Dans ce JOURNAL je partage de temps en temps un aperçu de ma vie de chrétien catholique et de prêtre pour rejoindre d'autres qui désirent contribuer au bien commun et pour faire avancer l'ouverture personnelle à Dieu qui fait vivre toute l'humanité et veille sur nous. G.S.
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No doubt what is happening in Ukraine with the invasion by the Russian Federation cannot be understood without reference to the enormous and constant pressure from the U.S.A. through NATO pushing right up to the borders of Russia since the dissolution of the U.S.S.R. between 1989 and 1991. I still recall in the years preceding the "end of the Soviet regime" the genuine good will of Mikhail Gorbachev, at the time President of the Soviet Union. He boldly and courageously led a "new revolution" by trying to coax his diverse people into openness towards the rest of the world.
In retrospect, clearly we westerners, led by the Americans - who have never suffered from any lack of conviction about what is in their own interests - took advantage of that Russian good will in order to claw their way to the very borders of the former Soviet Union; just in case they ever became aggressive again... so the thinking goes....
From a strictly impartial viewpoint, it could well be said that it was to be expected that the Russians would wake up - sooner or later - to the truth that American-led NATO was taking advantage of their openness and abusing it to expand NATO to their very borders. Russia extended an open hand in openness and friendship to offer a new period in world history of collaboration for the common good and the betterment of humanity. I'm ashamed to have to admit, that in following the leadership of the U.S.A., we have rejected that open hand of friendship, in effect also rejecting this offer of a new period in world history of working together in collaboration for the common good and the betterment of humanity.
So, with that offer apparently gone, no longer valid, what are we left with? We can only understand that by looking back at the history of the region. Check it out on Wikipedia and you will find a history of the Cossack peoples going back a millennium. The Cossacks, from our point of view, are very difficult to clearly define, or for that matter, to even begin to understand. They have been a collection of peoples with common culture known for their skill with horses and navigation, as well as military might and boldness characterized by fearlessness of personal injury or even death. They were even better organized and better educated than many of their surrounding neighbors. They were highly prized as mercenaries and allies and, understandably, feared as foes or enemies. It is reported that their total population ran over 3 million people, with 3 to 4 hundred capable men capable and ready for military service. Even this was highly developed and organized by age.
The ravages of history - the empires originating in Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Hungary, Turkey, and others used and abused the Cossack peoples, and more dramatically, the Russian Revolution of 1917 pitted them against each other, depending on which side of the dividing lines they fell. World War II did the same thing, as did the aggressive policies of Stalin to relocate entire populations. Whenever Cossack peoples were pitted against each other, they murdered ruthlessly then just as they would previously do when pitted against foreigners or outsiders; it was all the same.
This culture of the Cossack peoples is really quite "foreign" to our western sensibilities and ways of thinking, but there's no avoiding that history if we are to have any hope to begin to understand what is going on in Ukraine and why those actions looks as horrible as they do.
This is a time for us to humbly admit our own failings, which are so many, before we even think of picking up a stone to throw at anyone. We need to trust in those diverse peoples and to let them "work it out". Would we not want others to allow us to do the same?
Mikhail Gorbachev's open hand may no longer be there, but other Russian hands may very well be open. One thing is certain, and that is that Jesus open mind, open heart, and open hand will ever be extended towards us and all "people of good will" intent on pursuing together the common good and willing to make allowances for each other's failings and human weaknesses. Looking back is useful for understanding from where we come, but is we are to make progress, we need to look ahead, and to do it together.
"Father and Creator of us all, open our spirits once again to your Son Jesus." "Lord Jesus Christ, Saviour of the world, Son of God - and as the man from Nazareth - the One Risen from the dead, have mercy on us, and fill us anew with your Holy Spirit, that by your grace we may become better versions of ourselves and once again open our minds, hearts, souls, and hands to one another."
"Our Lady of Fatima, Myriam, Mother of the Son of God as the Mother of Jesus, woman of peace, pray for us all your children."
Dans ce JOURNAL je partage de temps en temps un aperçu de ma vie de chrétien catholique et de prêtre pour rejoindre d'autres qui désirent contribuer au bien commun et pour faire avancer l'ouverture personnelle à Dieu qui fait vivre toute l'humanité et veille sur nous. G.S.
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© 2004-2022 All rights reserved Fr. Gilles Surprenant, Associate Priest of Madonna House Apostolate & Poustinik, Montreal QC
© 2004-2022 Tous droits réservés Abbé Gilles Surprenant, Prêtre Associé de Madonna House Apostolate & Poustinik, Montréal QC
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