I’m hoping the America of today can revive a bit of the resolve and idealism of our “Greatest Generation” and Civil Rights era forebears. Having recently honored my father at the Fort Richardson National Cemetery, and even more recently watched “Saving Private Ryan” with my just-turned-18 son, my thoughts have turned to the notion of sacrifice in support of democracy. And while America is blessed enough to not be involved in open conflict today, we are very much involved in an ideological conflict, one connected to the very hot conflict in Ukraine.
America may not be at war with Russia, but democracy is certainly at war with despotism. Ukraine’s offense in Vladimir Putin’s eyes is that its people have continued their centuries-long effort for self-determination. By election and revolution, Ukrainians have recently striven to turn away from Soviet communism and Putinesque autocracy, and to turn toward the Western capitalistic and democratic system. For this, Putin has subjected Ukraine to more than 100 days of militarized murder and mayhem.
Ukraine is losing hundreds of people, swaths of territory and millions of dollars worth of infrastructure each day. America’s contribution in material and economic policy to Ukraine’s inspiring resistance is costing us, but our more expensive gas and creature comforts are a far cry from the death and destruction endured by Ukrainians.
As the arsenal of democracy, America’s economic force may matter more than military might in the long run. Here at the home front, we support democracy by putting up with higher prices in a bid to smother Putin’s economy. It’s a small sacrifice for a great cause. We may not be the “Greatest Generation,” but I hope we are good enough for this!
— Clinton Holloway
Eagle River
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