Pray for Ukraine

 

Comparisons to Hitler are too overused.  Look at the political discourse in America over the past several years and see the number of people who have been called Hitler.  The usage has dulled a bit of the impact here for us.

The image above was shared on Twitter by the official account for the country of Ukraine.  They know of what they speak.  The country had been invaded by Hitler's army in World War II.  And they then remained under Soviet control following.

We are now in day five of Putin's invasion of Ukraine.  The Russian army is now attacking Kharkiv, Ukraine's second largest city, with a population of 1.4 million.   Part of their three flank invasion, entering from the north, east, and south, and targeting Kyiv and Kherson additionally.  Though the first few days have not gone as Russia expected, they are ramping up their attacks and have been accused of targeting residential areas.

Ukraine, for its part, is fighting for its life and has proven perhaps surprisingly effective so far.  This is David facing Goliath, and it's remarkable that David has lasted as long as they have.  "The war has united people as never before."

This should put things in perspective in our country.  That our petty squabbles have been just that - petty.  That the claims of "tyranny" in mask mandates and vaccine mandates pale in comparison to actual tyranny.  Pale in comparison to actual authoritarianism.  This should be something that could unite all of America - united in support of Ukraine in repelling the Russian invaders.  

Sadly, of course, it has not.  We've had GOP leadership is blaming Biden for the invasion.  Trump, for his part, and who has expressed admiration for Putin, described the Russian leader's actions leading up to invasion as "genius," "smart" and "pretty savvy."  They try to distract with old information regarding Ukraine being one of the most corrupt governments in the world, as if that would justify the invasion, even if it were still true.  Lauren Boebert says we must now liberate America and Canada, like Ukraine needs to be liberated.  She shared in an interview with Fox, "I pray for Ukraine and I wish them the best, but we also have neighbors to the north who need freedom and need to be liberated, and we need that here at home as well."  

It's almost as if they don't know what those words mean any more.  It's all performance.  It's all a show for a base that they can't lose.

My tolerance for it has finally all evaporated.  

We've seen true examples of leadership.  Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has shown us that you can start as an entertainer and still be the leader your country needs.  He is armored and in the trenches with his people, refusing transport instead reiterating a request for aide.  He has spoken in Russian to appeal to the Russian people and to combat Russia's propaganda machine.  As the situation has demanded it, he has risen to the occassion.

Continue to pray for him.  Continue to pray for Ukraine and for the Ukrainian people.  Pray for the millions that have evacuated and are displaced.  Pray for the Russian people who do not want this war.   Pray that the swift sanctions work.  Pray for the rest of us as we figure out how best to provide aide. 

Pray for sanity to prevail.  For an end to the conflict.  

Pray for peace.

нехай Бог захистить Україну