by Nellie Curtiss …
On Wednesday this week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky asked people everywhere, “Come with Ukrainian symbols to support Ukraine, support freedom, support life. Come to your squares, your streets. Make yourselves visible and heard.”
In the 45 second YouTube video, he called for people around the world to turn out in squares, on streets and in schoolyards in support of Ukraine.
The independent news media The Hill reported that Zelensky called for global rallies to begin on Thursday, March 24 one month after Russia invaded Ukraine.
“From this day and after that, show you’re standing. Come from your offices, your homes, your schools and universities. Come in the name of peace. Come with Ukrainian symbols to support Ukraine, to support freedom, to support life,” Zelensky said, speaking in English.
Plugging the video as Zelensky’s “first direct appeal in English,” the BBC’s page headline read, “War in Ukraine: Zelensky calls on people to ‘support freedom’ and oppose Russia.” See the video at: bbc.com/news/av/world-europe-60858611
Zelensky explained, “Say that people matter, peace matters, freedom matters, Ukraine matters. Russia started the war against freedom as it is. This is only the beginning for Russia on Ukrainian land. Russia is trying to defeat the freedom of all people in Europe, of all the people in the world. It tries to show that only crude and cruel force matters.”
NPR published, “Here’s what support for Ukraine looks like across America.” Three reporters share various pictures that tell a story about caring for Ukraine. The article highlights people protesting Putin and wearing blue and yellow, a preteen with the Ukraine flag painted on her face; and a grandmother and here charge light candles and praying, photos of people waving silk blue and yellow Ukraine flags, and many people clutching or donning giant sunflowers. See npr.org/sections/pictureshow/2022/03/24/1088567743/support-for-ukraine-across-united-states.
Locally, Dr. Laura Hays of Alamosa is offering a “Valley Paint-In for Ukraine: Donations for refugees.” She said, “I feel like I have to do something.” Dr. Hays hopes to offer a safe place to talk about the pain we see the Ukrainians enduring and an opportunity to collectively express our love for people, for freedom, for democracy and to send money to defend Ukraine and provide humanitarian help. “Compassion heals everyone,” she adds. At the paint-in, she will have blue and yellow paints, and cozy nooks to paint and share. She is hoping to create a collective work of art, too. The event is scheduled Saturday April 2nd and Sunday April 3rd from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Location is 122 ½ Alamosa Avenue, Alamosa, CO 81101. For more information, call her at 303-912-0932 or email her at drhays@livingproofrx.com.
Retired human factors engineer, Candy Torres, created a symbol for the effort. Using the colors of the Ukrainian flag, blue and yellow, she wove the peace sign into the symbol to share with others in text messages and on Facebook- facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10217467861488242&set=a.1587653831048. She posted her creation and added: “Here’s my contribution from home. Spread it wide and far!!!”
Like John Lennon sang: “All we are saying is give peace a chance.”
Nelda Curtiss is a retired college educator and long-time local columnist. Reach her at http://www.columnsbynellie.com or email her at columnsbynellie@gmail.com
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