I greatly appreciate that understanding and caring instinct. Yes, this is the dark aspect of what we humans are, and what I'd like to see us evolve past. There are a few more aspects that hurt my heart. There are men who were raised and/or conditioned to do violence. The poverty and hardships that the oligarchs in Russia created during and after the fall of the Soviet Union (imho) created a higher concentration of merciless men, and we're seeing the results now in the raped, tortured, and murdered Ukranians. Men who had no hope of happiness, and very little choice, given no options. I feel both hate but also some pity for Russian soldiers. Fuck war. Fuck Putin, and the oligarchs backing him.
I was a little irritated when I saw the news of a lack of amenities being a hardship when rape, torture and murder of civilians was happening.
I once saw two Iraqi mothers whose contribution to the insurgent effort was sewing suicide vests. Both had sent a son to die already. The eyes of those women haunt me. We will have peace when mothers love their sons more than they hate their enemies. Whether it's propaganda, culture, or something else, it has to change.
Destroy the concept of Russia and you will free Russians (and Ukrainians etc) of age old narratives used to oppress generation upon generation of people.
I hope you (and anyone else who needs to) see this comment not as pandering, but as someone who - despite seeing my share of terrible stuff - hasn't seen the scope of what you and others have.
Sometimes, it really behooves me to just watch a couple episodes of Mr. Rogers, Bob Ross, or Carl Sagan, and remember that there is always a force for good, for love, for community, for understanding, and for peace, even if it can be hard to find sometimes.
I don't see it as pandering, but I wish I was back at a point that helped. Not to be fatalistic. And this is after dealing with a lot of demons, with therapy and meds.
I get it. I don't understand on the same level, but I understand being beyond that point of help.
I hope that you find what makes things better for you. No one deserves to go what you and so many others have gone through. I hope we all find that peace.
I agree with your insight. It leads me to think that working to eradicate poverty and hardship is one thing we can do ourselves to help stop the creation of merciless people( know you said men, but have met me some merciless women warriors in my time)
I once saw two Iraqi mothers whose contribution to the insurgent effort was sewing suicide vests. Both had sent a son to die already. The eyes of those women haunt me. We will have peace when mothers love their sons more than they hate their enemies. Whether it's propaganda, culture, or something else, it has to change.
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u/thisguynamedjoe Pro Ukraine American Apr 04 '22
I greatly appreciate that understanding and caring instinct. Yes, this is the dark aspect of what we humans are, and what I'd like to see us evolve past. There are a few more aspects that hurt my heart. There are men who were raised and/or conditioned to do violence. The poverty and hardships that the oligarchs in Russia created during and after the fall of the Soviet Union (imho) created a higher concentration of merciless men, and we're seeing the results now in the raped, tortured, and murdered Ukranians. Men who had no hope of happiness, and very little choice, given no options. I feel both hate but also some pity for Russian soldiers. Fuck war. Fuck Putin, and the oligarchs backing him.