When I was a child, I felt safe but there was always a fear of nuclear war. I grew up in the time of the Cold War. I was born far enough into it that I only had tornado drills at my school, not bomb drills. However, it was very clear in my youth who the scary countries were for the United States.
It is odd to me the way my memories work and the things that I remembered impacting me in my youth. I was 8 or 9 when the Vietnam war ended. I have vague images in my mind of war scenes on the nightly news while my parents watched but it had little impact on me. I didn’t understand it or really understand there was a war.
Yet I was keenly aware of the war in Northern Ireland. I still remember hearing a story on the radio of a young girl who survived when her house was shot because she had a teddy bear that she was hugging and the bullet lodged in it and did not go through to her. I hugged my bear so tight after that and always made sure I had a pillow or my teddy bear, Sunshine, there to protect me. I even remember reasoning with myself that I was not in danger so it was silly to do so yet what if? Better to be safe than sorry. And I always wondered why the Irish kept fighting so violently.
When I was a child Russia was the Soviet Union, Germany had a wall, and Cuba was a small island but Castro was scary and so close to us. Iran wanted us all to die. And too many people had buttons that could cause the devastation of our world.
As a nation we had a common foe to beat in the Olympics. I sat transfixed to my TV as the Miracle on Ice Game was played and the U.S. beat the Soviet Union in hockey. I danced and yelled and waved the largest American flag we had.
I tied yellow ribbons around our trees praying the American hostages in Iran would be free.
I was so sad when I was signing up for a pen pal program and was told I could not have a pen pal from Russia. That was the country I wanted but no communist country would allow it. So, I was blessed to form a long friendship with a pen pal in Singapore.
Then things changed. Reagan became president. The hostages were released. The wall came down. The cold war ended. Eastern Bloc countries regained their independence. And suddenly the Soviet Union was no longer as terrifying or such a huge superpower or even the Soviet Union.
Time moved on. I was hoping to visit Russia. I’ve had several acquaintances do so. My husband and I had a great trip to Cuba several years ago. Something we never thought we would be able to do. While we could still tell we were in a Communist country it was nice to see things changing and opening up.
During this time, we have watched our country tear itself apart. Instead of being united to be the best and greatest country in the world, the shining example to other nations we have decided to fight with each other and become weak. Our former enemies have been watching and laughing and plotting.
North Korea may have seemed like public enemy number 1 but Putin and Jinping have been biding their time, plotting and planning.
This is why we study history – to try not to repeat it. I was fascinated that national news did not seem the least bit interested in the poising of Alexei Navalny. I followed the story closely on BBC news. It seemed like a story out of a good movie. But it was real. And his story continues. Why did they poison him? I still have so many questions. And what will happen to him now? How often is this still happening? He was just lucky to be saved and he was safe; in Germany. When healed the first thing Navalny need was return to Russia. What was he thinking? He knew they would be waiting for him. He also knows his fight is to save his homeland from Putin. And so he returned, to continue the fight for his country, even from prison.
Putin truly wants to restore the Russian Empire. He won’t stop at the Ukraine. All free countries should be ashamed of themselves for letting this happen. I also bet that China is soon to take advantage of this distraction and invade Taiwan. I do believe we are seeing the beginning of World War III. Historians will recognize that this invasion of the Ukraine is terrifyingly similar to Hitler’s invasion of Poland. And we know what turn that took.
I understand this is a more terrifying time. I did grow up during the cold war. And I am terrified. Because we are paralyzed with fear of nuclear war – something that terrified me throughout my childhood and teen years. I am so scared that we are now seeing what I feared for so much of my life.
How do we stop him? The Ukrainians are putting up a fight. We must find a way to help them. We must stop this! And we cannot turn our back on China or North Korea.
We the People of the United States of America must remember that this phrase speaks of us…together. We are strong when we support each other. We must be strong now and come together without waiting for another 911 event. Had Russia invaded us could we have stopped bickering long enough to fight for our freedom as Ukraine is? Do we have any leaders as brave as Zelensky?
The U.S. offered to evacuate Zelensky from the Ukraine. I feel the Russians have some horrible plans for him. He politely declined saying “I need ammunition, not a ride.” Many heroes are being made there while we continue to think about what sanctions we should consider.
Pray for Ukraine. Pray for us all.
