Give Peace a Chance

as i begin writing this, the battle for kyiv is raging.  by the time it is published in a couple of days, the situation may have changed dramatically.  for now, we watch in horror as the russian armed forces invade ukraine.  we feel powerless to help.  our hearts are filled with admiration for the ukrainians as they fight to defend their country.  undoubtedly, many of them will die, including innocent civilians killed by the indiscriminate bombing of their cities.  others will be combatants who have chosen to take up arms in their country's defense.  we ask ourselves why putin has chosen to send his country's armed forces to take over his neighbor which has done nothing more than to assert ukraine's sovereignty and right to self-determination. 

many countries, including our own, have instituted sanctions against the russian government and the oligarchs who control it.  some have furnished military equipment to the ukrainian armed forces.  short of sending in troops, the industrialized democracies of the world are providing aid in every way possible.  as the fight plays out, we will see if their actions, coupled with the bravery of the ukrainian people,  are enough to affect putin's aggression.  many brave russians have spoken out against their country's actions.  some have taken to the streets and have been arrested as they stage peaceful protests.  there has even been one report of russian soldiers surrendering in protest of their orders to kill their neighbors in ukraine.

president zelensky has provided a model of leadership and bravery to his people and the world.  when offered american assistance in evacuating the capital, his statement, "i need ammunition, not a ride, the fight is here," will no doubt become a rallying cry for all those who fight oppression.  his refusal to abandon his people and his willingness to give up his own life for the sake of his country's freedom is heroic.  he is one of many heroes struggling in this david-versus-goliath battle.  we pray that the david-that-is-ukraine will triumph as did the legendary david.  

comparisons to hitler's actions in invading poland are inevitable.  this time the aggressor is meeting much stiffer resistance than was the case in the earlier dictator's war against a weaker neighbor.  we hope that the steps taken by ukraine's many friends around the world, coupled with the resolve of the ukrainian people, will cause putin to reconsider his destructive path.  perhaps a diplomatic resolution of the differences between the two countries will emerge before the invasion has decimated ukraine.

may we support our government and governments around the world as they come to ukraine's aid.  may we learn from the example of the brave ukrainians who are willing to lay down their lives for the ideals in which they believe.  may the russian fighters see the folly of war and refuse to be used as pawns in their leader's global chess match.  may the world turn from the path of destruction of human life and embrace peaceful ways of resolving differences between nations and one another.  shalom.