Only the dead have seen the end of wars
History has taught that those who give up are the ones who lose
More than fourteen months year since the beginning of the war, it is difficult to find ways to make something to add, even from an insider's perspective. We know that most of the world is on our side, glad for so many positive energies, and for this strong support that has been seen few times before, absolutely.
The thing is that we have very few to say in addition to those news media has been providing to audiences all around the globe. Our cities are destroyed, our people is displaced abroad or internally, part of our territory was taken away by force by an atomic superpower.
Regardless of determination, Ukrainians are mentally and emotionally crushed to the edge. We are still switching periods of abnormally elevated confidence with others which depression does the full tone of the feelings.
It's insane how this repeated and sharp swinging patterns of mental state turns ourselves different. It is a deep wound in our souls. Sometimes, I barely remember who I was 14 months ago.
It could be easier if everything would be confined to the loss I feel from my family, from friends and from the places I was connected before. But it goes beyond. I will need to reload myself in a whole to discover activities, hobbies and even professions to offer a meaning to this experience called life.
And this is something that this state of affairs makes hard to imagine. Sometimes, it makes hard to imagine if someday it will be possible.
Writing here, until very recently such a satisfying experience for me, specially for having such a special audience, has been a light that faded away almost completely because I've been devoided of further inspiration to most of things in life, writing is only one more expression of this.
Further inspiration even to tweet and communicate (though current state of electricity and mobile supply are competing hard with my current state of personal apathy).
This is something I write in a very personal way, never meant to attract a cheesy fragility to myself. I'm strong enough to fight for my country. War didn't kidnapped the strong set of values and beliefs of my life, some I consider were even more upgraded.
My life during the war is defined by the essence of the Bushido, the moral code concerning the behavior and the attitudes of the samurai, being, principally: Righteousness (be extremely honest, believe in justice), Heroic Courage, Benevolence, Compassion (help fellow men and women at every opportunity), Respect (no reason for cruelty), Honour, Duty, Loyalty and Self-Control.
It's important to remember that people should stay optimistic in the face of the overwhelming difficulties they may face. History has taught us that those who give up are the ones who always lose. So, we will never let cynicism and apathy overpower our spirit.
History is also filled with examples of people and nations overcoming hardships to create a better life for themselves. Ukraine definitely chooses resilience and creativity to move forward.
Woodrow Wilson's quote from 1917, “This is a war to end all wars”, still reverberates today, as George Santayana's 1922 response – “Only the dead have seen the end of wars” – serves as a powerful reminder.
A reminder to recall at every time the smallest glimpse of hopelessness invades our souls.
Millions upon millions of us are appalled by what is happening to your country Viktor and to your people. We follow the horrific war closely. We donate. We pray for every one of you in Ukraine. We hear you Viktor. I can feel the pain in your writing but I also feel your strength. The collective west must do even more than they have already done. F16s are needed. We will walk with you until Ukraine wins and throws the orcs out of every inch of your soil. Slava Ukraini. Heroyam Slava.
Viktor, sometimes I don't know what to say to you, because there is nothing I can say that will relieve the suffering of the Ukrainian people. I am comfortable where I sit in the U.S. But I do follow the war closely, every day. I am just heartbroken by what I see and read. I want long-range weapons and F-16s to be sent to Ukraine. As well as everything else that you need.
I spend most of my time reading history, mostly of the 19th and 20th centuries. There are some people you cannot talk to. There are some people you cannot negotiate with. The only way to meet them is with force.