I feel disappointed that countries who claim to value progression are still using century-old tactics for gaining power and control over independent states. It shows that agreements between countries for peace and civil discussion do not take value over a leader’s own wants and desires, no matter how many disagree with them. This also makes me appreciate American systems such as checks and balances, because even when we had a president instated who currently praises Putin for his decision, he would have never been able to execute such an order on his sole will alone.
— Gilana E., Valley Stream North High School
I can’t stress this enough, Putin is to blame for the Ukraine crisis, not the Russian people. In fact, many Russians don’t support this war, many protesters have been detained for “disloyalty to the state.” The sad part is that, knowing the horrors subjects dissidents to, these brave protesters will probably never see the light of another day.
Don’t blame ethnic Russians for it, either, because that crosses the line into flat out racism. Putin is a dictator, meaning the populace and military have no say in his decisions. Sadly, America has made this mistake before, detaining those of Japanese descent after the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 7, 1941. The people responsible for this act were emperor Hirohito and Prime Minister Hideki Tojo. The US, which prides itself on its tolerance, was still predisposed to blame the attack on Japanese society as a whole. And after WW2, Americans hated Germans for the horrible crimes of Hitler and the Nazis. But Germans aren’t all anti-semitic Nazis. I myself am half German. Blaming Russians for Putin’s actions is similarly wrong. I have Russian friends who have expressed outright contempt for Vladimir Putin. Does it really make sense to blame an ethnic group for something one of its members did? Would it make sense to label today’s Southerners as slaveholders when said practice is illegal, or as racists when many of them aren’t? No. So do not discriminate against the citizens of Russia and ethnic Russians for Putin’s abhorrent actions.
— Devin, Elkhorrn North High School, Omaha, NE
Honestly these past few days ever since this happened I’ve been feeling ill to my stomach. The idea that Russia is currently in a war with Ukraine because Russia sees Ukraine as a threat is horrible. Hundreds if not thousands are losing their lives everyday. People are losing friends, brothers, sisters, husbands, wives, sons, daughters, fathers, and mothers.
This brings me back to two things I’ve read recently in class regarding the “Other”. The first thing is how we react to each other. There are three options, we either isolate ourselves from them, go to war with them, or they could receive them with open arms and try to understand them. In this case Russia declared war on Ukraine and now thousands have to lose their lives over a war that’s going to hold no meaning in the future. The thing is people fail to see both sides of the perspective. Obviously Russia is in fear due to the idea that Ukraine might join NATO. They fear that everyone is out to get them. They fear the extinction of their country. That’s the thing about human nature, we fear everyone that is different to us. We choose to wipe out those who oppose us before they wipe us out first. It’s a sad reality but wars will always be fought as long as there is a different ideology.
— Demarcus, Block 1 Hoggard High School in Wilmington, NC
I know that most people will tell you that the reason we learn history is so that we do not repeat the same mistakes but this is a prime example of a mistake that is being repeated. I think sometimes it takes a slap in the face for us to realize why we are trying to prevent these mistakes. My generation has never seen anything like this so up close and personal. I think we will be more willing to work in the future to avoid a recurrence of the same issues because we are seeing the devastation that follows.
— Kylie, Block 2, Hoggard High School in Wilmington, NC
_________
Should Other Countries Intervene?
With the Russian invasion of Ukraine comes one of the most important questions our nation has been faced with in decades. Do we support the sovereignty of a country we have no obligation to defend, or do we allow one of our greatest rivals aggressively take over their neighbor without protest? With lives on the line and the distant but ever looming threat of nuclear war, the wrong answer to this question could spell disaster for our nation and the world. Ukraine is not a member of NATO, and thus the United States are not required to provide the European nation any assistance whatsoever. There is no clause saying we have to engage in the conflict and further antagonize and increase already high tensions with Russia. But if we sit by, idly observing an unprovoked and wholly unnecessary invasion of a free and independent nation, we are not the shining beacon of the modern world we claim to be. Democracy is under attack, and to be true to our tenets as a nation, we must push back against the tyranny that threatens the Ukrainian people with all we have.
