In history there is a very distinct parallel to what is transpiring in the Donbass (Novo Russia) region. During the 13 th century the Golden Horde led by the Great Khan pushed westward unchallenged toward Europe. Before the conquest of Russia began, the then Czar sent letters to Europe requesting support to meet what was considered an unstoppable army: the Golden Horde left destruction in its wake wherever it went.
When Christian Europe didn't answer, the Russian people came to the conclusion they had to meet what was considered the greatest army of its day. The Czar of Russia sent one final letter to Europe. I came across this letter when I was writing a book on how philosophy, religion, and politics intersect through history, and how that shaped the modern world in and through America today. That was 5 years ago.
This
particular letter wasn't used as part of the material for the book,
but it has haunted me all these years for its sentiment and the
history surrounding it. Indirect quote from memory: Letter from the
Czar of Russia to the Leaders of Europe and the Catholic Church;
We
have sent letters and you have not answered, and still they (the
Golden Horde) come. We the Russian people will fight and stand to the
last man. We will sacrifice our nation and our people. We alone
stand and defend the world and the Church of Jesus Christ from the
greatest of evils. We will not run. We will not fail. Let this letter
be kept as a memorial of the Russian people forever.
In
the history of warfare, this victory is still unparalleled. It has
never been repeated. Twenty thousand Huns of the Golden Horde
destroyed an eighty thousand man Russian army. Russia was destroyed.
Directly after this, the Huns prepared to push further west into
Europe. Pope Leo sent letters to the Khan requesting that they stop.
The Huns complied. Europe was spared by the Huns, while Russia was
betrayed by Europe.
The
Russians spent the next 200 years as slaves to the Huns. During this
time they learned their style of warfare, perfected it, and used the
improved techniques to destroy their captors. What is called the
Russian spirit in Eastern Europe and the Russian east is derived
directly from this crucible of fire the letter describes and the
ascent back to sovereignty. Russia went from being a country to
becoming an undividable nation during this event and through the
following centuries. This history is what binds the Russian people.
It is their pride and resolve, as with every nation tested by
history. Most fail or forget.
In
the US while we thankfully haven't gone through such an ordeal as a
nation, in our short history we developed our own parallels. The
rapid developments at the beginning of the last century tried us as a
nation, both in resolve and in courage. It renewed our relationship
with Russia which is as old as our country. Russia supported the colonies during the American revolution. Russia sent fleets to blockade the English from our harbors when the British were trying to intervene in our Civil War. In WW2 we sent our greatest generation
to help stop the greatest menace the world has known until now: the
3 rd Reich.
We resolved as a nation that we would help defend the world.
We
renewed our relationship with Russia (Soviet Union) and had air bases
in Poltava with the Soviets. We fought both the air and ground war
together. We bombed Germany together. For the time we were there we
fought Bandera and the German threat together. It was Bandera who
attacked our bases in Poltava and elsewhere in Ukraine. Because of
this, our wartime president Franklin D. Roosevelt refused their
immigration and communication requests. Because of this, the ultra
nationalist Ukrainians in exile branded president Roosevelt a
communist and therefore an enemy.
Americans can read, understand, and feel the heart tug in the contents of that
letter from the Russian Czar to Europe in the same way Russians can.
Our people lived within that level of sentiment. We also stood up to
help protect a world. Different terms are used for people like this
depending on your location in the country. My preference is to call
someone a Good
Cowboy .
The term conveys our history and our myth. It's used for people who actively try to do and defend what's right. It denotes a person who won't trample where they don't belong and doesn't back down where they do, consequences be damned! This is also a tenet of the Christian faith that Christian America seems to have forgotten.
Slavyansk-Snowy-Odessa
-Mariupol-the Crucible
The events in each of these cities started with holiday massacres. Each has been a trial for all residents. Today what they call the Russian Spirit has been renewed once again in a crucible of fire. The determination and resolve expressed in that letter has risen again. The courage and patience necessary to go through this trial burns again; not in Russia, but New Russia (Novo Russia).
The
sentiment of the people who stayed behind conveys the resolve. Many
people feel betrayed because of the way Russia intimated support for
the start of the Republic in the beginning. There
are no pro-Russian separatists. They are a Russian people and part of
the Russian world (ethnicity). Until it became deadly in
Donbass, they were also good citizens of Ukraine. Donbass has been
the driving force behind the economy in Ukraine all these years.
One
woman summed it up it this way- Ukraine doesn't want us
because we are not Ukrainian enough. Russia doesn't want us because
we are not Russian enough. We are alone. We are unwanted. But
we will win.
People are grateful for the humanitarian help Russia has provided but feel alone and betrayed in their struggle to live. Their great crime is being part of the greater Russian world. That part is still incomprehensible to many people.
Many say they do not want to be a burden on their families in Russia, so they can't leave. But neither can t hey be part of a Nazi Ukraine. Another persons perspective- Regardless of the outcome we are in Novo Russia- adding quickly: "We want to live so we had better win. We have no choice."
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