Kory James
Thoughts on Current Events
As we march towards elevated nuclear tension, I begin to feel the tremors of paranoia sink in.
Yet I also feel a deepened connection to the world, a reminder of how lucky I am to be living this life and to live it alongside all you, whether we know each other or not.
I will not pretend to understand the misery currently being undergone by the Ukrainian people nor can I comprehend the mind of anyone who would ignite war and take lives in the interest of personal legacy or national pride, but I do worry that the horrors of this new war blind us to the existentially threatening predicament our world finds itself in again, over half a century later.
I worry that, as things evolve, we will condemn innocent Russians for the sole reason of being born in the wrong country. I worry we will take drastic sanctions against Russia that, at first, only impact their poorest and, at last, drive the country to ruin. I worry the brutality of what we see in the news will sway our public and its leaders towards retributory actions that will escalate tensions to the brink of global annihilation, and possibly over it.
What happens when this injured bear gets backed into a corner? Does it simply lay down and surrender?
I do understand the yearning for action, hell even for revenge given the unforgivable nature of Putin’s invasion, but retribution cannot be based on emotions. It must be a balancing act, performed with the utmost caution and calculation. The consequence of pushing things too far may very well spell the end of humanity.
Always and regardless the circumstance, the continuance of human life on this planet must remain our highest priority.
Anyways, I am forever grateful for each and every one of you and your impacts on my life, and I will remain optimistic that this crisis ends as peacefully as it can.