbers for a war many of them don't even believe in. It's hard to watch this tragedy unfold, and I think I speak for all of us when I say that it's natural to want to do something about it.
If you are financially able, I encourage you to donate to the International Committee of the Red Cross (https://www.icrc.org/en/where-we-work/europe-central-asia/ukraine) who are engaged in humanitarian work in Ukraine. They are not only helping the Ukrainian people, but they are also (at Ukraine's request I might add) being called on to help repatriate the fallen Russian soldiers for an honorable burial.
If you are not financially able, I encourage you to spread the word to those who might be.
On a related topic, the situation in Afghanistan has not ended; there are still many people suffering under the tyrannical regime that now rules there, and they ought not be forgotten. If you are able, I encourage you to continue to donate to help them as well through Save Our Allies, who have already managed to save thousands (and re-home them elsewhere) and continue their efforts to save more. https://saveourallies.org/.
I have one last point to make: The Ukrainian people just want freedom, and the average Russian soldier just wants to go home in one piece. The tragedy is that most of these folks aren't too different from one another, but one man who has been given too much power has run roughshod over the wishes of his own people and his neighbors.
It's a sobering reminder of the danger of concentrating too much power in the hands of the state without any sort of checks and balances, and one that I hope everyone takes as a sobering reminder when considering how much power they are comfortable with their own government having. I don't care where you fall politically; I just want you to ask yourself this question: "How can we ensure better oversight so that the people in power are restricted from abusing it, whether intentionally or unintentionally?" Right, Left, or Independent, or anything else, that's a question we should all ask ourselves.
The state works for the people, not the other way around. When the opposite becomes true, that is how tragedies like those unfolding in Ukraine and Afghanistan occur. No matter how much you believe in a leader, remember that whoever succeeds that leader may not be so good a person. It is the obligation of the people to make sure the order flows in the right direction, and that we entrust the government with power with the understanding that the power comes from us and can be withdrawn if they abuse it. I hope and pray that those leaders who have abused the power entrusted to them will be stripped of their power, that it may be given to those more worthy of the people's trust.
What exactly that should look like is too complicated for this comments section, so please don't start a fight there. Just take it home and mull it over and think critically. Look for the truth, wherever it takes you, even if it contradicts the narrative, and examine your own preconceptions. If we all take more time to do this sort of thinking, we can prevent future tragedies.
To any readers in Ukraine: Stay safe, and God bless you.
Need to send the friar to putin; bitch needs to learn some manners
My heart goes out to all of them likewise. You gave some good points to remember, thanks.
I would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone that Ukraine is the top of the iceberg: Expect to see similar events at others places around the world. The global situation is going to get a whole lot worse, whether or not it ever gets better.
There's also UNICEF, which has established a Ukraine webpage.
Very eloquently put, and a message that needs to be shared.
That's really all I can say.
Thank you for emphasizing that the average Russian citizen - heck, even the average Russian soldier - does not want to be in the current situation. I fear for what their lives will look like once this is over, one way or another.
5640720 Friar Jacques would as The Rock used to say "Layeth The Smacketh Down On Putin's Roody-Poo Candy Ass!"
We stand with Ukraine!!!!
May the Lord infuse us with his Light so we can continue helping the Ukrainians.
Are people around the world going to act this way when China invades Tiawan?
5641682
I know some will. I hope as many as possible will. People will need to take their own initiative to do so and encourage others to do so and not rely on Big Tech to do it for them.