Have you read about the “War of 1939”? Russia shot into its own territory, then stated the Finns shot into Russia. In the end, the mighty Finnish country lost the eastern third of itself to Russia. What a price to pay for defending oneself in one’s own country. Not a bullet sent into Russia, with the stealing outcome.
In the 1970s and 1980s, my cousin visited the eastern edge of Finland near what is now Russian territory. The trees are riddled with bullets and standing tall, held up by the metals? At least, they couldn’t be cut down because of the metals. In 1902, my grandfather left Finland under an assumed name; he refused to fight for Russia, then controlling Finland, with the prospect of spending those years in Siberia. His mother was very angry her oldest son vacated their country. Had he gone to Siberia, he felt he would die anyway. What good would the farm estate have done him if he were dead? What good would his soul have felt if he fought for the enemy?
Here we are watching Russia invading Ukraine and reports speculate they will be overtaken. Do each of us turn a blind eye and accept this action? Those of you of Ukraine heritage must feel as I feel about my Finnish loss. Every citizen needs to open their hearts as well as their minds to these actions Russian President Vladimir Putin is creating to maintain control over other people.
We are not there in person and must look at these country entries not while saying Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria and other blunders the United States has made, but blunders we can do something about now.
Kath (Kathleen R.) Allen
Peterborough