There are many ways to look at war. But look at it we must. However, I’m always stunned by how our language betrays our actual underpinnings.
I lived in Ukraine for a glorious, free year. I could write a book about that. But central to its story is the story of the Ukrainian language. Many Ukrainians that could afford it, after independence from the USSR/Russia, would send their children to Manitoba, Canada. Why? So they could learn their own language. Such was the “russification” of the country.
The way for a conqueror to win? Really win? They must get others to speak their language. Language is identity and is central to who we are both individually and collectively. To deny people access to their own language is the end game of war. Truly. It is why we should scream to the ends of the universe each time a language dies … and our cultural genome is diluted.
“War is what happens when language fails.” - Margaret Atwood
I say this as a backdrop to what most shocks and concerns me about those (rightly) decrying the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It is how they too adopt the language of war. And in doing so, they show that at heart, they too are “warriors” and not for/of peace.
People say - send in the jets. People say bomb the Russians to obedience. People say we must “win” (whatever that means) and you have media outlets with cartoons showing drunk Russians and dehumanizing the population. Once you adopt the language of war, you’ve lost. You have. It is the us/them that all war wants, that will triumph.
The recent Trucker Revolt in Canada especially surprised me on this front. Here, you had regular folk who refused to be violent, even in their rhetoric and language. They refused the easy route to demonize, spit back venom, yell and scream. Instead, they stood fast in their beliefs and spoke the language of peace. Despite all the media trying and failing to show otherwise.
I wrote previously about how we need to destroy all the weapons of destruction at hand, in our hands. Without this, they’ll always be used, their use will always be rationalized. But I would go further.
Each August, the world gathers and agrees - China, Russia, USA, France and all - they all agree “never again” shall we use a nuclear weapon in war or for any ends. Why don’t we really be honest about our wish for peace and say, declare, “Never again. ANY war.”? Never, ever military war as a means to an end. Let’s solve things by way of trade, information, speech, vote - you name it, whatever. But never again violent war.
Somewhere Close To Everything
The first casualty of war is truth.
The first casualty of war is the plan.
The first casualty of war is language.
The first casualty of war is the promise of the future.
The first casualty of war is our tender side.
The first casualty of war is the natural world.
The first casualty of war is diversity.
The first casualty of war is every child.
The first casualty of war is your own heart.
The first casualty of war is
something close to everything.