Pacifist

I have been a pacifist for many years.  I define a pacifist as someone that rejects the use of violence. I have been challenged internally with the USA's current action with Ukraine and Russia. The USA is the most powerful country in the world, we were the leading country defending democracy against authoritarianism, we were a leading country fighting for  human rights.  We made many mistakes and we have acted in our own self interest but it is hard for me to imagine another country acting more benevolent. (more on that)

Russia is an oligarchy, where the wealthiest of the wealthy rule and the average person has little to no true rights.  The Russian government completely controls the media; they kill political opponents.  They are authoritarian.  The USA is supposed to be a democracy where all are created equal and we have equal rights.  While it is true the USA has fallen short of this great idea; this is our aspiring value.  Ukraine is a new democracy, they are the USA’s little brother; they are aspiring to have a strong lasting democracy.

The USA is a big brother to Ukraine and the USA is the toughest of the tough guys.  The USA has the biggest, strongest, most advanced military in the world.  Russia is a tough guy but no serious threat to the USA.  The USA can use its strength to defend the little new democracy against the anti-democracy semi-tough guy.  However, this time we are not.  This is like a big brother seeing his little brother being bullied by someone between the big and little brother in size and strength.  The big brother instead of defending his brother is on the side of the bully. As a pacifist; the big brother needs to get in the way.  It is evil to be on the side of the bully and completely violates our values.  I think that is why I have a problem with the USA not supporting Ukraine.

In the end it strengthens my pacifist view.  The USA is the world’s superpower.  As a child I believed we were a force for good. That the USA was moving toward a more loving world and that we were only fighting to defend the weak against the mean.  As I grew and had a greater understanding of the world, USA history and the Iraq war changed that for me.  I no longer saw the USA as good enough, I did not see us as evil but selfish way too often.  The Russian-Ukraine war and a new response has changed that.  The USA has great power to inflict pain to advance evil or to defend the weak with violence. The USA is human and not able to adequately judge. The USA is playing God; violence is playing God. I kneel to God, that is why I am a pacifist.