By By: Mira Costello
Co-Editor
In our small corner of Indiana, it is easy to watch the news and not feel that international conflict affects us. We complain when gas prices go up, and we worry about war in the abstract, but we forget how fortunate we are not to fear for our safety like those in Ukraine and Europe right now. Here are a few of your fellow students’ thoughts about the war, whether they have a personal connection to it or simply had something to say.
“I was born in Russia, and I was actually adopted. I was about one and a half when my parents adopted me and brought me back. So, I actually have a pretty personal relationship with this whole thing. I have to say, it does make me pretty emotional when there is news coverage, especially when they talk about how hard-hit the Russian people are going to be. It hurts me when there is talk about it.”
“My family was kicked out of Ukraine during World War II. That’s why I’m here. Since I have that connection, it’s a very unfortunate situation. It’s been a hard time for me since my family and friends are still there fighting. It’s such a heartbreaking, sad situation to hear and witness with all the destruction of my country and the city where I was born.” Roman was born in Donetsk, Ukraine.
“At the same time, I’m mad that it’s happening in the first place. Of course, there are international laws that everyone has to follow, but this isn’t a new thing. It’s been happening since 2013, and also, to fully understand this, you need to understand Ukraine’s history. If you know of the Holodomor, it was a genocide that killed as many Ukrainians as [people] in the Holocaust. That’s why Ukrainians have a very strong feeling about what’s happening, but I’m glad that we’re pulling through right now. We haven’t fallen.”
Roman sent in this photo, as it features him wearing a traditional Ukrainian shirt.
“I’m very pro-Ukraine in this situation. It’s clear that Ukraine is attempting to do its own thing – as it should be able to – and it’s not hurting anyone. And Russia is, under its dictator, seeking to enact some sort of imperial sphere of control over a nation that has its own autonomy. It’s very
concerning to me. As someone who does not like imperialism, fascism, rampant nationalist militarism – it’s very concerning.”
Tahyia Alvi, Junior, international student from Pakistan
“My thoughts and feelings are that, obviously, no one deserves to die. The fact that [Ukrainians] are being displaced and the world is not helping them at all – including the U.S., which is supposed to be their ally – just shows that a lot of countries are there just to look at their own interests instead of the interests of others. They care so much about their own resources, and don’t want to deploy their army, but when it comes to other countries – such as the Middle East – they’re very quick to respond, and they’re very quick to send their resources and their military. It’s all about political gains, and international gains, and if it’s benefiting them then they’re going to help, but if it doesn’t then they don’t see a point.”
