In the context of the war in Ukraine, the Western allies faced a dilemma that goes far beyond military strategy. Observing the brutality of the war, but not fully intervening for fear of escalating the conflict with Russia, becomes a deep moral and political test for the countries of the West. Zoya Zvyniatkivska, a culturologist and researcher of social phenomena, claims that this is not only a military problem, but also a psychological phenomenon that has already poisoned the West from the inside.
Regarding not allowing American weapons to be used deep into Russia, I remembered one story. When my child was little, there was bullying in her class. It started somewhere in the 4th grade and the school turned a blind eye to it. No, no, my child was not touched in any way, the whole company was one boy. But my child saw it - and it poisoned her, as well as the rest of the class. I tried to fight, spoke at parent-teacher conferences and went to the principal - and in the end I transferred the child to another school, although no one ever looked askance at her. Because seeing violence eats you up from the inside, if you can't, you don't have the power to stop it. That is why bullying is considered a problem of the whole class and all children who belong to this team are considered victims, even if only one boy has a bloody nose.
What am I leading to? Now, today, everyone understands what is happening - and I want to say, it is not the first time. When, after the Second World War, the USSR claimed half of Europe as the victor and planted cannibalistic regimes there, Europe tried its best not to look at it. When in 1961, 16 years after the end of the war, the Soviets suddenly began to build the Berlin Wall simply on the bodies of living people — Europe closed its eyes. When Soviet tanks were in Prague and Budapest, Europe remained silent.
Apparently, it cannot be proven, but this intoxication with the powerless contemplation of violence turned Europe away from the social and towards the development of the individual. You can't do anything about the state - neither your own nor someone else's - but you can develop your personality, become a better version of yourself, grow your inner garden. Gradually, the eastern bear grew old and stopped growling, instead, theories of personal development and conflict-free dialogue like nonviolent communication flourished. Societies became weak, despaired of collective actions, drowned in depressions and self-denial. And then we all entered a new circle.
It's just that now the West, and above all the USA, is allowing Russia to commit violence - as they have been allowing it for 20 years, starting with the Chechen wars and Georgia. I don't know when and how this particular war of ours will end, but I know for sure that it will not pass, it will not pass with impunity for the West, for its society.
Contemplation of violence, which you do not want, cannot prevent, poisons you from the inside. Poisons and devours.
I don't think knowing this will help us in any way. I am not angry with them. I just want to say that nothing goes unpunished - even if it seems that you were not affected and you deftly slipped through at someone else's expense. Even if you really slip through, the poison is already inside you.
