This brings us to the lessons of the past and how they can help us live today and create a better future, to the extent humanly possible, in Ukraine.
The Ukrainian Jewish Encounter sponsored a two-day conference in Kyiv called “The Seduction of Propaganda: Mass Violence in Ukraine in the 20th and 21st Centuries.” The aim was “comprehending the totalitarian past – defending a democratic future.”
Speakers, including leading journalists and academics, explored how three 20th century genocides took place at least partly on Ukrainian soil: The Nazi-driven Holocaust against mainly Jews, but also others, during World War II; the 1932-33 Holodomor against mainly Ukrainians, but also others; and the World War II mass deportation of Crimean Tatars, in which many died on the way to Josef Stalin-ordered exile in Central Asian republics.
These three events that collectively killed more than 10 million people had common features. They were preceded by massive Nazi or Soviet propaganda campaigns aimed at dehumanizing the victims and justifying murder and other crimes against them: Jews, Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars. While death is a natural part of life, murder is is the ultimate violation of life.
Today, Russia has been mounting a venomous propaganda campaign of hatred against Ukrainians and Western allies in revving up the Russian mood for imperial conquest and to take their minds off a shrinking economy and a growing dictatorship.
The response to Russia’s warmongering from Ukraine and the West has been wholly inadequate. Until “Putinism” is destroyed, the Russian president will remain a threat to his neighbors, international law – and lives.
While ruminating over these dark events, however, it’s important to keep living – to find beauty in nature and in each other, or in whatever brings smiles and contentment. Especially in summer, Ukraine offers plenty of possibilities for good companionship under warm blue skies, at shashlyk gatherings or in music festivals and frolicking in rivers, lakes and seas. These breaks from the routine workaday world help us find happiness and purpose in life.
The will to live happily must triumph over grief in order for civilization to survive. Living life to the fullest can be our way of honoring everyone who died from natural causes and the millions killed by totalitarian regimes and other crimes against humanity. At the same time, we must remain strong and united in defeating those who threaten peace today and who will in the future.
Find happiness
The worst thing about growing older - something all of us are doing - is the people one loses along the way. Another harsh realization for many of us, as time goes by, is that some humans are evil and organize societies bent on conquering others and committing genocide.
