We Must Support Those Russians Who Stand Against Putin

Last updated on: April 28, 2022 at 2:48 am by Henry Karlson

We Must Support Those Russians Who Stand Against Putin 2022-04-28T02:48:35-05:00 Henry Karlson

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

A.Savin: Oxxxymiron From The ” Russians Against War (RAW)” Series / Wikimedia Commons

On Good Friday, Pope Francis planned on having a Russian and a Ukrainian nurse, women who had become friends while in Rome, give a reflection that they wrote together at the 13th Station of the Cross. It was meant to be a contemplation which bemoaned the ravages of war: “Lord where are you? Speak to us amid the silence of death and division, and teach us to be peacemakers, brothers and sisters, and to rebuild what bombs tried to destroy.”[1] Some criticized and complained about this plan; they thought it was inappropriate, that it could somehow be used to exonerate Putin’s aggression against Ukraine (which, of course, it did not do, as the words could be seen as a lamentation for Putin’s war). As a result, the original meditation was left out although the nurses still came forward, holding a cross together, as someone else read about the need to be silent as we encounter the mystery of death.

It is sad that that Russians, such as Albina, the Russian nurse who was intended to speak with her Ukrainian friend, Irina, are being silenced when it is their voices which are needed today. We must not be angry at her because she is Russian; she does not support Putin’s war efforts. Indeed, it is clear, she stood against it, and her words were meant to serve as a voice of resistance against Putin’s actions. She, and with it, the Pope, were misunderstood. Some have been led to look at each and every Russian with suspicion, fearing that all Russians in the world speak only to serve Putin’s agenda. This line of thinking hurts Ukraine, as it silences those who could be and should be their allies; it ignores that any long-lasting resolution to the conflict must include the Russian people. Russians must be encouraged to take a stand against Putin, and indeed, to cast off his yoke. If the voices of Russian allies are silenced, indeed, if Russians around the world, Russians who do not support but indeed, reject Putin and his evil actions, are silenced, it will be difficult, if not impossible, to get those living in Russia to see through Putin’s lies. Putin will use such mistreatment of Russians as proof that the war is one of Russia taking on the rest of the world. That is, it will only help promote Putin’s nationalistic ideology. This should be obvious, but sadly, the anger and resentment many have has led them to ignore reason, and in doing so, to begin to act like the enemy they are fighting. When this happens, everyone loses. We must keep the message simple, and promote all those who are willing to speak up, including, and especially, Russians when they are making a stand against Putin and his regime. The war is evil. There was no just cause for Putin’s actions. It is a manufactured war, and Putin continues to defend it with lie after lie, but that lie can be given the illusion of truth if we are not careful.

Knowing, therefore, that Russia is at fault, we must make sure we recognize who is behind the war effort, and make sure they take the blame. We must understand not all Russians support Putin’s war. Many are indeed speaking out against it, and in doing so, finding themselves affected by Putin’s ire. Likewise, many other Russians, no longer in Russia, are making it clear that they do not support the war, such as the cosmonauts who are on the International Space Station. These voices, of which the Russian nurse, Albina, must be included, are important because they are most likely to be listened to and accepted by Russians, they are the ones most likely to influence those living in Russia and encourage them to resist Putin and dislodge him for his seat of power. We must fight a war for the hearts of the Russian people; if that war is won, then the war in Ukraine can and will end. But to win that war, we must make sure we do not repeat the mistakes of the past, the mistakes we saw in World War I and World War II, where Western patriotism led to the unjust and abusive treatment of German and Japanese Americans. That is, we must not embrace a scapegoat mechanism which labels everyone Russian as being evil, a mechanism which seems to lie behind the voices of those who were upset with Pope Francis’s desire for Good Friday. If we follow scapegoating, we only do what Putin wants us to do, giving him all he needs to create the propaganda which he needs to continue to win the hearts of the Russian people. We will reinforce the support he receives for his evil war.

Christians should know this. We have been told to try to make peace with those who would be our enemies. “When a man’s ways please the LORD, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him” (Prov. 16:7 RSV). “Strive for peace with all men, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord” (Heb. 12:14 RSV). It is not easy. But, then again, how easy was it for Christians to accept St. Longinus, St. Cornelius, or even St. Paul, into their midst, knowing their background and how they treated Jews and Christians before their conversion? This is not to say we can and must accept a peace which ignores the injustices which have been done; rather, true reconciliation will include whatever reparations are needed to undo the damage Russia has done.

