Letters - 18 March 2022
From Saving Ukrainians to Remarkable
Saving Ukrainians
Military confrontation by Ukraine to the Russian invasion cannot succeed against such overwhelming might as admitted by the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenksy. Further violent confrontation will cause immensely more suffering as promised by the Russian president Vladimir Putin. Ukrainian towns are being bombarded, their food, water and electricity supplies destroyed, their citizens rendered homeless, and killed while fleeing.
Non-violent resistance, the power of the powerless, is the better option in these circumstances. Non-cooperation with the Russian occupiers is a humane way out of this disaster.
This will cause other forms of suffering arising probably from a period of a living under a Russian puppet regime. But the livelihoods of Ukrainians will be saved and eventually the occupiers will leave.
Ukrainians can then redeem their sovereign rights.
Peter Jarman
Pacifism
I feel moved to share the ministry I gave in Meeting for Worship recently. I am going to make a confession: I am really struggling with pacifism. If I were in Ukraine at the moment I would be supporting all those who are fighting the invaders. If I were young enough, although every bit of me cringes at the thought, I would be joining them.
Can I still say that I am a Quaker?
Elizabeth Gruar
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