“Might not does not make it right.”
“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”
Taking a stand for the right, defending truth, honor, and peace and the other positive values that allow people to live and flourish without hurting or harming others, is the mark of a courageous person. History was always ever against the fence-sitter.
During World War II, Nazi Germany, under the leadership of warmonger Adolf Hitler, killed around 17 million people, the majority of whom were Jews (six million).
By no stretch of logic or reason can anyone justify killing millions for their religion, ethnicity, race, or other such factor, much less wage war on a sovereign country just because they wanted to join NATO or move their politics toward a democratic model.
Anyone who objects to how others, who are not under their jurisdiction, live their lives is an authoritarian, and if that objection were translated into aggression, that makes them a killer.
What Russia – specifically, Putin and his cohorts, because many of his countrymen repudiate this war – is doing now in Ukraine is nothing short of murder. Ukraine did nothing to provoke aggression, by any normal reckoning; this war is the knee-jerk response of a megalomaniac who fears democracy because it will mean the end of his stranglehold rule in Russia.
That is why the neutral stance toward Russia of some prominent persons in our society is disturbing. It shows that they allow evil to have its sway without even raising their voices in censure.
It takes a strong leader, morally upright and guided by the right principles and values, to uphold good and stare down evil, just as Manuel L. Quezon did. During his presidency, the Philippines welcomed some 1,200 Jews fleeing Nazi persecution. Historian Dr. Ria Sunga wrote, “…the Philippines became a haven for Jews when many countries rejected them.”
If the Philippines were invaded by a foreign country – let’s say, by one of our biggest neighbors in Asia – would those fence-sitters still think the same? Would they still want others to remain neutral, or send help? If the leaders of other countries thought as they did, then no one would come to our aid, because they are “not involved.” It’s easy to stay dissociated when it’s not happening to you.
The ASEAN also sidestepped the issue, neither condemning Russia or calling its actions against Ukraine an “invasion.” Only Singapore and Indonesia hit Moscow directly. The former stated that it will impose sanctions, such as the suspension of exports of items that could be used as weapons in Ukraine, and block some banking and financial transactions connected to Russia, following the move of some Western countries. Southeast Asia expert Zachary Abuza called this “rare leadership from Southeast Asia.”
While the Philippines did not directly hit Putin either, it said that it “expresses explicit condemnation of the invasion of Ukraine,” and reminded the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) that “all States enjoy the right to full sovereignty in all their areas of jurisdiction” and strongly urged the implementation of the 1982 Manila Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of International Disputes.
The country voted ‘yes’ to a resolution condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine during a rare UNGA emergency session, but according to President Duterte, the Philippines will stay neutral on the conflict for fear of nuclear attack.
Many Filipinos do not agree with the neutral stance, and one political candidate, who earlier said, as did his running mate, that the country should not be involved, later backpedaled and called for Russia to “respect” Ukraine’s freedom – only after some days and much internet backlash.
Might does not make it right, and may we have the discernment to realize this. It takes a backbone to stand and be counted to take a position on any issue. Come May 9, vote for the leaders who have the spine and guts to call out wrong as wrong.
To look upon suffering and injustice without taking a side is to allow evil to triumph. Slava Ukraini! Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!
*** FB and Twitter: @DrJennyO