Not so fast, Putin!
“Tin soldiers and Nixon’s coming. We’re finally on our own. This summer, I hear the drumming. Four dead in Ohio.” – Neil Young. I wanted to start this article with those lyrics since this article is about protests. A better protest anthem than Young’s Ohio there might not be. There is no denying that our country and many countries have always had protesters. And protesters are vital. They have and do have the ability to change the world.
Protesters come in different shapes and sizes, from different backgrounds and various life experiences. But they all have one thing in common. They are brave. Nobody can ever doubt that one. Many protest at the possibility of harm to themselves. They know the risks. They know the dangers. But they do it anyway because they love freedom and country, and they want to express that love.
And right now, protests are going on all over Russia. Stop and think about that one. Think about Putin and his insane and vengeful nature. Think of the law in the land in Russia.
These protesters likely know they can be arrested, and they don’t care. Their bravery and love of country rise above any fear they may have. It’s remarkable. These are the people musicians like Neil Young sing about. These are the heroes we watch through awestruck eyes in movies. These are the people that legends are made of.
Thousands of them have fanned out — all over various cities in Russia –to protest what Putin has done in Ukraine.
Putin can’t control them. They are makers of their own destinies. And it’s likely he never expected the volume of protests. He thought everyone would fall in line. Not so fast, Putin.
For the protesters, it appears very simple. They don’t want war — and they’re showing this to the world. It is indeed humbling. So let’s love them. Let’s keep hope alive for them. And let’s thank them for what they’ve done and what they continue to do.
