We know that after World War II, most Germans denied knowing what had happened. Specifically, they denied knowing what had happened to European Jews: that by the millions they had been arrested, interned, tortured, and murdered. Jews from Germany and from most other countries in Europe, from East to West, from North to South.
The story outside Germany was somewhat similar. Most Americans said after the war they had no idea during the war that Jews were being systematically eliminated. While Germans’ pleas of “I didn’t know” were not generally persuasive, Americans who claimed ignorance were more convincing. In most cases were good reasons Americans did not know the Nazis were responsible for genocide, especially during the period 1942 to 1945.
While we cannot now say how the war in Ukraine will end, what we can say now is that times have changed. We all know what is happening in Ukraine – which is precisely why we have become more involved in this bloody European conflict than in any that preceded it.
People with no obvious sources of power and authority – ordinary citizens – now feel entitled and emboldened to speak up and speak out. Partly this is the result of practice – social media give voice to anyone with anything at all to say. And partly this is the result of leaders deprived of their previous authority. In liberal democracies particularly, people no longer trust or admire their leaders, which is why we think ourselves the equal of those positioned as our superiors.
Changing technologies reinforce the changing culture. Give a person a voice that might resonate, chances are good that voice will be employed. I would not be writing this piece if I did not think someone would read it – someone from outside my immediate circle. Moreover, no expert, no pooh-bah, will edit or vet my prose. To get my piece “published” I need no one’s approval or assistance.
One of the reasons why Russia has performed poorly in recent weeks is the remarkable level of support Ukrainians have received from people who are not Ukrainian – and who never before had anything remotely to do with Ukraine. In the West at least, countless millions are as furious as anxious that Goliath has threatened to destroy David for no good or obvious reason. Why are we so furious, so anxious? Because unlike during the Second World War we are not ignorant – nor can we possibly plead, ever, ignorance. In the West every sentient person – including every sentient American – is at least remotely aware of what is happening on Europe’s eastern flank.
- Since the invasion, the calamity in Ukraine has dominated the American news cycle.
- Since the invasion, Americans have been flying Ukrainian flags by the hundreds of thousands, from coast to coast.
- Since the invasion, some 400 American companies have pulled out of Russia, either ending their business in Russia altogether or sharply curtailing it.
- Since the invasion, one in four Americans have opened their wallets to respond to the crisis.
- Since the invasion, hundreds of thousands of Americans have volunteered digitally to assist the Ukrainian war effort – to hack Russian government and military targets.
- Since the invasion, the U. S. government has approved an enormous spending package to support the Ukrainian war effort. As of mid-March, the total figure was $13.6 billion, some of the money going to weapons transfers and to support more U.S. troops in Europe; and some to economic warfare and humanitarian aid.
Whatever bad is happening to Russia on the battlefield is being exaggerated and exacerbated by what is happening to Russia off the battlefield. This is a war unlike any other in the history of Europe. It is being fought not just by raw power – but by moral suasion. This time we know we don’t need a gun to fight the good fight. This time we know we have other arrows in our quiver.