Russia's invasion of Ukraine
Thoughts from John Locke
The English philosopher John Locke gives us yet another reason why Russia's invasion is immoral and what a just peace requires Russia both withdraw from Ukraine and pay compensation. He writes that an aggressor who
…unjustly invades another man’s right can…never come to have a right over the conquered…. Should a robber break into my house, and with a dagger at my throat make me seal deeds to convey my estate to him, would this give him any title? Just such a title, by his sword, has an unjust conqueror, who forces me into submission. The injury and the crime is equal, whether committed by the wearer of a crown, or some petty villain. The title of the offender, and the number of his followers, make no difference in the offence, unless it be to aggravate it.1
John Locke, Second Treatise of Government, Chapter XVI: Of Conquest.
How can one-half of the Orthodox Churches in the world support this petty villain? He bribes them with "protection" if they provide ideological support for him: "Support us, and we'll insure the local Islamic thugs won't kill you." When we lived in the provinces of Russia, the local mafia would offer "protection" to the kiosk owners if they paid what the mafia demanded. One such kiosk across the street from our apartment refused to pay, and that night it burned to the ground. One Orthodox hierarch wavered about supporting the above villain, and two Orthodox bishops in that country were kidnapped (later to be killed - a little-known fact).
I agree this completely and totally applies to the situation between Ukraine and Putin, but I also couldn't help but thinking back to the treacherous dealings and violence the US government had with Native Americans to acquire land. (Blame my recent reading on westward expansion). I wonder how that legacy effects our nation's spiritual health and collective soul?