This morning it was a very chilly 2 C here in Brighton. Luckily I was warmly dressed with hat scarf and gloves, and I'm certainly not complaining.
I thought of those poor people in Ukraine, where overnight it was -4 C, and lightly snowing.
Carrying all their possessions in a few bags, looking after children and pets, with very little food and water, and homeless. Often they are poorly dressed with no insulated coats, no woolly hats, and very few gloves. They carry with them just a few essentials. All they can hope for is that some kind country will allow them to stay, and give them food and shelter. They leave behind some crazy despot who is destroying everything they owned; and doing his best to destroy them as well.
It was just after 7.30am, and I walked back towards home thinking of all those stalwart Ukrainians. Billy had enjoyed his morning walk, I had already eaten breakfast, and I knew that my home would be warm and welcoming. I have water on tap, my central heating works perfectly, I have radio and TV, and I have a full store cupboard, full fridge, and full freezers. In fact I have absolutely nothing to complain about.
Life is never going to be fair and equal, nor should it be ruled by the strong over the weak. Sadly those with well equipped armies will always flex their muscles against the peaceful. Only when the rest of the world says 'enough is enough' will those war lords be brought to book. It happened to Adolph Hitler, Saddam Hussein, Osama bin Laden, and others. I am quietly confident that it will also happen to Vladimir Putin as well.
No, I'm not complaining, in fact I feel both extremely fortunate and humbled.
I've cried for those poor people having to flee their homes. We can count our blessings for what we have.
ReplyDeleteI felt that so strongly this morning. I felt so frustrated. One man's crazy plan is ruining the lives of MILLIONS.
DeleteWhat is happening is indeed heartbreaking.
ReplyDeleteDreadful.
DeleteBut if anyone stands against him he'll cut off the gas supply.
ReplyDeleteStrangely, the UK actually exports natural gas, and if they started 'fracking' again, we could be self sufficient in no time.
DeleteIn the meantime you may like to go out and slip a fiver to one or two of the homeless on the streets of Brighton.
ReplyDeleteU
Most of them have gone home for the winter.
DeleteLet's leave aside that you didn't get the meaning of what I was trying to convey. Out of curiosity: Home where?
DeleteU
I know exactly what you were getting at, and, frankly, trying to ignore the plight of genuinely desperate people, and focusing on people who have access to money, housing, and health care, is a disgrace.
Delete"Disgrace"? I hope not. Neither do I "ignore" anyone's plight. All I was hinting at that, in addition to "feeling" for those several geo miles removed and where we can do precisely zilch to help them, we may start at looking what's at our own door step. And HELP where we actually can make a difference instead of wringing our hands in our cosy homes' armchairs "ain't it awful".
DeleteU
Everyone in the UK has access to benefits, housing, and medical care. Some chose to ignore that, and make a living from begging on the streets. I don't put them in the same category as those escaping possible death from a lunatic like Putin. Full stop!
DeleteHear hear!
DeleteOne man dictating war is horrific on all levels. My heart is with the people of Ukraine.
ReplyDeleteDreadful situation. I just hope someone will find a solution that doesn't cost too many lives.
DeleteI am hoping he will be taken down sooner rather than later, much, much sooner.
ReplyDeleteHe needs to be. There must be someone around who'll do the job.
DeletePutin is mad. I wish someone had/can stop him.
ReplyDeleteThose people lived peacefully like us. They are teachers and lawyers and car mechanics, shop owners, with small very bewildered children who want to go back to their familiar home, watch their favourite TV shows, play with friends. It's all being blown away. For what? Why?
Every morning I wake up hoping for a retreat, an end to it all . Fat hope.
Whatever hardships we may get have they are nothing in comparison to the Ukranians
We moan about silly things, whilst those poor Ukrainians only think of saving lives. It makes us realise how fortunate we are.
DeleteI read The Times, I watch one news bulletin a day, then I try to think of how lucky I am and how beautiful Spring is. I can do no more other than send a donation to help. Sadly life never was fair.
ReplyDeleteA very good friend has an apartment in Slovakia which is now filled with refugees. It's difficult to know what one can do, other than send donations.
DeleteWhen people express empathy/sympathy I think it is disgusting that others feel the need to pick and fault find and judge that. The hallmark of an unsympathetic soul.
ReplyDeleteSome people are permanently antagonistic; regardless of subject. Luckily they are very rare.
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