Your thoughtful and deeply informed post is much appreciated when it's all to easy to take for granted seemingly solid concepts and boundaries (such as nationalism). I feel for the people in Russia now living in a dire situation under a terrible leader. And having terrible leaders is not so far from the American experience as we might like to think. Yet, as someone with friends and co-workers in Ukraine, I hear about their awful experiences brought on by the invasion: there's not much room for nuance now--it simply seems that an evil force is coming to kill them. Regarding historical factors, I might suggest considering the Holodomor (see for instance, Red Famine by Anne Applebaum). The memories of one's grandparents having to engage in cannibalism to survive are still part of the living memory there. I also think it worth considering not only historical influences, but going beyond all that if possible: what ultimately what do people want for their future? I had the chance to visit Northern Ireland some years ago, and one thing that I noticed was amidst the long-standing troubles, friendships were forming across those seemingly solid, taken-for-granted concepts and boundaries. So, in exploring and untangling these things, your thoughtful post offers hope. Thank you!
Fascinating discussion - answered a lot of questions I've had about Ukrainian history. Reflecting on this and past episodes, I see a burgeoning vision for a new social structural compact. Would love to an expanded elaboration of that vision. Well done
Finally! Someone has expressed so much of what I've been thinking, but I've been hesitant to share. You might have just shown me the way to talk about the current politicial problem in terms of humans, rather than nations. Thank you!
Your thoughtful and deeply informed post is much appreciated when it's all to easy to take for granted seemingly solid concepts and boundaries (such as nationalism). I feel for the people in Russia now living in a dire situation under a terrible leader. And having terrible leaders is not so far from the American experience as we might like to think. Yet, as someone with friends and co-workers in Ukraine, I hear about their awful experiences brought on by the invasion: there's not much room for nuance now--it simply seems that an evil force is coming to kill them. Regarding historical factors, I might suggest considering the Holodomor (see for instance, Red Famine by Anne Applebaum). The memories of one's grandparents having to engage in cannibalism to survive are still part of the living memory there. I also think it worth considering not only historical influences, but going beyond all that if possible: what ultimately what do people want for their future? I had the chance to visit Northern Ireland some years ago, and one thing that I noticed was amidst the long-standing troubles, friendships were forming across those seemingly solid, taken-for-granted concepts and boundaries. So, in exploring and untangling these things, your thoughtful post offers hope. Thank you!
Fascinating discussion - answered a lot of questions I've had about Ukrainian history. Reflecting on this and past episodes, I see a burgeoning vision for a new social structural compact. Would love to an expanded elaboration of that vision. Well done
Finally! Someone has expressed so much of what I've been thinking, but I've been hesitant to share. You might have just shown me the way to talk about the current politicial problem in terms of humans, rather than nations. Thank you!
Amazing job here, Brad. Powerful.