The news about Malaysia Airlines’ plane, which was hit by a rocket in Ukraine, has spread around the world rapidly on Thursday afternoon. This news made the world shake and made people finally realize how dangerous and important the conflict in Ukraine is. This conflict was left long in the shadows of indifference and ignorance. It seems that only now people, as if they were suddenly woken from a lethargy, understood that no matter where you are from and how far you are form Ukraine, you can still be affected by the conflict. People from different countries and nationalities were flying on that plane, causing a lot of pain to the families of the victims around the world.
The plane was shot around midday, while many people in the UK where about to have their lunch or were enjoying the sun in the park. The leaders of every country should take responsibility for not doing enough to neutralize the conflict and letting Russia interfere with Ukraine’s politics. Not only the leaders, but the civilian people as well should take responsibility for not having their say and being indifferent to Ukraine’s problems. Hopefully the people who are behind this tragedy will be found and will get the punishment they deserve. It is sad that in 2014, when we are commemorating the centenary of the beginning of the First World War, we are allowing these kinds of massacres to happen. Humanity is not learning the mistakes of the past.
History has a sad habit of repeating itself and the way everything is happening now, it seems that it can lead us to a new conflict, which will be destructive to both the contemporary world order and basic human values. The situation in Ukraine has to be resolved urgently by applying sanctions to Russia and reducing its influence over the Ukrainians.
The world should stop for a second and think where this situation can lead us. War, of any kind, does not bring peace. This is proven by history and devastating memories of the First and Second World Wars. We should listen to the lessons of the past and avoid making the same mistakes. And the past speaks clearly. It speaks against brutality and conflicts. Today it is worth to remember the words of Nelson Mandela:
‘What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.’
July 18 is the 96th birthday of Nelson Mandela, a fighter for freedom and a peaceful world:
‘For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.’
At first, the freedom of the Ukrainian people was violated by the Russians, and now the freedom to live was taken away from the innocent people on the Malaysia Airlines’ plane.
Are we learning anything at all? Hopefully the tragedy, which has no explanation and justification, will make the leaders of the world wake up and rapidly tackle the conflict in Ukraine together with Russia’s aggressive foreign policy, which threatens the freedom of humanity.
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