Long time since I posted anything to this blog. I took a break from everything: Facebook, Instagram, social media, and this project. I needed time to clear my head, time to figure out what all of this meant, what I mean, what my life means, whether or not any of it at all was worth continuing. I continue to write in my journals and for a select critic, but I have purposefully remained silent and cut off from as much of the world as I can.
However, the events of today demand that I say something.
I am not an expert in politics, and I could never claim to really know that much about the world other than what I touch with my own two hands and tread with my own feet. My life and worldview are limited by my experiences, or perhaps I limit how much of the world I see in light of how my skewed eyes see it. I am a student of history, but again I cannot say that I know more than anyone else who enjoys reading and listening about the subject. Despite my radio silence, I still check the news occasionally, if only out of routine and fear of what might happen to me.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine does not allow me to stay silent anymore. I believe that all free citizens of the world, and those who still yearn to see freedom in their own countries, must feel outraged and appalled by what is happening in Ukraine. An independent country that has already lost parts of itself to Russian predation is now on the precipice of complete conquest. Cities are falling. Civilians are dying. Soldiers are meeting their deaths defending their homeland. These are images that any sensible person must look at, must react to, and must take pause and reflect on what the world must do to prevent the further domination of a sovereign country by a hostile superpower. We must take stock of what we can do to make a dent, even as individuals.
European history has seen this happen before. A recurring pattern comes to mind. The invasion of Serbia by the Austro-Hungarians prior to the first World War, and the invasion of Poland by Hitler and Stalin prior to the second. Again, a great European power seeks to further it’s agenda by stomping on the freedoms and independence of it’s smaller neighbors. I am not saying that the world will again be dragged into a global conflict; but I am saying that the foundation is there for the conflict to expand, bring in more combatants, and necessarily lead to the death of countless more civilians, and the destruction of cultures, liberty, and the modern way of life for numerous countries. Ukraine is enough for us to all be enraged, but it alone may not be enough to quench the thirst for autocrats that seek to rebuild empires long gone.
I do not know what any of this will do, writing to you today. I d0 not if I ever reached anyone with anything I have ever done; I do not know if my typing now will ever reach past the walls of the room I sit in. If it does, if you take notice, if you read this, if you take anything from this, let it be one thing: that this blog stands with Ukraine, that I stand with Ukraine, and that you must as well if you have any respect for the ideas of freedom, liberty, self-determination, and the right for nations to forge their own path without intimidation from larger powers. May you take note that the only thing that any of us can do, or the least we can do, is make our collective voices heard. Post about it, write about it, attend a rally, write your representative, educate yourself if you do not know, and educate others if you do. The world today demands that we do everything can to fight for what is right in the face of misinformation, fake news, paid pundits, and the ever present fear of having to face that would disagree/argue with/hate us. There are people dying in this war as I type these letters, and I cannot help but feel ashamed that this is all I have done to try and change the world. I may not have faith in myself or what I write, but I have faith in the power of the human voice, in the strength of the human soul, in the enduring bravery and heroism in the hearts of those people fighting right now.
We may not be able to fight there, but that doesn’t mean we cannot do our part wherever we are. Ginetta Sagan once said, “silence in the face of injustice is complicity with the oppressor.” We cannot stay silent today, and we cannot stay silent tomorrow; we must speak/post/yell/scream until peace is achieved. I may want to say silent and in my own little world, writing about my life and my soul for no one to see; but I cannot do that today. I know what is happening in Ukraine is wrong, and you should too; G-d will judge us on what we do with that knowledge. We can remain silent and neutral, or we can speak and do what we can to change things. You would be amazed what one voice can do, let alone a chorus that sings of peace and righteousness.
We must stand in solidarity. We must stand for strength in the face of adversity. This Friday night in Ukraine, Shabbat will be brought in with candles and shell explosions, songs of prayer and the chorus of boots marching. Like so many leaders around the world say, we should pray for those lost, pray for the safety of those in danger, and pray that peace will come. After you are finished praying, say something. Do something. Anything. Do not let this world slip further into darkness when you have a chance to enlighten it with your voice. I want nothing more than to slip away, but I don’t believe I could face G-d at the end of my days if I did not say something now. You all have unbelievable power, use it however you can.
Long live Peace! Long Live Freedom! Long Live Ukraine! Слава Україні!!