After World War II, Germany and Japan were given the chance to make for restitution, so that, despite all the evil those countries had done, they were able to be made friends with those who once fought against them. And this, of course, was possible, in part, because many within Germany and Japan, as well as many Germans and Japanese who did not live in their homeland, stood against the evils which were done. Once the war was over, their voices could and would be used to make for lasting peace. Today, we must not only look to the present moment, but to what we hope things will be like in the future. We must do what we can to make for a better future. That means, must support those Russians we would like to lead Russia in the future. We must embrace, not ignore or demonize, those who stand for justice and speak out against Putin and Russia’s war crimes. This will help make sure what happened under Putin does not have to happen again, just as the way we engaged Germany and Japan after World War II made sure they did not threaten the world after the war was over. If we don’t do this, if we don’t look for peace, if we just try to scapegoat all Russians, and ignore those who stand against Putin, we risk things getting so out of hand, we might indeed make things worse, risking, indeed, the worst case scenario, nuclear annihilation. We must do all we can to make sure this does not happen.

[1] Meditation 13 of The Way of the Cross Led By Pope Francis (4-15-2022). Vatican translation.

Stay in touch! Like A Little Bit of Nothing on Facebook.
If you liked what you read, please consider sharing it with your friends and family!

Previous Post

April 27, 2022

We Should Bear Each Other's Burden

Next Post

May 1, 2022 We Must Overturn Our Prejudices And Biases To Promote Unity In The Church

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Abortion Abraham abuse Aesthetics AI Aliens Ambrose Ancestors and Everything Andrew Angels Animals Anne Anthony Antisemitism apologetics Apophatic Apostle John Aquinas Artificial Intelligence Asanga Ascension Asceticism Assumption Atheism Attachment Augustine Authority Avarice Balthasar Baptism Beauty Biden birthright citizenship Bishops Black History Books Buddhism Bulgakov Byzantine Calendar C.S. Lewis Calcidius Catholic Catholicism Catholicism Celibacy Charity Chastity children Chrismation Christ Christmas Christology Church Climate Change Common Good Communion Confession Confirmation Conscience Constantine conventions conversion councils Covid Creation Cross Dead Death Death Penalty Debate Deception Demagogues Demons Desert Monks Desert Mothers Desire destruction development Dialogue Dignity Dionsyius Dionysius Discipline Diversity Division Doctor Who doctrine dogma Dormition Dualism Easter Easter Series Ecumenical Councils Ecumenism Education Election Empathy Environment Error Eschatology eschaton Eternity Ethics Eucharist Evangelism Eve Evil evolution Faeries Faith Fear femininity Ficino Florence Florensky Folktale Fools Forgiveness Freedom Future gender Gentile Gentiles Glory Gnostic God gods Good Samaritan Goodness Gospel Government Grace Great Fast Guns Hate healing Health Heaven Hell Hellenism Heresy Hierarchy Hildegard Hinduism History Holiness Holy Spirit Holy Week Hope Horror Human rights humanity Humility hypocrisy ICE icon icons Identification Identity Idol II Nicea Immigration incarnation Individualism Informal Reflections Inklings Intention Inter-Religious Interfaith Internet Interpretation Intrinsic evil Irenaeus Islam Israel Jacob Jerome Jesus Jews John Chrysostom John of Damascus John the Baptist Joseph Judaism justice Justification kenosis Kindnesss Kingdom of God Kingdom of Heaven Law Law of Moses Lazarus Leaf by Niggle Lent Lenten Reflection Liberation Theology Lies Life Listen Literature Liturgy locutions Logic Logos Love Marriage Martyrs Mary Mass Maximos The Confessor Meanness Meditation Mercy Middle Path Migrants Mind Miracles Miriam Morals Moses Movies Music Muslims Myths Names Nationalism Native Americans New Year Nicea Nicholas Nothing Novatian Obedience Occam's Razor Ordination Origen Original Sin Orthodox orthopraxis Pagans Palamas Palm Sunday Paradise Paschaltide Paul Peace Pentecost person Peter piety PKD Plato pluralism Plurality Poem Poetry Poiltics Politics Poor Pope Pope Francis Pope Leo XIV Post Office Prayer Pride Pro-life Prodigal Son propaganda Prophecy Prophets Providence Putin Racism Reading Reason Reflection Refugees Relationships Religion Religion Series Religious Liberty Repent Republicans Rest Resurrection Rich Rites Russia Sacraments Saints Salvation Salvian Santa Science Scripture Self-Giving Sexuality Sibyl Sick Silence Sin Singlehood Social Justice Society Sodom Solovyov Speculations Spiritual Reflection St. Cyril of Alexandria St. Justin Martyr Suffering Sunday of the Paralytic Man Sunday of the Samaritan Woman Superhero Supreme Court Teaching Technology Thanksgiving The Father the Universe Theological Reflection Theology Theosis Theotokos Thomas Timaeus Time Tolerenace Tolkien Tradition Transfiguration Trinity Trump Truth Uncategorized Unity Universities USCCB Value Vatican II Vegetarian Vices Violence Virtue Vocations War Water Welcome Wisdom Womanhood Women Work World View Worship Writing Zacchaeus

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz