There was a time when many American Communist sympathizers praised the Soviet Union. They saw it as an embodiment of their ideals and an inspiration. When accounts of Soviet atrocities came out, they were skeptical. Many refused to believe in the horrors of Stalin’s repression despite repeated proofs. These people blinded themselves to the truth of what was going on in Russia and other Eastern European countries. Their willful blindness was wrong. I am afraid that many Republicans are making the same mistake.
Today is the one year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. While the official stance of the United States has been one of support, many in the United States, notably Donald Trump, have questioned US support for Ukraine. Some on the right even sympathize with Putin. I am very concerned about this stance. I am concerned that my political party (the only time I voted, I voted Republican) is taking a turn away from what is right.
My case for supporting Ukraine is based on Conservative ideas that I hold dear. The first is patriotism. We on the Right tend to be patriotic, especially in the face of criticisms of our nation. People may try to use the nation’s sins to discredit the United States and undermine the love of country. We are concerned that the next generation have a love for their nation that will inspire them to work for its good in the future. Support for Ukraine is a patriotic thing to do. In the first place, support for Ukraine honors our history as a nation that fights for freedom. How can we praise people like Patrick Henry, who would die rather than be denied freedom, and have no sympathy with a nation of people who are facing the same choice? How can we forget the invaluable support France gave our nation? Is not supporting another country in its fight for freedom and democracy a superb way to pass on the favor? Can we, as Americans, be indifferent when another nation longs for independence and Democracy? We have never been ones to roll over and die in the face of aggression. How can we expect that of others? Are we not proud of our history? Do we not see the same spirit in the Ukrainians?
Conservative media has undermined support for Ukraine by spreading ideas critical of the behavior of the United States. While it is acceptable to criticize our nation when it has done wrong, the talk in this instance seems more befitting to our enemies than to our friends. I am talking about the biolab rumor. The story goes that the United States has been secretly funding laboratories in Ukraine, perhaps for the purpose of producing biological weapons. The insinuation is that Russia invaded because the United States was helping Ukraine produce biological weapons to hurt Russia. While I think this idea is a piece of Kremlin propaganda, I will not expect my readers to take that view. Let us suppose, instead, that the United States were really funding biological laboratories in Ukraine. Let us even assume these laboratories really were an international threat, producing biological weapons against Russia. In that case, I have some questions. Russia's response indicates a belief that the United States is an enemy. That means Russia is an enemy of the United States (or so it sees itself). Why are we siding with our enemy in this matter? While there may be reasons for a true patriot to condemn his or her country's actions, even to the point of sympathizing with an enemy when one's country has done something truly awful, this assumption on the part of many that Russia is justified in invading comes too easily and quickly to be truly patriotic. It is almost as though the merest hint that the United States had biolabs in Ukraine is enough to justify Russia. Excuse me, but this is the attitude of an enemy of the United States. Indeed, if the United States has been up to funny business with biological weapon development in Ukraine and if that activity is a major reason for the invasion, then the war is the United States's responsibility. If you really believe Russia has a valid concern over US creation of biological weapons in Ukraine, then the war is the United States's fault, and the United States should take on full responsibility, both for supporting Ukraine in its defense and rebuilding it after the war.
Another concern I have is the sympathy people have had with Putin’s supposed concern about the spread of NATO. Again, how can we turn against our own nation in this way? The United States is part of NATO and has been a major force in it. There was a time when being pro-American meant supporting and even celebrating the nation’s role as a leader in the free world. There was a time when isolationism had behind it the idea that the United States had caused more trouble than good on the world stage and should crawl into a corner in shame. Surely we Conservatives don’t believe that! We are proud of our nation and of those who have a fighting spirit! It may well be that there is a false equivalence at the bottom of American sympathy for Putin. In the past, the United States has objected to having Communist nations on its borders. Why then, the thinking goes, ought we to expect Putin to accept having NATO on his borders? This equivalence is unworthy of Conservatives. How can we consider NATO anything like Communism? Communism took away people’s freedom and wormed its way in where it was not always wanted. NATO, by contrast, doesn’t just let anyone join. It does not force nations to join it, nor does it work by destabilizing nations to facilitate its spread. Instead, it must approve those nations who want to join. A nation can be rejected. Equating NATO with Communism is like equating the local country club with a cult.
Conservative people respect democracy and the rule of law. These principles are vital to our national institutions and to our vision for the nation. In the present conflict, democracy is at stake, at least in Ukraine. Although Russia may be a democracy in name, it is a democracy in name only. It is no more a democracy than the Soviet Union was. It may be more of an oligarchy than the old Soviet system, but it is no democracy. Ukraine, by contrast, is a democracy. From 2014-2021, Russia has had one President. During that time, Ukraine has had three (four if you count Yanukovich). While Ukraine has had peaceful transfers of power, Putin has been monkeying with the Russian constitution to allow himself to stay in power longer. If Putin accomplishes regime change, Ukraine won’t have a democracy. Ukraine will have a puppet government under Moscow.
Perhaps the most important reason for conservative Christians to have solidarity with Ukraine is that many of our brothers and sisters in Christ benefit from a free Ukraine. While closer ties with Europe could mean the introduction of wrong ideologies from the West, do not be deceived. Putin is no friend to Evangelical Christianity. From what I have heard, religious groups who are not Russian Orthodox do not have great freedom in Russia. In Ukraine, by contrast, Protestant Christians hold worship services, conduct evangelism, put on public events connected with religious holidays, and engage in political demonstrations. In occupied areas, Protestant pastors have been targeted because of Protestantism’s connections to the efforts of Western missionaries. Many of these missionaries have had to cease their work in Ukraine and leave the field because of the war. For us, (I am one of these missionaries) return to an occupied Ukraine is probably not an option.
The last reason is the most basic and the most vital. It is the reason of common humanity. The war is causing much suffering in Ukraine. Cities have been completely destroyed. Numerous lives have been lost, not only soldiers, but civilians as well. Numerous Ukrainian people now live in exile in neighboring countries, many surviving on aid from the governments of those countries. The sooner the war ends, the sooner these people can go home and support themselves.
My friends, perhaps I have argued with more spirit than logic. I ask you to indulge me, as this is a topic dear to my heart. I have lived in Ukraine most of my life. My childhood home is there, and I long to return. My nation’s support for Ukraine has been a joy to me. Although I was not initially happy at Biden’s election, I am proud of him now. Let us not make the mistake of taking a stance just for the sake of disagreeing with the candidate from the other party. Lives are at stake. Freedom is at stake. Our support for Ukraine will cost us a drop in the bucket compared to the abysmal ocean of our national debt. Our withdrawal of support will mean a living hell for millions. Please, don’t make that mistake.
