Prayers for the People of Ukraine

At A Loss

Ukraine’s flag. (Source)

This invasion just feels like too much. We’re all fatigued and worn out from COVID and everything we’ve all endured for the last two years. Plus, we just got out of Afghanistan. But now this, an unprovoked attack by a world power on a relatively powerless neighboring country, a situation that has the potential to draw the entire world into conflict. It seems like the chaos doesn’t end…

Ukrainians are a proud people. I’ve taught many of them over the years, and I learned quickly just how important it is to them that people don’t use the article “the” in front of the name of their country; they insist that it simply be called “Ukraine”. This is because the country was called “The Ukraine” before its independence (pre-1991). And so Ukrainians cringe when you call their country “The Ukraine”; they take it as an inadvertent insult because they are proud of both their country’s independence and its functioning democracy. And my heart breaks at the thought of not only both of those hanging in the balance tonight, but potentially many of their lives.

I’m not a foreign policy expert, and I really don’t have the slightest clue as to how the U.S. and the rest of Ukraine’s allies should handle this situation. Of course, we should support Ukraine, but how and to what extent, I don’t know. I don’t know what the repercussions of engaging with Russia here will be. I simply hope that this all de-escalates before too many people are hurt and before World War III ensues.

I am struggling to find any further words. I’m simply praying for peace, and hoping with all my heart that this ends before it gets out of hand.

Best,

Frank

Conor Friedersdorf @conor64

Something I first realized in 1991 and thought about while watching post-9/11 invasions and drone strikes, but that I take for granted too often: it is an unearned blessing to live and sleep far from any war zone. May those of us so blessed be good to refugees.