On February 24, I started a conversation of sorts with Zelensky, the President of Ukraine, during my morning sunrises. Typically, I’m duking it out with God, but that morning, Zelensky popped into my head. I took the above photo that morning, after hearing the news that Russian forces had begun their assault from the border with Belarus, to the north of the capital of Kyiv. That day, Russian troops captured the former Chernobyl nuclear power plant, but a fierce defense mounted by Ukrainian forced stopped any more forward movement.
“You’re kicking big-time ass,” I heard myself say.
Four days later, on February 28, Russian rockets hit a residential neighborhood in Kharkiv, taking direct aim at civilian targets. The sunrise here was dark and flaming. I felt angry and helpless.
The next day, you appeared in a video with some of your ministers declaring that you were not hiding and that Ukrainians would never give up. “Who are you?” I asked. “Aren’t you a former comedian? Actor? Where did you get your hope and courage?” You continued to appear in videos that inspire not only your people, but people around the world, including me. “What gives? You aren’t a career politician,” I said to Zelensky. “You are an ordinary person like most of us.”
A week later, on March 8, a maternity hospital is bombed. We watched in shock and horror as a pregnant mother lying on top of a red blanket with black dots is carried from the rubble on a stretcher. She and her unborn child later die. You are outraged. You demanded that NATO countries help you to protect the sky. You demanded that Putin be held accountable for war crimes. You vowed that your people will never give up.
Within one week, you addressed the British and Canadian parliaments, demonstrating a remarkable ability to tailor your words to your audiences.
To the British parliament you said, “The question for us now is to be or not to be. The Shakespearean question. For 13 days this question has been asked. I can give you a definitive answer — yes, to be.”
To the Canadian parliament, you said, “Dear Justin, dear guests, can you imagine that every day you receive memorandums about the number of casualties, including women and children. You’ve heard about the bombings. Currently we have 97 children that died during this war. Can you imagine the famous CN Tower in Toronto, if it was hit by Russian bombs?“
Yesterday morning, I thought a lot about the speech that you would be giving to a joint session of the United States Congress in a few hours. “We’re a tough crowd,” I said. “We’re always finding something to criticize, but honestly, I’m praying that you knock it out of the dome.”
“As I write this, President Zelensky, it is about 3 pm, EST on March 16; 9 pm, your time. I don’t imagine you’re going to bed anytime soon, but I just want you to know that your speech was brilliant. You cited the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the September 11 attacks and the rhetoric of Martin Luther King, Jr. in an attempt to roust President Biden and our lawmakers to further action. Between your words and the video that accompanied your words, I haven’t been able to think about much of anything today, except you and your brave people. I texted a friend this morning after your speech. It captures what you mean to me, and the world, I suspect. Thank you.”:
Where did he come from? He is the leader the world has needed for decades. And he isn’t a lifelong politician. He is like me and you. We all have a Zelensky in us.
I wish President Zelensky could see your post.
That is a lovely compliment, Merrie Lee. Thank you. I wish my words could save thousands and thousands of innocent lives on both sides of this immoral conflict. I feel so helpless. So angry. I woke up to this headline in the Washington Post:
“Slaughter, devastation in 2 Ukrainian cities”
The fate of hundreds inside a bombed theater in Mariupol is still unknown. Children were inside. Ukrainians had painted the word, “CHILDREN” in huge letters IN RUSSIAN on the outside of the theater. Still it was reduced to rubble.
If you did not hear Zelensky’s speech yesterday, the complete transcript is available in the hyperlink under “your speech” in the last paragraph of this post.
Read it.
Last night, Adrienne said, “Tomorrow is St. Patrick’s Day.”
I had completely forgotten. I don’t feel like celebrating anything. Yesterday, Putin said that Russia must undergo a “self-cleansing of society” to purge “scum and traitors”:
“Any people, and particularly the Russian people, will always be able to tell apart the patriots from the scum and traitors and spit them out like a midge [small, two-winged fly] that accidentally flew into their mouths . . . . I am convinced that this natural and necessary self-cleansing of society will only strengthen our country, our solidarity, cohesion and readiness to meet any challenge.”
The Nazis used the word “vermin” in reference to the Jews. Putin uses “midge” and “scum” in reference to the Ukrainians; the same words used by Stalin. There is no difference in the evil of this rhetoric.
This morning, Zelensky addressed the German parliament and reminded it of what Ronald Reagan said when he was in Berlin many decades ago: “Tear down this wall.” Zelensky repeated that line in reference to the wall between Germany and Ukraine in terms of more military support to support democracy.
Zelensky is brilliant with social media and digital performance.
We in this country have an opportunity for a “do-over.” We did not come to the rescue of Europe when Hitler started a war. Now we have another opportunity to step in. That is my prayer. Thanks Sharon for a great post about Zelensky. His cloud of witnesses certainly must contain Churchill. He is brilliant indeed.
We have “an opportunity for a ‘do-over'”. What an astute observation, Charlotte. I had forgotten how the United States dragged its feet in 1939. How it knew about the extermination of the Jews and other minorities and did nothing about it. The United States certainly can’t claim the moral high ground during many times of war.
Fiona Hill, the expert on Ukraine who testified during Trump’s first impeachment trial, said this past week that Zelensky “has gone full Churchill.” Indeed, he has.
“Full Churchill” just when the world needs it most. Amen. And thanks for a great post and a slew of gorgeous sunrise photos.
You’re welcome, Beth, my she-ro when it comes to peace-making.
Just learned that the first words of a 10-month old Ukrainian girl were, “BOOM! BOOM!”
Beautiful piece. Thank you! Wish Zelensky could see a copy of this!
Thank you, dear Carol. You aren’t the first beloved to suggest this which is very humbling. Zelensky may never read this, but nevertheless, I’m out there praying for him and his people as the sun rises.