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Today western powers still can’t supply Ukraine—will they ever?—with enough artillery, while Russia is still slowly advancing, towns are still falling. This while sanctions, both in the 20th century and against Russia today, are still controversial.
In our sanctions, should we “draw a line” to protect the innocent? There may be controversy over whether we should sanction…
Only raw materials and intricate parts for the military, or also finished goods that deprive ordinary Russians; Only politicians in the Kremlin, or also hard working businessmen and oligarchs; Russians within Russia, or also gymnasts and trumpet maestros performing in the west; Uniformed combat troops, or also uniformed non-fighting troops, including a mythical unarmed little trumpeter who’s only “crime” was to start the whole invasion, at Ukraine’s border, by blowing “charge!”
The newspapers quote important people “drawing a line” saying that individual Russian athletes and entertainers in the west should be allowed to compete and perform with us. Implying that, for a good Russian, his or her performing would be more important to her than withdrawing from the limelight in shame or from solidarity for her country’s actions.
Canada’s prime minister recently showed solidarity for his silly, embarrassing earlier self: He publicly accepted being angrily heckled in Kamloops for daring to “go to Tofino” (to surf ) on the day of the first ever federal holiday for Indigenous Truth and Reconciliation.
Sanctions have consequences. Sometimes the only defence we have for invoking them is the cry, “What else can we do?” Like when American Boy Scouts became bomber crews targeting the rail yards around Berlin, to blockade Nazi rolling stock for the war, using “dumb bombs” that are woefully inaccurate. Today, perhaps the old men down at the George Washington Legion Hall still have issues: Back in their youth, as part of a sanction-blockade, they had torpedoed every civilian freighter they found headed for the Japanese home islands, making women and children starve. Sailors in their bunks at night, with children of their own, may have cried out that question, “What else can we do?” And then recited the cold comfort of “Every nation gets the government it deserves.” Meaning: “Is fit for.”
Today, what else can we do? If we don’t want American boots on the ground?
While starvation is harsh, I recall the pre-war Japanese “being fit for” fascism and the cult of bushido, a cult dropped immediately by the Japanese when they employed veterans to form their new postwar police and armed forces. Bushido included things like suicide before surrender and war crimes against allied prisoners. I remember a white haired old North Australian lady and I, in our Young Adult book discussion club, agreeing it was fitting that Japanese commanders of P.O.W. camps were sent to stand trial.
If that old Australian was passionate, so are middle-aged women today in East Ukraine. As shown in this Quora internet comment by Brent Cooper, (Trial and appellate counsel for Cooper & Scully (1993–present) May 19) regarding female Ukrainian soldiers:
QUOTE
She issued a rallying call to Ukrainian troops on the front line.
Charcoal said: ‘We must take them all out.
‘These people are not human beings. Even the fascists were not as vile as these orcs. We must defeat them.’
Charcoal has drawn comparisons with legendary sniper Lyudmila Pavlichenko, a Ukrainian nicknamed Lady Death after she killed 309 Nazis in WWII.
Another female Ukrainian sniper, Olena Bilozerska, 42, is credited with at least 10 confirmed ‘kills’ in the trenches of Donbas.
UNQUOTE
“Fit for” means if President Vladimir Putin magically disappeared then his replacement would still be immersed in Russian culture with the people still seeing themselves as a victim country; If their war magically ended, then Russian soldiers, just as they were during WWII, would still be Orcs, both now and for their next war too.
The persistence of what a country is “fit for” explains why certain nations, even when knowing that Russian tanks and missiles will take a decade or two to replenish, and even knowing Putin himself must surely die of illness or old age in merely a decade or two, are nevertheless rushing to join NATO; Hence Ukraine wants a proper peace, not a ceasefire, a peace that would prevent another Russian war.
Maybe sanctions against adults and children alike, are so Russian families can “see.” Decades ago, a respected Nazi hunter was asked why he brought frail senior citizens to trial. He said something like, “The war criminals of the next war are now children among us, and they must see that crime will be punished.”
Drinking my herbal tea, nestled amongst my mythical soft hearted liberal friends, I respect their opinions, including… Peace deserves a chance; Poor misguided Putin deserves a second chance; The average Russian deserves to a chance to change into becoming instantly European… My friends forget: Although Russian culture could change, as ours has, as Japan’s did so dramatically, change requires society to first have freedom to dialogue. And this freedom of speech must occur amidst a nation-wide concerted effort.
My sober opinion:
This year the Russians aren’t aren’t hurting enough to begin to change, aren’t free enough in their speech, and aren’t optimistic enough to make an ongoing effort…
Go sanctions go!
…
…
Sean Crawford
May
2022
Sidebar: Why do Russians support the war? (link)
Sidebar: Seth Godin gives a worm’s eye view of how culture change happens (link)
Cheerful culture: a (link) to Canadian Ukraine festival last weekend
