The War in the Ukraine With Links on How to Support Their Citizens
I was a sophomore in high school when the break up of the USSR happened. I wish I could say I remember it clearly, but I don’t. My family was going through a breakup of its own at the time, so I doubt I had the attention span for current global events, and I’m kind of regretting that now.
What I do remember are hearing phrases like “the effects of perestroika and glasnost,” and “the end of the Cold War.” I clearly remember images from 1989, two years prior, of the fall of the Berlin Wall and the overthrow and execution of Nicolae Ceausescu. Seeing how the Romanians pulled down a statue of Ceausescu in the capital of Bucharest and thinking, “Gee, those people don’t mess around.”
I feel like the world is in a weird place right now. Or maybe it’s that I’m feeling weird in the world. More times than I find comfort in, have I checked the headlines this week to see if World War III has broken out. Depending on who you ask, some say it has. But what does that mean, exactly?
I want to believe that Russia’s unprovoked invasion into Ukraine has more urgency and impact for Ukraine’s neighbors and our European allies than it does for us here in the United States. However, as a student of history and a devout defender of democracy and liberty for those who want it, I know better. I believe the only thing stopping the United States from entering into direct combat with Russia is the fact that Ukraine is not a NATO ally. And as much sympathy as I have for the Ukrainian people, I frankly find the place we find ourselves scary as shit.
I have faith in our elected leaders, military leadership and diplomatic ambassadors to de-escalate as much as possible. However, in my opinion, our elected officials placated and tolerated Putin’s various aggressions over the past 20+ years, which have gotten us to this point. Historical observers have reported that Putin has a deep grievance over the fall of the USSR. In a public speech in 2005, he said that the Soviet collapse “was the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the century.” Ummm... I can think of a couple of others just off the top of my head.
Whatever Putin’s ambitions now are for Ukraine, the result of his aggression is a catastrophe in itself. As of this writing, more than 1.5 million people have fled Ukraine. They are now refugees in neighboring nations or abroad. Those left behind have taken up arms to defend their country. Apartment buildings have been bombed, and civilians have been killed. Putin has flexed the use of Russia’s nuclear arsenal as a threat to deter allied European Western intervention.
Are we really back to the days of mutually assured destruction? My calendar says it’s 2022. How can this be?
However this crisis resolves itself, one thing for sure: the spirit and fight of the Ukrainian people to defend their country has been more than inspiring. They have asserted their desire to be a free and democratic society for more than 30 years. They should not be deprived of their desired destiny.
Below is a list of support and aid organizations for the people of Ukraine. I just donated, and I hope you can too. Every little bit helps.
UNHCR United Nations Refugee Agency
VOICES OF CHILDREN Helping the children of Ukraine
CONVOY OF HOPE Refugee assistance and support
https://convoyofhope.org/response-updates/convoy-reaching-out-to-help-in-ukrainian-crisis/
INTERNEWS Support independent journalism
https://internews.org/about/about-us/
Also, for a website that is giving updates about what is happening locally to Ukrainian Citizens: https://www.rescue.org
