UKRAINE SHORT COMMENTARY: IS IT EVER RIGHT TO SHUT DOWN DEBATE IN FAVOUR OF A UNITED JINGOISM OF HATRED?

Can it ever be right to mobilise popular opinion in one direction and in one direction only?

It could be argued that World War II is a case where this was appropriate. Hitler was clearly a figure that had no redeeming qualities to him (though it had to be said that he initially inspired respect and admiration among misguided British aristocrats in the years before the war began.) In respect of the National Socialist Party and the Nazis these too were impossible to admire except by sociopaths, psychopaths and those who were of a similar mentality across the world.

But in general terms absolute right and wrong are usually not present in the way they were during World War II. There are most often shades of gray where active discussion can take place by those who seek to gain a deeper understanding of what is going on in as precise detail as possible in order to obtain as holistic a view as possible in the circumstances.

Currently in the western world the Russian campaign is being seen in the same terms as the Nazi campaigns were in WWII, i.e. in black and white terms, good and evil, right and wrong with no shades of grey whatsoever.

Yet there is much to be said and understood regarding the circumstances why Russia took the current action in regard to Ukraine. In fact, to understand all the details involved would take many hours of study even if the difficult task of sourcing this information could be found as to say it has a very low priority within the information networks of the western world is a gross understatement.

At least some good sources do exist which explain why Vladimir Putin and his top officials concluded that after eight years of trying to negotiate an equitable peace with Ukraine on topics of vital interest to both, that everything broke down, and not due to any aggressive action on the part of Russia, quite the contrary.

Ukrainian officials have not been free to take the sensible route to peace offered by Russia after it was initially accepted by Kiev and ratified at the UN. After signing Kiev went no further and this remained the situation right up to the present day. The very real, present and overwhelmingly powerful presence always at the back of Kiev was the USA, with the EU as secondary backup.

Ukraine, used as a device to undermine Russia will suffer the consequences of its one-sided relationship with both the USA and EU, its economy will be ravaged, even if the careful actions of the Russian military preserves most infrastructure. The devastation caused to Ukraine, no matter what it amounts to, would certainly not have ensued if the authorities in Kiev had been free to negotiate the peaceful solution that was made available through the Minsk Agreement.

That the urge toward war and not peace continues to exist within Ukraine can be seen in small but powerful part by the alleged murder of one of the original Ukrainian team-members at the current meetings between Russia and Ukraine to resolve the many outstanding issues between them. It is said his positive efforts to secure a peaceful resolution with Russia and not act as a blocking device against Russia was the cause of his murder by Ukrainian security police.

However, nothing that indicates Russia is seeking a permanent resolution to the conflict is given any coverage in the West. No possible positive aspect to why Russia took the actions it did in regard to Ukraine has been possible in the West for eight entire years now and that circumstance is causing a campaign of hatred and economic war now that threatens the entire financial and economic stability of the entire planet.

Anyone who mentions even the slightest justification by Russia in doing what it did is going to be howled down and cancelled at the very least while other horrors appear only a matter of time and opportunity away.

This can’t be how to act and react in a modern world priding itself on universal justice, understanding and resolution of differences based on mutual respect, understanding and constant efforts to maintain a dialogue. It is so much more important to speak with those you regard as enemies that to simply and constantly find agreement among those of like minds. If not we enter a barbarism of war such as we have never before seen in the long history of the human race.