One year after the invasion of Ukraine

Thought for the day

It's hard to believe the people of Ukraine are about to enter their second year of war with Russia.  Soon after the surprise invasion began last year, I wrote "Ukraine Shall Overcome."  If that sounds familiar, it should.  I rewrote the lyrics to the iconic civil rights anthem "We Shall Overcome" (which, in 2018, was judged to be in the public domain).

With this backdrop in mind, I hope you’ll find the following of interest.  My hope is it will reignite Americans' support for peace and democracy in Ukraine. 

One year after Russia's invasion of Ukraine

It's hard to believe Russia's unprovoked attack on Ukraine began a year ago this month.  Since then, millions of Ukrainians have left their homeland, hundreds of thousands have been wounded or killed and yet, despite all their military disadvantages, Volodymyr Zelensky's forces have been relentless in their fight for freedom.  

My guess is Vladimir Putin never thought the western alliance would provide the kind of support it has for Ukraine these past twelve months -- let alone adding Japan, Australia, Israel and other nations to the mix.  Now, heading into the second year of the war, the issue is this:  How much longer will the fighting last?

Some fights last months while others last years.  Here at home, the modern-day fight for civil rights began nearly seven decades ago.  Much of it started with the Supreme Court's 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision, followed by the 1955-56 bus boycotts in the Deep South, the 1963 March on Washington, the 1964 Civil Rights Act, and then the high Court's 1967 Loving v. Virginia ruling.  

Looking back, it's no wonder Pete Seeger and Joan Baez performed Louise Shropshire's iconic anthem, "We Shall Overcome," hundreds of times while I was growing up.  Today, many of my conservative friends call me a liberal idealist.  I, on the other hand, consider myself a realist. 

After I rewrote the lyrics to "We Shall Overcome" last year, I submitted my revision to newspapers as a letter to the editor.  Thankfully, three papers published the letters.  As a result, 2 individual musicians and 2 groups recorded their versions of "Ukraine Shall Overcome." 

To some, this may not account for much; but to me, and perhaps more importantly, to those who actually performed the song, it meant more than you can imagine.  Why?  Because we all were voluntarily adding our voices to something much bigger than ourselves -- namely, one nation's pursuit of peace and democracy. 

Like I said at the top, the war in Ukraine is heading into its second year now.  Please take a moment to listen to a version of "Ukraine Shall Overcome" (or all of them) below.  My hope is this song will reignite Americans' support for the Ukrainian people who continue to fight for their freedom.

LagunaTunes Community Chorus of Laguna Beach, CA  

   
Emergency room physician Eric Alcouloumre of Laguna Beach, CA  

Raging Grannies of Spokane, WA  

Larry Costello of Port Townsend, WA