Ukraine: Land of the Brave
Image by Алексей Белецкий from Pixabay
It turns out that Russia’s Putin miscalculated, but he can still win.
We all have to ask ourselves a very serious question. Would we rather live free or die slaves?
Ukraine’s President Zelensky reminded the world that an attack on Ukraine is a war on all democratic nations, a war on each and every one of us. We must stand together and reconsider the military option.
I even asked myself a question. Maybe I should go to Ukraine and fight for Ukraine? I am not from Ukraine. I am a U.S. citizen. But if The Yellow and Blue dies, if Ukraine dies, a part of the free world dies along with it.
The courage, bravery, honor, and dignity that President Zelensky has shown in spite of all odds is not only humbling but a noted characteristic in all great leaders. Zelensky is with his people in the darkest of hours, something Putin could never do. That is the difference between a leader of democracy compared to an autocrat.
Ukrainians are fighting for their lives, and here we are just watching. We, too, should show courage and not allow Ukraine to fight alone. If Russia used little green men in 2014, then the U.S. Navy and Air Force can use a little Yellow and Blue. Unlike the Afghan President, Zelensky did not run. Let’s send him a note:
“Dear President Zelensky, Per your request, look up. Here is a little high-flying ammo.”
Earl Yarington (LMSW) is a social worker and school bus driver. He taught literature and writing for nearly 20 years and spent 3 years working in forensic social work internships with offending populations, including work at Delaware Correctional facilities and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. He has a PhD in literature and criticism (feminism/women writers) from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Master of Social Work from Louisiana State University, and an interdisciplinary Master of Liberal Arts from Arizona State University, where he studied the impact of visual image and girlhood in media/social media. He also has an MA and BS in English from SUNY College at Brockport. The opinions and analyses that Earl writes are his own and are not necessarily the positions or views of his employers, the agencies he supports, or that of his colleagues. Reach out with comments or questions.