I Am No Longer A Pacifist

The events in Ukraine aren’t a war, but an invasion for Putin’s sport

Photo by Ahmed Zalabany on Unsplash

They are slaughtering people in Ukraine every day. People just like you and me. The only difference is they are unfortunate enough to live in Ukraine.

Leader Putin of Russia wants to claim their democratic, free nation as part of the empire he wants to create.

I regard Vladimir Putin as evil. His craziness may have developed as he gained ever-increasing levels of power over the people and everything else in Russia.

I really don’t care about the cause. I want him to be removed from power by any means necessary. As soon as possible.

Now that I’ve said that, I have to confess that my country, the United States, cannot take any direct action to remove Putin from power.

The irony of honor being mocked

I am struck by the irony that multiple nations, with the intention of creating treaties to prevent wars, are being threatened by a man who cares nothing for treaties or honor.

These parties to NATO and the European Union cannot directly go to war against Putin and Russia because Russia is also a member of these organizations.

I understand the logic and honorable intentions of these treaties. All but two of the member nations abide by the peace-promoting provisions of the treaties and pacts.

But even while the logical part of my brain agrees with the standards of the honorable nations, my eyes watch news broadcasts from Ukraine with horror.

My heart cries with the frustration of our nation (and others) sitting by futilely while men, women, and children are coldly and brutally murdered before our eyes.

How can any of us still embrace passivity after seeing warfare brought even lower in human actions?

I’ll repeat what I said above: I am no longer a war pacifist.

Ever since Putin invaded Ukraine, I have been repeating to myself the often mentioned quotation attributed to Edmund Burke, among others, that reads,

The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is…