Keeping Ukraine in our thoughts and prayers here

[Christine]

Every day I wake up and log on to a host of news sites, hoping beyond hope to see a headline announcing that the war is over, or even for a shred of good news...... but the reports seem to worsen each day. I can't believe this is happening in our modern world. Have we learnt nothing?

Oh we have learned but no one wants to do what it will take to stop this--so it continues.

 

[IAmBumblebee]

It's awfuln isn't it? I feel so ashamed to be human.

 

[Planogirl]

Apparently they continue to find the bodies of civilians and Russia continues to deny responsibility. I know that people say we can't blame the Russian people or even their soldiers but is that so? I can't imagine in any way being a party to this.

 

[Neapolitan Ice Cream]

I hardly follow the news anymore. I fear that when I do, Putin will have let off a small but devastating dirty bomb. The man's a lunatic. He bombed a nuclear facility for goodness' sake...

 

[chickapin parterre]

Oh we have learned but no one wants to do what it will take to stop this--so it continues.

so true....so true...we live every day on the southern border...and the inhumanity continues

 

[TLSnell1981]

so true....so true...we live every day on the southern border...and the inhumanity continues

History continues to repeat itself. Problem...TIIC. Hey it's just my thoughts.

 

[Christine]

so true....so true...we live every day on the southern border...and the inhumanity continues

Of Ukraine? Wow, I didn't realize we had posters here who are actually living these atrocities of war. I'm sorry.

 

[punkin]

Where do we go from here?

 

[SirDuff]

View attachment 663260

Where do we go from here?

Personally, I go (or rather went - I traveled over the weekend) to one of Ukraine's bordering countries where I'm helping them assess what is needed to provide health care services to refugees from the Ukraine (while still providing services to their citizens).

 

[Planogirl]

I wish that I could figure out a way to help in a meaningful way. I imagine that a lot of people feel like I do.

 

[punkin]

I wish that I could figure out a way to help in a meaningful way. I imagine that a lot of people feel like I do.

Other than donating money? Is not like I can go to Ukraine and fight. It's just so bloody frustrating and senseless.

 

[dvcgirl67]

Other than donating money? Is not like I can go to Ukraine and fight. It's just so bloody frustrating and senseless.

Well, I think I mentioned it in this thread....and while my husband and I certainly are not fighting in Ukraine, we did directly help someone who is there on the ground. We signed up right after the war with an Organization that was vetting U.S. military veterans who wanted to fight or help in Ukraine. They were asking for people to volunteer airline miles to help veterans get to Ukraine.

We were contacted a month after the war started and linked up with a navy veteran from Florida. We worked with him and his wife...who was helping him handle the logistics of getting to Ukraine. We were able to use our airline miles to get our veteran from Fort Meyers, Fl to Warsaw...he left on Sunday, April 3rd. In Warsaw he hooked up with three Marines. The three of them had to check in with the U.S. embassy, the Polish government and finally the Ukraine embassy...and then they crossed into Lviv. Our navy veteran was given an assignment to train medics and manage a medical warehouse....somewhere in Ukraine, his wife wasn't allowed to say where.

We're in touch with his wife, who is lovely....and she has given us updates. Our vet texted us when he finally got on his connecting flight in D.C. before heading to Warsaw....it was so inspiring to hear how eager he was to get there to help. We got some pix of her husband when he arrived in Lviv, but now he's not able to send photos. We don't know how long he'll be there....he has a business back in Florida, but we promised him that when he's ready to come home that we'll take care of the flight home. It was a really small thing to do on our part, but made us feel more connected to the cause in some ways. Hoping to meet our Navy vet and his wife someday. It was a really cool way to help someone who is really making a difference on the ground.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Daily sadness for the people of Ukraine.

Spoiler: May be disturbing to some

https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-europe-2c77447fda4b362dfcd99e4331f9d6ae

 

[Planogirl]

Daily sadness for the people of Ukraine.

Spoiler: May be disturbing to some

https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-europe-2c77447fda4b362dfcd99e4331f9d6ae

Heartbreaking. I can't wrap my mind around such cruelty.

 

[JacqueHope1]

I like how Europeans or Americans permanently talk about energy or about high oil prices. In Ukraine people have different problems - read more. A mother can't play with her child in centre of her city because of sirens, because Ukraine hasn't enough AA weapon. As a result mother has no leg and her child is dead now. Russia is a terrorist, terrorists don't recognize dyplomacy , terrorists only recognize power, and Ukraine need that power , Ukraine need more WEAPONS.

 

[MamaBelle4]

I like how Europeans or Americans permanently talk about energy or about high oil prices. In Ukraine people have different problems - read more. A mother can't play with her child in centre of her city because of sirens, because Ukraine hasn't enough AA weapon. As a result mother has no leg and her child is dead now. Russia is a terrorist, terrorists don't recognize dyplomacy , terrorists only recognize power, and Ukraine need that power , Ukraine need more WEAPONS.

The reality is, especially in the US, we are relatively isolated from the horrors the Ukraine is facing right now. It doesn't mean we aren't horrified by it, but it's difficult for us to grasp.

High oil prices we complain about because it is making life really difficult for us. A lot of Americans live paycheck to paycheck, so a sudden unexpected increase doesn't mean canceling a luxury trip, it means trying to figure out how to have enough gas to make it to work because if you don't, you don't have that money next week.

And, in the US we are facing the horrors wrought by domestic terrorists, targeting shopping centers, parades, places of worship and schools.

It isn't as though most of us do not care, we do. We are individually powerless to help the situation though, so we shift our focus to things we have to be immediately worried about - how can I afford this week's groceries AND fill up the tank? Do I buy that bulletproof backpack for my kid? Do I keep them home next year?

 

[Dan Murphy]

Different people keep Ukraine in our thoughts in different ways.



The Rolling Stones delivered a special performance of “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” on Friday, aided by a Ukrainian choir. Two children’s choirs traveled from Kyiv through the embattled nation to the concert at Vienna, Austria’s Ernst Happel Stadium.

The Dzvinochok boys’ choir and Vognyk girls’ choir bolstered the lineup of Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood, Steve Jordan, Chuck Leavell, and more in this special rendition of the track off 1969’s Let It Bleed. The song has typically appeared midway through the classic rockers’ setlist this tour, but the Stones earmarked it for the first of two encores, followed by the show-closing “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”.

“They came a long way to be here tonight,” Jagger told the audience, adding that they drove the entire 15-hour journey from Kyiv.

“This is a very special night for the two choirs and a chance of a lifetime not to be missed,” choirmaster Ruben Tolmachov added. “I’m so glad we made it here to Vienna a night to remember for all of us.”

Watch The Rolling Stones perform “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” with a Ukrainian choir in Austria on Friday.

 

[PollyannaMom]

I feel like the war has kind of fallen off our news here - like at first, everyone was taking about it, wearing blue and yellow and all that - even if there wasn't anything we could really do, we were with them emotionally. But attention spans are sadly short nowadays.

 

[WEDWDW]

We were at The World Games last week and Ukraine received a louder ovation than the USA at the Opening Ceremonies.

Very moving.

Whenever Ukraine would win a Gold Medal and have their Flag raised and Anthem played,it was very emotional.

 

[punkin]

I just wanted to come back to this thread now that Russia has bombed Odessa the day after it agreed to allow Ukrainian grain shipments. How can anyone trust any agreement with Russia when it gets broken immediately?