Our world has been experiencing untold horrors these past three years. Millions of our neighbors have become ill due to The Pandemic, some millions dying, while others suffering from the long-lasting tentacles that are Covid long haulers. Many of our neighbours have lost their businesses, their livelihoods and retirement funds because of this pandemic. Now Europe faces an international challenge it has not seen for many decades, the challenge of warfare being carried out within their continental backyard. Russia vs Ukraine, Aggressor attacking a peaceful neighbour. And you thought social insanity was a forgotten cliche.
A return to international intrigue and competition among the superpowers, and a rise of the greatest of the past ghost, Nationalism. Every time I hear someone shouting support for The Ukraine or Russia, the hairs on the back of my neck stiffen. Alarm alert, my neighbours are falling for the oldest trick in the book of fools. Yes, there is such a book. In it are found words with “ism” following every word. False political gods promising something better, if only the listener will follow blindly, trustingly. Nationalism is my favourite. This force has built nations, helped small people become mightier, and also destroyed nations, lives and hopes in the past, and presently too. Many Russians believe in their leader Putin, hoping for a return to Russian greatness. Ukrainians, once part of this Russian Federation that oppressed millions now are experiencing what it is like to be Hungarian, Polish, or Czechoslovakian, under the jackboots of oppression. The world looks upon the Ukrainians as heroes standing against the horrible Russian Bear. I think Karma sucks, doesn’t it Ukraine? Ukraine’s history is full of horror and terrible deeds carried out in the name of nationalism. Karma sucks.
The ghost of war will subside soon. Russia has accomplished what it wished to indeed. Wound Ukraine, making it reliant upon Russia in the near future and gaining territory in the East and South, annexing Ukraine’s marine territory. The West will stop supporting their present-day favourite soon enough. You don’t think so? Ask a Hungarian, Czech, or German how the West treated them when they rebelled against The Russian Bear. The West’s pocketbook will dry up soon enough, after all, NATO and The West were too frightened to challenge Russia directly. They only threw their money and empty words at the aggressors, much like they did to Hitler long ago. Someone will declare “peace in our time” and so it will be until the Bear becomes hungry again.
Question: Is there anyone in Washington, Ottawa, London, and The E.U. Head Quarters in Brussels who is knowledgeable in World History? Why must history remain cyclical, always repeating itself over and over again? Build up Society, then tear it down, only to build it up again…so on and so on………
Steven Kaszab
Bradford, Ontario
[email protected]
