LSU students Dora Rasulova, left, of Uzbekistan, and Violeta Kovalemko, right, of Ukraine, carry the flag of Ukraine as they march with others on the steps of the State Capitol during a demonstation to show support for Ukraine, which is at war with Russia, Tuesday, March 1, 2022. Jake Muriillo, an American from New Orleans, is just behind them, at center. ORG XMIT: BAT2203011100140815 I recently returned from my fourth trip to the region, and second to Ukraine, since Russia's unlawful invasion in February 2022.
My trip this time around was filled with an array of emotions including happiness, sadness and inspiration. First, it is not easy to find happiness when a country and its people are being bombed on a daily basis by a brutal dictator. Yet, I along with my youngest daughter Svetlana, who was born in Ukraine, watched young Ukrainian boys and girls smile, sing and dance, all while being part of a 36-member delegation afforded the opportunity to enjoy summer camp in both Ukraine and the United States.
I was honored to have created and led this initiative, which also included the purchase of sports equipment for the Ukrainian camp and funding for youth to attend sports competitions outside of Ukraine. It was truly amazing to watch these kids just be kids again for a few weeks, despite the horrific war they and their families are all living through. Many of these youth are residing in the most dangerous parts of Ukraine, forced to take safety in bomb shelters on an almost daily basis.
Svetlana and I played soccer, broke bread and continuously hugged each and every one of these kids. The Ukrainian youth were eager to hear about life in America and I am confident I convinced at least a few of them, despite being soccer fans, to cheer for our Black and Gold. Arnie Fielkow, photographed in 2015, is leading a group that hopes to build a stadium in the Upper 9th Ward with a mix of public and private money.
It was also incredibly sad to know how much death, destruction and disruption of life these youngsters have already personally experienced and what still awaits them. While kids in America prepare for a new school year, Ukrainian youth know that returning to their home towns brings daily missile and drone attacks and a constant fear no child should ever have to endure. Regrettably, these are the horrible effects of war, and what Putin and the Russian leadership have so brutally brought upon the Ukrainian people.
Ukrainian families have been torn apart as most of the youth's fathers and brothers are away serving in the military to protect their country. Most Ukrainian fighters are not professional military men and women, but rather average citizens-teachers, retailers, nurses or the like who answered the call to preserve and protect their country. How does one not admire such people? The courage, strength, resiliency and kindness of the Ukrainians continues to inspire me.
Despite being very different situations, it reminds me of New Orleanians and what we collectively experienced with Hurricane Katrina. They will not let Ukraine be defeated by a brutal enemy, no different than New Orleanians proudly proclaiming in 2005 that the Crescent City would undoubtedly get back on her feet. I had the opportunity during my visit to meet with both elected leaders and military officials, and asked them what they would like to say to Americans.
In answering, they universally thanked the United States and its citizens for our collective support of Ukraine. They greatly admire the principles which form the basis of our democracy, and wanted us to know Ukrainians are doing their very best to defend freedom. Finally, the entire Ukrainian people are closely following the US Presidential and Congressional elections and what may transpire come November.
Irrespective of whether one is a Democrat or Republican, my hope and prayer is that we continue to support the courageous Ukrainian people and understand that the existing global evil found in Russia and Iran can never be allowed to prevail. We in America are still viewed by others around the globe as the nation of hope and opportunity. As President Joe Biden often says, "We are the greatest and most powerful nation mankind has ever known.
" Let us learn from history that isolationism and appeasement are losing strategies, and that it is incumbent upon all of us to assist those who so desperately need us. In my faith, there is a phrase, "Tikkun Olam", which translates into "repairing the world." Let us all continue to support Ukraine and help repair our world by bringing a just peace to its citizenry.
Slava Ukraini — Glory to Ukraine!.
