Most Americans are in awe of the Ukrainians who have been withstanding the mighty Russian invaders with grace, bravery and unity, enduring the unspeakable vagaries of human suffering in deaths and destruction. Virtually all of American institutional bodies are unified in supporting the Ukrainians, morally, politically and materially. This level of united help toward another country at war has not been seen in America since World War II. Three Americans from the Greenfield area returned from a first-hand experience in the war zone and declared (April 18) that they had witnessed “the best of humanity” in Ukraine.
We, in America, are deeply inspired by Ukraine’s struggle because we see ourselves in the brave, honorable and idealistic Ukrainians standing up to the Russians. Just like the Ukrainians now, we once stood up to a Big Bad Wolf as a brave, honorable and idealistic people in very similar circumstances.
In 1776, Americans were fighting for their independence. A small and fledgling nation with no standing army, they were facing their own Big Bad Wolf, the mighty British, the world’s strongest. Great Britain, formidably armed, wanted to keep the American colonies as part of their mighty empire. But, like today’s Ukrainians, Americans wanted to be free and independent. Perhaps like Putin’s Russians, the British thought they could subjugate the American Provincials easily.
The war went on for seven years and Americans fought on with pure patriotism and heroism, best exemplified by 16-year-old John Greenwood who joined Washington’s army because, he said, “I want to fight for my country.” Those who understood why Americans were fighting mighty Great Britain applauded the courage of the out-manned and out-gunned underdog, just as the world does today with Ukraine. American hearts were beating for liberty and justice and their souls were yearning for a nation of ideals and dreams.
A war of independence or freedom from an oppressor tends to galvanize a nation and unite its people. Today we are witnessing the Ukrainians, who had their own share of divisiveness, now galvanized as a nation and united as a people fighting against great odds. Our heart is with them as Ukrainians are showing the world what a truly idealistic generation looks like. America’s own idealistic generation had fired its first shot of independence and freedom that was “heard round the world,” still echoing through Eastern Europe where Ukraine is located. We are very sure that the Ukrainian school children have learned how the world’s very first democratic nation had gained its democracy and liberty.
But, today, our mind is burdened with sadness, and even shame, because we no longer have such energizing idealism with us or spirit of unity among us. As we watch how the Ukrainians fight the Russians and act toward one another, with such unity and purpose — from president Zelensky to the hobbling old man on crutches, all declaring to fight “to the last man” — we in America are reminded how terribly divided we are among ourselves. Don’t we fear other Americans and police guns more than we fear criminals or terrorists? We witness how orderly the Ukrainian refugees line up to seek safety, how gracefully they bury their dead, even strangers, and how courageously they endure their horrid hardships. Yet, we are reminded that we, who once fought with similar grace and heroism, just endured three mass shootings last week.
We also notice the clarity in why the Ukrainians are fighting Russia and resisting its tyranny. They have a definite purpose with their collective action and in their individual lives. For that purpose, their present actions generate energy and their future visions demand focus: They are fighting and resisting not only for themselves but for their posterity, perhaps for a “more perfect union” in their next generations. They are united and they sacrifice their present comfort, even lives, for that posterity.
Ukraine is everything that America is not. After decades of easy living, comfort, convenience and, now, pleasure of thousands of entertainments to choose from, we have become lazy, a catastrophic distance in character from the Ukrainians, whose bravery, sacrifice and grace under pressure put us all to shame. We used to be like the Ukrainians — young, fresh and believing in dreams. Ukrainians bleed, die and suffer today for their future. In America, we live today with nary a thought about our nation’s future. We are neither young at heart, nor fresh with our national purpose, nor believing in any future dreams.
As the world is in awe of Ukraine’s solidarity and togetherness, we sorrowfully lament to ourselves in America, “Ukraine, we used to be like you!”
Jon Huer, columnist for the Recorder and retired professor, lives in Greenfield.