By John Blankley
While we celebrate our Independence this week, we have reason to fear the erosion of liberties so dearly won as we witness the reincarnation of a king-like figure. The fight for freedom seems eternal and elsewhere in the world it continues but in much bloodier fashion. Let us not forget one place, just one place among others and that is Ukraine. Currently overshadowed by conflict in other regions the war in Ukraine claims the lives of young men and women every day, dying to preserve their freedom.
The good news is, for those of you whose time is short, I believe that Ukraine will prevail for one simple reason, because it is fighting for self-determination, for freedom itself. Stay with me for the longer story.
Recently the Wall Street Journal wrote that Ukraine would win because of superior air power. That may be, but there is a deeper reason than all the talk about drones, missiles, military strategy, Russian military capability, or the impact of a charismatic leader. It is about the long march of humankind towards a great ideal, playing out today in Ukraine’s war to repel an invader. Within living memory all of Europe was fighting for this ideal, a fight that America joined and was instrumental in winning. My home country is the UK, and I am now an American citizen and am grateful for the years of Pax Americana. Because of that I never had to serve, but all the previous generations in my family did; three of my great uncles died in the Great War and my parents and all my aunts and uncles fought in WW II; two of them landed on the Normandy beaches 80 years ago.
Here‘s the thing, they knew what they were fighting for and were prepared to die for it. The threat to our country was existential, freedom was on the line. It can be said that this was equally true in Germany, in hindsight of course, and was recognized by the new German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, a few weeks ago in the Oval Office when he said Germany was defeated but more important so was Nazi tyranny, and the world is better for it. Meaning, at its core, a German soldier had in the 1940’s been hi-jacked by a fundamentally unsupportable idea.
And leading the world for the ultimate supportable idea, freedom, for all the years since, has been my adopted country, the USA. We defeated the authoritarian ideologies of fascism and communism and have stood shoulder to shoulder with our allies to defend the freedom that was won in 1945. Alexis de Tocqueville, whose masterpiece, “Democracy in America,” was a revelation to the world that self-governance was possible, exemplified in our great democratic experiment, would not be surprised to see that we became the beacon of hope for all mankind.
Let there be no mistake, that torch of freedom is being carried in Ukraine today. Young Ukrainian men and women are making the ultimate sacrifice, we hear about it every day and we hear about Russian attacks on civilian populations every day. When your country is invaded a patriot signs up. But when your country is the invader, as Russia is, the result is that countless young people left their Russian homeland because they knew the causus belli was wrong and simply illegitimate. Who fights now in the Russian regiments? Young men forced into combat, doubtless fed with Putin’s propaganda. In the end they find themselves in another country, as invaders – that will make even an untutored soul think, – why am I here?
Europeans know what war is about. There is not one piece of land in all of Europe that has not been fought over these past two thousand years. Your homeland is worth fighting for and every country I can think of in Europe (with the sad exception of Hungary) is saying to Ukraine, we stand with you. And that is because these countries also prize their own freedom. Our Administration talks about trying to achieve peace and that is a fine thing, but the greater objective is freedom itself, and that is worth fighting for. I can only hope that my adopted country, “The Land of the Free,” will stand up too and continue to support Ukraine for this ultimate, precious goal.
Let me hammer my main point home, Ukraine will win because they know right is on their side, freedom is the cause, and they will make every sacrifice for that noble purpose. Let us salute Ukraine as they f ight for their freedom and let us recognize that their fight is our fight too.
Slava Ukraini!
