PieFedUkrainian author-turned-soldier takes aim at Westerners' ‘abstract pacifism’
kyivindependent.com/ukrainian-author-turned-sol…
From the first days of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Western leftists have invoked “peace” as a slogan — as if peace were not already at the heart of every Ukrainian’s daily prayer. They warn the world not to “provoke” the Kremlin, as if Ukraine’s restraint could halt Russian missiles. For Ukraine’s own leftists, though, the prospect of total annihilation has laid bare how hollow abstract pacifism sounds when survival itself is on the line.
When Russian forces tried to take Kyiv in 2022, Ukrainian writer Artem Chapeye — a well-known leftist and outspoken male feminist — made sure his family reached safety before he enlisted to defend his country. In his latest book "Ordinary People Don’t Carry Machine Guns," translated into English by Zenia Tompkins and published by Seven Stories Press, Chapeye reflects on his path to military service, the ways in which the war has upended parts of Ukrainian society, and what it means to hold onto your humanity when forced to pick up a weapon.
“It’s easy to hide behind the abstract idea that ‘the more weapons there are, the more war there’ll be’ when you yourself are safe,” Chapeye writes.
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The majority of Western leftists by far support Ukraine and their fight against the invaders. The few remaining ones who doesn't are the tankies, who are a very vocal minority (some of whom are no doubt financially supported by Putin).
Justice for Ukraine looks only like one thing, a Russian military loss and criminal charges against Russia’s leadership.
SkilurosWestern "leftists" are full of shit.
The beginning of the full scale invasion was how I learned western "leftism" is performative.
Mind you, I oppose oligarch regimes and support a humane social contract.
From my perspective, anyone who is dumb enough to think that the russians (putin is a mere symptom) are capable of good faith actions cannot be trusted on any matters.
Tempus FugitIs this as opposed to Eastern "leftism?" I don't see Eastern leftists doing anything at all.
I don't know what qualifies as "Eastern" in your view, but support for things like a national healthcare system (social democratic policies) is pretty common in many countries.
fushuan [he/him]So is in almost all of Europe, which I'm assuming you were labelling as west leftism, right? Or were you exclusive to the Americas?
When I say Western leftism, I am refering to people such as Jeremy Corbyn, Yanis Varoufakis or the people behind Jacobin in the US.
Corbyn is a genocidal imperialist who has openly cheered for the occupation of Crimea and prosecution of Ukrainians and Crimean Tartars.
Jacobin routinely hosts articles that include something along the lines of "I don't support the invasion of Ukraine, but actually here are the reason the russian are justified in invading Ukraine. And aren't all Ukrainian Nazis anyway?"
Varoufakis is probably a more useful idiot type, but he has also supported some non sequitors about "peace based on Good Friday agreement". This is so stupid.
Academic leftists like Jeremy Morris routinely whitewash near universal support for genocidal imperialism among the russian public by claiming that it merely 10-12% of russians support imperialism.
Does this help you understand why I think Western "leftists" are full shit and why I hope the malicious ones (like Corbyn) get a taste of their own medicine; them and their families get to experience what they wish on Ukrainians.
You mentioned a bunch of names I don't recognise. I assume they are from the US. So basically by west you meant exclusively US, ok.
Tuukka RCorbyn is English.
Varoufakis is Greek.
Anybody in Europe knows about these two, but of course.people in Asia or Africa or America might not, and OP forgot about that.
Thank you for proving my point about the shallow and performative nature of western leftism!
I couldn't have done a better job myself!
Every person I mentioned by name is a European. Including the former (and very controversial) leader of Labour in the UK and a former Greek economy minister (anyone who actually bothers to stay informed should remember him, he played a very big role in Europe at one point).
I can't help but feel this is the pot calling the kettle black. What did Ukrainian leftists do about any of the conflicts they weren't directly involved with? No shit people are pacifist or ignorant when they're not directly involved. The majority of people only care about things that directly affect them.
I get his frustration with how things are, but if the shoe were on the other foot I doubt he'd act much differently.
dooI believe your argument is an example of whataboutism. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whataboutism
While you're not wrong that people in general tend to care more about matters directly affecting them, this fact is simply not relevant to the original fact that peace for ruZZia can only mean their complete victory and genocide for Ukrainians.
How is it a whataboutism when it was the point he was trying to make?
iktDeleted by author
I try to be a pacifist but I view it as an individual thing. After all is one going to physically force pacifism on someone. That would make no sense. I have seen folks with signs and I can't even see doing that. Sure I will discuss it but I can't tell someone not to defend themselves when attacked and I don't know what I will do in that situation. It reminds me of that ska song. Never knocked on wood. Its like no one is truly a pacifist or really anything until they die and you can see what they were true to.
The Ukrainians are quite literally defending the borders of Europe for them. I completely understand where he's coming from.
We won't have the luxury to pretend it won't affect us for much longer though.
Meanwhile the EU spent more money on Russia energy resources since the full scale invasion than Ukraine received in aid (both military and civil combined). Various sanctioned parts made it to Russia from EU manufacturers.
It seems that the Russian invasion is seen as less of a threat in the higher echelons of economic and political power and is more of a business opportunity instead.
Insofar the course of the EU has increased the number of people killed and the destruction caused through bankrolling both the Ukrainian defender and the Russian attacker. It seems only since the beginning of this year, with Ukraine hanging by a thread and Trump throwing antics in Washington that the actual stance is changing and sanctions are enacted more seriously.
Many people just think, that "it's happening somewhere else" to soothe their anxiety, that it's not going to get to them or whatever, or that it's simply not their problem.
And I'll be honest - I also was like that, even while our city officials were testing air raid sirens and doing alarm drills, I, while deeply unsettled by these preparations, hoped that it'll pass and that's all bluff. Until one morning.
I hate all the people, no matter which idiologie, that are against the defense of europe and ukraine. Be it faar right or faar left, if you are against more defense spending and therefor indipendence and protection from russia, china and USA, you are not on my good side
How can Europe protect itself against the USA?
China, with far more production capabilities than EU, prepares to protect itself from America. At some point, how can Europe defend against that army?
The only realistic and useful defence spending is against Russia.
At some point spending on defence cuts into the budget for progress. How much defence spending is enough that we don't need more?