What is a good war? (Sabong News)

The whole world watched in horror and dismay when the president of Russia, Vladimir Putin, invaded Ukraine. We watched in shock at the utter destruction and deaths that the indefensible war has wrought on an independent, peaceful country minding its own business. Immediately it brought to mind the Temptations song, “War,” which goes: “War, huh, What is it good for? Absolutely nothing. War I despise ’Cause it means destruction of innocent lives, War means tears to thousands of mothers’ eyes When their sons go off to fight and lose their lives. War, it’s nothing but a heartbreaker, War, friendly only to the undertaker, War is an enemy to all mankind.” That’s exactly what’s happening now in Ukraine. Death and destruction as well as wholesale displacement of millions of war refugees streaming into neighboring countries, sparking another massive humanitarian crisis. The entire world, except for North Korea, China, India, and a few others beholden to Russia, has condemned the attack in no uncertain terms. Harsh economic sanctions will hurt the people of Russia as well as the countries that have imposed it, for we are all connected in the global economy. The only hopeful thing that has come out of it, other than the above wholesale condemnation, is the rise of Volodymyr Zelensky, president of Ukraine, to the status of an iconic hero. He who, when offered free passage and asylum in the face of the rapidly advancing Russian forces, said, “The fight is here. I need ammunition, not a ride.” That IS powerful! He has rallied the Ukrainians to the defense of their motherland. Almost to the last man, able-bodied males have stayed behind while their mothers, wives, and children have fled for safer havens. We are seeing on TV how they have stood their ground unarmed, blocking Russian forces with only their bodies. President Zelensky has stood resolute, holing up in Kiev and sending out videos of himself, unshaven, in fatigues or plain T-shirt, urging fellow Ukrainians to hold fast and asking Western powers to send more arms and impose a no-fly zone in Ukraine. None of these is happening and I fear the worst for the gallant Ukrainians as they face continuing bombardment. But come what may, Zelensky has immortalized himself in the mold of Sparta’s 300 and will be remembered in history forever. Why? Because as presidential contender Vice President Leni Robredo said during the CNN forum, “A leader shows up in the most difficult times. If you don’t show up during the most difficult times, you’re not a leader.” Zelensky has more than showed up. He is facing the overwhelmingly superior Russian forces defiantly and is willing to die for his country. Wars are a test of character. Although I haven’t personally been in a war, having been born six years after World War II ended, I do remember my mother’s stories about my father (who did not want to talk about his exploits or actions with me). Before the war erupted, he had befriended a lowly Japanese man selling “taho” in the streets of Lucena. The taho vendor, when the war broke out, turned out to be a colonel in the Japanese Imperial Army, sent as advanced guard by his superiors. When our family returned to Lucena after the Japanese had consolidated their control of the town and were more civilized in their actions, this Japanese officer offered my father the exclusive rights to be the rice dealer of the province. Anyone else would have grabbed the great opportunity, but my father politely turned him down, saying he couldn’t profit from the misery of others by selling rice at a markup when everyone was suffering. This story was so telling of my father’s character, for which I admired him deeply and vowed to emulate his integrity and follow in his footsteps. He again showed it when, after a huge fire had leveled almost the entire Lucena, the city council blamed the Chinoys for starting the fire. It wanted to pass an ordinance banning them from the city but exempted my family due to my father’s good standing in the community. He could have just shrugged his shoulders and accepted the offer. But again, no, he went to the city council and pleaded, successfully, for the rest of the Chinese community to be reinstated within the city limits. War stories show the strength of character that makes you always look to the Polestar, the true North. So yes, my father is my Pole Star, and I will never stray far. What is a good war? Absolutely none. But you see the stuff men and women are made of during these difficult times. A good man or woman always shows up and stands up to be counted. They show up, come hell,  high water or traffic obstructions thrown by enemy forces. You hitch a ride on a motorcycle, like Leni did. You get my drift.