Whenever an armed conflict breaks out, you can count on one thing: American reporters asking why the big button labeled “more war” isn’t being smashed as hard as it can. So it’s proven with the war in Ukraine, as U.S. journalists have begun visibly chafing at the Biden administration’s refusal to countenance a no-fly zone in the country, or to send fighter planes to Ukraine.1
I laughed out loud when I read this line yesterday. As a child of the War on Terror generation, I am so frustrated by our American ineptitude and immorality in these last wars. But Russia takes the meatloaf home. We shouldn’t add to the miseries, but do our best to help out as humanitarians and Christians. What I fear is that any slight move of “a peace-keeping force” as any Hunger Games reader knows, will instantly be corrupted into atrocities like in the Balkans in the 90s, or Libya as we were growing up. I fear what could become of this conflict. I am against any escalation, save encroachment on NATO territory. I am one of the skeptics of modern liberalism, but I am a classical liberal conservative, so I am all for keeping troth to our alliances, especially the post-WWII communities of nations.
Now, in all seriousness:
What do you think we should be doing about the Ukraine-Russia conflict besides praying?
this photo was not taken by me,^ as you can see. But it is beautifully representative. Sunflowers are the national flower of Ukraine, and more than that are one of its main exports (the oil especially, which besides being in adult foods, is also a major ingredient of baby foods).2
“The sunflower (or “soniashnyk”) is Ukraine's national flower and has been grown on its central and eastern steppes since the middle of the 18th century, cultivated for its seeds, which are eaten as a snack, or crushed into oil, a key ingredient in cooking and an export product of vital importance. Mar 11, 2022”
The cool thing though, is that the sunflower is a native species of the Americas, and something adored here too. I have always found the sunflower a symbol of hope and perseverance (sun-tracking) through the summertime. So, as we pray for democracy, freedom, and religion to persevere in Ukraine and Russia, the sunflower is quite an apt symbol for a native communion between Ukraine and America, between the West and the East, from our soils to theirs, we pray that every sunflower will remind people of hope, for all Russians, Ukrainians, Americans, Europeans, and all others involved (especially other nationalities in escape or solidarity) from Ukraine, we pray.
thoughts on Ukraine?
thoughts on Ukraine?
thoughts on Ukraine?
Hilariously said but horrifyingly sorrowful—
I laughed out loud when I read this line yesterday. As a child of the War on Terror generation, I am so frustrated by our American ineptitude and immorality in these last wars. But Russia takes the meatloaf home. We shouldn’t add to the miseries, but do our best to help out as humanitarians and Christians. What I fear is that any slight move of “a peace-keeping force” as any Hunger Games reader knows, will instantly be corrupted into atrocities like in the Balkans in the 90s, or Libya as we were growing up. I fear what could become of this conflict. I am against any escalation, save encroachment on NATO territory. I am one of the skeptics of modern liberalism, but I am a classical liberal conservative, so I am all for keeping troth to our alliances, especially the post-WWII communities of nations.
Now, in all seriousness:
What do you think we should be doing about the Ukraine-Russia conflict besides praying?
this photo was not taken by me,^ as you can see. But it is beautifully representative. Sunflowers are the national flower of Ukraine, and more than that are one of its main exports (the oil especially, which besides being in adult foods, is also a major ingredient of baby foods).2
from the Discourse Blog Substack. Y’all should really try out some of these guys. Most everyone has a good free subscription.
On Ukraine’s national flower 1, 2, 3, 4
“The sunflower (or “soniashnyk”) is Ukraine's national flower and has been grown on its central and eastern steppes since the middle of the 18th century, cultivated for its seeds, which are eaten as a snack, or crushed into oil, a key ingredient in cooking and an export product of vital importance. Mar 11, 2022”
The cool thing though, is that the sunflower is a native species of the Americas, and something adored here too. I have always found the sunflower a symbol of hope and perseverance (sun-tracking) through the summertime. So, as we pray for democracy, freedom, and religion to persevere in Ukraine and Russia, the sunflower is quite an apt symbol for a native communion between Ukraine and America, between the West and the East, from our soils to theirs, we pray that every sunflower will remind people of hope, for all Russians, Ukrainians, Americans, Europeans, and all others involved (especially other nationalities in escape or solidarity) from Ukraine, we pray.
I also found these pretty interesting/cool.
On Sunflowers, the Wiki.
Van Gogh and Ukraine