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YEAS AND NEAS: Russian tanks continue to roll through Georgia
by Eileen Smolyar
Columnists | 9/9/08
Posted online at 3:28 AM EST on 9/9/08
On the same day as the opening ceremony of the Summer Olympics, Russia and Georgia engaged in open combat. The Olympics are meant to promote peace and are not meant to be held during a time of war. Having come from a war-torn nation-I was born in Baku, Azerbaijan-I have some understanding of the distress of war and painful decisions it is necessary to make when choosing to flee a besieged homeland.
When the Soviet tanks rolled through the Caucasus Mountains during one of the many bitter fights in Azerbaijan, my family decided that enough was enough and that it was time to emigrate. I send my prayers to the victims of the horrors of what must be transpiring on the ground there and cannot help but wonder what I could do to aid the people affected in the region.
A country that you once thought belonged to you can be destroyed by an authoritarian whim. I am deeply hurt by the unjustified elevation of violence and war, by the catastrophic death toll and by the thousands of displaced refugees, many of whom are Jews. The event strikes a nerve in my heart and deserves our attention and aid.
The territories of South Ossetia and Tbilisi in Georgia have provoked conflict with territory-mad Russia for quite some time. Especially since Georgia entered discussions with NATO, Russia has been increasingly infuriated with its former satellite state as it eagerly looks westward and transforms into an independent society.
The seriousness of the latest crisis should make clear that if such actions aren't nipped in the bud, then there is potential for another sphere-of-power struggle reminiscent of the Cold War. Another example of Russian territory fervor is the nation's recent claim that it owns a portion of the North Pole.
This act-now-and-pay-later approach is neither democratic nor considerate to the rest of the world. Russia is showing that it has no concern for what the world thinks. Its actions in Georgia speak louder than any words about its pseudodemocracy. Though the parties did manage a preliminary cease-fire between Aug. 14 and 16-with outside intervention- thousands of Russian troops still remain on the territory.
When the Soviet tanks rolled through the Caucasus Mountains during one of the many bitter fights in Azerbaijan, my family decided that enough was enough and that it was time to emigrate. I send my prayers to the victims of the horrors of what must be transpiring on the ground there and cannot help but wonder what I could do to aid the people affected in the region.
A country that you once thought belonged to you can be destroyed by an authoritarian whim. I am deeply hurt by the unjustified elevation of violence and war, by the catastrophic death toll and by the thousands of displaced refugees, many of whom are Jews. The event strikes a nerve in my heart and deserves our attention and aid.
The territories of South Ossetia and Tbilisi in Georgia have provoked conflict with territory-mad Russia for quite some time. Especially since Georgia entered discussions with NATO, Russia has been increasingly infuriated with its former satellite state as it eagerly looks westward and transforms into an independent society.
The seriousness of the latest crisis should make clear that if such actions aren't nipped in the bud, then there is potential for another sphere-of-power struggle reminiscent of the Cold War. Another example of Russian territory fervor is the nation's recent claim that it owns a portion of the North Pole.
This act-now-and-pay-later approach is neither democratic nor considerate to the rest of the world. Russia is showing that it has no concern for what the world thinks. Its actions in Georgia speak louder than any words about its pseudodemocracy. Though the parties did manage a preliminary cease-fire between Aug. 14 and 16-with outside intervention- thousands of Russian troops still remain on the territory.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Eileen
posted 9/09/08 @ 11:56 AM EST
I've got people asking what the website address is to send donations, and for your reference it is www.ujc.org.
Thanks!
George Patsourakos
posted 9/11/08 @ 4:45 PM EST
TheUnited States needs to be extremely vigilant in its relations with Russia, as there appears to be a renewed Russian effort to colonize foreign terrirories. (Continued…)
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