Thoughts about the War in Ukraine — Tears in Texas
The war in Ukraine continues unabated. Russian forces have intensified their attacks in Ukraine’s eastern and southern regions and unleased a savage firestorm of missiles and rockets on civilian targets in the regions. Civilian casualties continue to mount. The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) reported that the total number as of 23 May 2022 of verified civilian casualties is 8,462. The actual number may far exceed the verified number. https://www.ohchr.org/en/news/2022/05/ukraine-civilian-casualty-update-23-may-2022
To assist Ukrainian forces to fight back the USA, Canada and many European countries have pledged and sent military equipment and weapons to counter the killing machines of Russian forces. https://www.voanews.com/a/ukraine-calls-for-faster-weapons-deliveries/6586691.html
What is interesting about the eagerness of countries to assist Ukraine is the lack of double-speak language to describe their actions. Remember back in 2003 when the United States announced its intention of invading Iraq? There was no declaration of war by the U.S. Congress because it was not a war. It was Operation Iraqi Freedom. The UN refused to provide a specific endorsement for direct U.S. military action. This forced the Bush Administration to urge countries to join the coalition of the willing.
None of that double-speak baggage was necessary because countries saw the necessity of beating back the advances of an invading army. The invading army was closer to home than the civil war in Ethiopia and the continued crackdown by Myanmar’s military government on dissidents.
In fact, when I watched the complete video footage of the news conference of the US Secretary of Defense held on May 23, 2022. I was struck by the tone of bonhomie throughout the conference. (Just how long this feeling of congeniality continues remains to be seen.)
Then the shooting in Uvalde, Texas hit the media outlets. This marked the 27th mass shooting in 2022! My reaction was, “Oh, Lord, not again!” The shooting took place within ten days of the mass shooting in Buffalo, New York. https://www.npr.org/2022/05/27/1101490738/uvalde-buffalo-mass-shooting-similarities
While family members grieved and tried to make sense of the Uvalde killings, opposing groups began their shouting matches. Guns don’t pull the trigger; evil minds do. Restrict access to assault weapons! Spend more on mental health care!
Then, of course, comes the irony and, in my opinion, the complete disregard for the feelings of the emotionally wounded victims: the NRA holds its annual convention in Houston, Texas. Followed by more shouting matches.
What would it take, I wonder, to bring different factions together in a show of bonhomie and cooperation to meet the onslaught on the citizen’s right to stay alive. An invasion by a hostile country, perhaps? (Though in the case of the US, other nations would not need to supply the Americans with weapons.) How much easier it is for the US to involve itself in the problems of another country and provide humanitarian and military packages to help that country out of difficulty than it is to solve the contentious domestic problems.
Ever likely I have become jaded and still harbor conflicting views about the war in Ukraine, an event I have no control over. But what I can do is look for ways to help traumatized victims overcome their emotional wounds.
One Reply to “Thoughts about the War in Ukraine — Tears in Texas”
Interesting, as always, Kerm.