The most popular conversation among young men in my class at Moffat County High School, and perhaps others across the country, is World War III.
“Coach, do you think you will be drafted?” “Do you think they will use nuclear bombs?” “What do you think we would do if Russia did not stop the attack on Ukraine?” Will you fight, coach? “
General questions and general concerns about less common events in the lives of most high school seniors. We have all experienced some important, and sometimes earth-destroying, global conflicts that affect them in ways they did not have to worry about before the invasion of Russia. Ukraine seems to be attracting the attention of American teenagers because of the possibility.
When I asked the young people who decided to join the army after graduating from high school, they said they weren’t too worried. If it was one of my sons, they must have insider information. I was worried, scared, and a little crazy. But, according to wisdom, at this point in the “conflict” between Ukraine and Russia, no one on this side of the sea should be immediately worried about the imminent draft or the expansion of the US military (but it’s all pretty rapid). May change to).
But when I talk to some of the international students, they have some different ideas about what is happening in their area of the world. Two students from Spain consider Putin to be a “crazy man”. However, students coming to Craig from Poland have other concerns and concerns about what would happen if the war spilled over into her country. She is worried that she is not around her family, but she is at odds because she knows she is safe where she is.
The fight in half the world has influenced our attitude and spirit to dispel concerns about global pandemics, and we are now hit by this kind of news. It’s easy to say that fighting around the world is not always in agreement and is part of living in the world of people who have different ideas about what constitutes a normal life. The common values of our NATO alliance should provide some reassurance and a strong voice to the values of freedom and democracy.
We can help groups that are organizing to help those affected by this war and say a lot about what we are doing, but look at the news and tell us It’s strange and anxious to know that there’s really nothing you can do, except to watch one man make a choice that has a spillover effect on the whole world. It is worth considering how our choices and decisions affect the people around us.
Hopefully war, and more war rumors, what are our shared values, and how we make words like freedom and democracy more than just a point of discussion. Start reopening the conversation about what to use for. Future History — Pray for the best results.
