hi Ronlyn, although naturally I share your hope for a peaceful world free of nuclear war, I disagree with your approach: downplaying Russian aggression. We already tried appeasement, just as we did with Hitler. It does not lead to peace. It only empowers the aggressor. In case you think I am exaggerating the evil: consider how Putin's innocent victims, including children, have died over the past two decades, not only in Ukraine but earlier in Chechnya. Here are three forms of torture some of us might never have imagined: (1) a vacuum bomb that turns your lungs inside out. (2) a gas mask that forces you to drown on your own mucus. (3) a 2-hr cease fire for families to leave a village with white sheets as flags, then targeting each vehicle with rockets. Read 'Killer in the Kremlin' by John Sweeney, a reputable British investigative journalist, if it is not yet banned from your libraries. Putin's excuse? Domestic terror? That was a setup, which the CIA and MI6 knew, but British and American leaders made the calculation that a stable psychopath was better than a drunk one. So we had 20 years of Russian oligarchs money-laundering, meddling in our elections and stirring civil strife, and now they are in your White House. Nuclear war? Do you think any of us were ever any safer from that by playing this appeasement game? Sorry if this disturbs you, but the first article that landed in my inbox today was yours, my beautiful friend (whose novels I love) with photos of atomic violence, so I am responding in kind. From Australia, in solidarity with the Resistance.
There is no appeasement for authoritarians—whether they are people’s own fathers or world “leaders.” They enjoy the feeling of power they get from their cruelty and control. A nuclear war would be a quick end for many—unlike the horrific ways of killing people you mentioned, which kills smaller groups and adds to the trauma load of anyone who survives or learns of it. I can see why that approach would be “policy” and practice because of the damage done--from murdering people to eroding people’s minds and souls.
I’m more interested in critical mass on an individual scale. How many people would it take to stop making excuses for and fearing their authoritarian daddies in order for the world to change? Visually, I see this as a spiral struck by a force big enough to change the trajectory of its spin. What might THAT look like? What might come of millions of thinking, feeling beings saying no, we’ve had enough. I don’t know. We haven’t seen it. Perhaps we never will.
You remain one of my absolute favorite artists whose music has given me inspiration, solace, and joy. The work you do in your country on behalf of those who need extra voices is an example of how to change the spin. Keep sharing your heart!
Thank you, dear Ronlyn, for your compassionate, inspiring and genuinely helpful response. I will reflect upon your ideas, and continue my work here. Thanks for renewing my hope that all our efforts matter as we try to save democracy, and strive to improve life on Earth. In respect and love xxx
I'm a bit younger, but much of this resonated strongly with me. Similar drills at school, etc. One of my recurring nightmares until like age 35 was nuclear annihilation.
The fear hasn't gone away for me. I doubt it ever will. It has shifted onto my own country--not sure when. Before last Friday when the majority of government gaslighted my people by heritage and President Zelensky.
I haven't had a nuclear war dream in a long while. Every August, I do think about the mass murder.
Who knows what's coming here, but I have moments when I think this is an inflection point. People will either wake up and move in a direction of compassion and inclusivity--or it won't, and that will be the end.
Thanks for reading. I hope you have beauty and good friends nearby.
You might have been in the age gap that didn't have to watch the film. I'm glad you weren't drafted and had to suffer whatever you would have seen there.
Oh yeah--we're toxic sick with intergenerational trauma. Unfortunately only some of us recognize it.
Wishing you peace, however you can get it these days.
hi Ronlyn, although naturally I share your hope for a peaceful world free of nuclear war, I disagree with your approach: downplaying Russian aggression. We already tried appeasement, just as we did with Hitler. It does not lead to peace. It only empowers the aggressor. In case you think I am exaggerating the evil: consider how Putin's innocent victims, including children, have died over the past two decades, not only in Ukraine but earlier in Chechnya. Here are three forms of torture some of us might never have imagined: (1) a vacuum bomb that turns your lungs inside out. (2) a gas mask that forces you to drown on your own mucus. (3) a 2-hr cease fire for families to leave a village with white sheets as flags, then targeting each vehicle with rockets. Read 'Killer in the Kremlin' by John Sweeney, a reputable British investigative journalist, if it is not yet banned from your libraries. Putin's excuse? Domestic terror? That was a setup, which the CIA and MI6 knew, but British and American leaders made the calculation that a stable psychopath was better than a drunk one. So we had 20 years of Russian oligarchs money-laundering, meddling in our elections and stirring civil strife, and now they are in your White House. Nuclear war? Do you think any of us were ever any safer from that by playing this appeasement game? Sorry if this disturbs you, but the first article that landed in my inbox today was yours, my beautiful friend (whose novels I love) with photos of atomic violence, so I am responding in kind. From Australia, in solidarity with the Resistance.
There is no appeasement for authoritarians—whether they are people’s own fathers or world “leaders.” They enjoy the feeling of power they get from their cruelty and control. A nuclear war would be a quick end for many—unlike the horrific ways of killing people you mentioned, which kills smaller groups and adds to the trauma load of anyone who survives or learns of it. I can see why that approach would be “policy” and practice because of the damage done--from murdering people to eroding people’s minds and souls.
I’m more interested in critical mass on an individual scale. How many people would it take to stop making excuses for and fearing their authoritarian daddies in order for the world to change? Visually, I see this as a spiral struck by a force big enough to change the trajectory of its spin. What might THAT look like? What might come of millions of thinking, feeling beings saying no, we’ve had enough. I don’t know. We haven’t seen it. Perhaps we never will.
You remain one of my absolute favorite artists whose music has given me inspiration, solace, and joy. The work you do in your country on behalf of those who need extra voices is an example of how to change the spin. Keep sharing your heart!
Thank you, dear Ronlyn, for your compassionate, inspiring and genuinely helpful response. I will reflect upon your ideas, and continue my work here. Thanks for renewing my hope that all our efforts matter as we try to save democracy, and strive to improve life on Earth. In respect and love xxx
I'm a bit younger, but much of this resonated strongly with me. Similar drills at school, etc. One of my recurring nightmares until like age 35 was nuclear annihilation.
The fear hasn't gone away for me. I doubt it ever will. It has shifted onto my own country--not sure when. Before last Friday when the majority of government gaslighted my people by heritage and President Zelensky.
I haven't had a nuclear war dream in a long while. Every August, I do think about the mass murder.
Who knows what's coming here, but I have moments when I think this is an inflection point. People will either wake up and move in a direction of compassion and inclusivity--or it won't, and that will be the end.
Thanks for reading. I hope you have beauty and good friends nearby.
You might have been in the age gap that didn't have to watch the film. I'm glad you weren't drafted and had to suffer whatever you would have seen there.
Oh yeah--we're toxic sick with intergenerational trauma. Unfortunately only some of us recognize it.
Wishing you peace, however you can get it these days.