We live in progressive, peaceful times. Conflict is not a constant reality the way it was in the dark past of humanity. This is perhaps why the images of destruction and stories of suffering coming out of Ukraine are so horrifying for us; why stories of people's humanity in terrible situations are so moving. Like the story of the 11-year-old boy who fled with nothing but a phone number, women of courage under fire, the sand artist in Portugal and the guerilla artist in the USA:
These women were celebrating International Women’s Day a little differently from women elsewhere. A medical student is providing healthcare in her capital city during the war, a gym owner is housing people who have become refugees, many women have enlisted because their country needs them, some serve food and drink to fleeing people, some feed the military… some just do extraordinary things because these are not ordinary times.
Right now it is estimated that more than 15% of the regular Ukrainian army comprises of women. Right now women are contributing in other ways as well – enlisting or any way they can make a difference.
The 11-year-old boy belongs to the area of Ukraine where the Russians blew up the power plant. His parents had to stay but he had to go – 700 miles away to Slovakia. He went with nothing but a plastic bag, his passport and a phone number written on his hand. Volunteers at the border and others are speaking about this calm courage in the midst of what must be a terrifying situation.
Many people are currently forced to live in bomb shelters thanks to Russian shelling and bombardment. It can be icy cold, and basic necessities, even bathrooms are often lacking. Staying positive may be difficult but people are making the best of the situation in whatever way they can. They sing, or in this case, play the violin and help others feel a semblance of normalcy.
This reminded me a little of that scene in Titanic when the band stoically continued to play music even while the ship was sinking – just to give hope and an illusion of normalcy to people around. This young woman playing What a Wonderful World outside Lviv railway station would be offering a similar hope and sense of normalcy to people escaping war.
Here is a little girl who didn’t think that her birthday would be remembered much less celebrated at a time like this. However, workers at the refugee camp after she crossed over to Romania made sure that this would be a birthday to remember: with gifts, a party hat, balloon and birthday wishes sung out for her.
Vitor Raposo is a Portuguese sand artist who created this lovely illustration in the sand along with the words “Paz Na Ucrania” which means “Peace in Ukraine”.
Thanks to an ‘artist’ with a sense of humour, the road that has the Russian Embassy in Washington DC now bears this sign. It is a testament to the popularity of Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy; yet another form of the antiwar protests that we are seeing taking place all over the world these days. Yet another way to #StandWithUkraine.
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