It’s a familiar psychology, but with different means and outcomes, bloodless vs bloodied. It’s the “don’t tread on me” “give me liberty or give me death” American Revolution 270 years ago - among the bloodiest of that era, followed less than 100 years later in the bloody war to abolish slavery and free all slaves. Many years later, the amazing, bloodless revolutions of the US Civil Rights “War” of the 1960s, then those of the Philippines, Soviet Union, and South Africa.
And now the bloody stand of those courageous, freedom-loving Ukrainian patriots. The world is watching and praying. It’s all about self-determination, personal freedom, and the fighting spirit that defines us all. And resisting invasion! Standing and resisting together against it, with prayer, voices, and guns and missiles.
America and Canada have chosen, like Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr,. and Jesus, to stand non-violently against it: Spiritually, psychologically, behaviorally and morally. Ukraine wanted to, but were not given that choice. And now they are fighting.
How were we supposed to help? Psychologically, love, encouragement and prayer from the world is making a difference. But not enough of one, most probably. When the courageous president of Ukraine – now a hero to the world and his country – was offered a ride out by the ignoramuses running America right now (as they defy and run down American’s freedoms on the home front), he retorted, we don’t needs rides, we need guns and ammunition! Indeed.
I wonder what would have happened if those brilliant heads of our military, the President, and his utterly senseless administration, had decided to keep even a quarter of the billions in military equipment we “donated” to our long enemy Taliban, and given that to the Ukrainians? Hmmm. That’s what they needed in their freedom-fight. Too late now, I’m guessing, though even cowardly Europe is apparently stepping in to help, military equipment-wise. Still, probably too little too late. It’s not like the world did not see this coming.
America’s (and Canada’s) democracy battle on the home-continent front, is for that silly bill-of-rights-freedom: speech, association, movement, resistance, religion, and so on. And freedom from our own governmental abuse of those.
We fought against a tyrannical government a long time ago, for human freedoms and independence (a pretty essential start for freedom and liberty, wouldn’t you agree) that became codified in our US Constitution – and for a long time actually protected by our governmental institutions and especially courts. But not so much anymore. At least not so assuredly.
Take my great, great, great, great (not sure how many greats) grandfather Israel Putnam - General of the Connecticut Militia, and one of George Washington’s most important leaders in the Continental Army under Washington. He was an “insane” lover of freedom, and such a despiser of those who would take it – the British. He so hated the British -the mightiest army the world had ever known at that time – that he threatened to run his completely overmatched and manned army with his saber if they turned to retreat or run. It was the Battle of Breeds and Bunker Hill. Our patriot soldiers, so demanded freedom and liberty, and so hated the British, that when they ran out of ammunition, and their bayonets used to the point that they were overrun by the British regulars, that they even used their teeth against them, biting them as if to death, as they all died, and sacrificed all for their new country and freedom they never got to see. (btw, General Putnam was apparently the General who coined the “don’t shoot until you see the whites of their eyes” in a previous battle – according to his soldiers’ journals, and a book written about this passionate patriot general).
I can’t say that I would be willing, much less able, to fight to the death as my grandfather and his soldiers had, but I’d like to think I would. Yet now it would be in the bloodless revolution kind. Standing against abuses of government robbing our freedoms, once guaranteed us.
I’ve discussed the psychological science in previous posts explaining why people would give their lives, and freedom (ironically) for their individual freedoms. It’s not rocket science. It’s actually pretty simple. Now a matter of deciding, maybe marching, writing, and speaking out. I wonder what would happen here in our own revolution and battle if the majority of Americans stood against it, in civil disobedience. Will they put us all in jail? That would be interesting.
But we still have the vote. As I’ve said, it’s late but not too late. We can sweep the bums out of the control room, off the ship of State’s bridge. In the meantime, let’s let our voices be heard. Loud and clear, as we march, and demonstrate - peacefully. I think that’s in our constitution, too.