Do you hear the people sing?
Singing a song of angry men?
It is the music of a people
Who will not be slaves again!
When the beating of your heart
Echoes the beating of the drums
There is a life about to start
When tomorrow comes!
Will you join in our crusade?
Who will be strong and stand with me?
Beyond the barricade
Is there a world you long to see?
So join in the fight
That will give you the right to be free.
Do you hear the people sing?
Singing a song of angry men?
It is the music of a people
Who will not be slaves again!
When the beating of your heart
Echoes the beating of the drums
There is a life about to start
When tomorrow comes!
-------------------------------------
Two months ago thousands and thousands of protestors barricaded themselves inside the streets around Independence Square after the government suspended talks with the European Union.
They have been protesting ever since.
Camping inside the barricades.
They want to be heard.
There have been some clashes with the police but for the most part the protesting has been peaceful.
Last week the government passed laws that made criminal everything the protestors are doing. This includes wearing face masks, helmets, building stages in public places, setting up tents, driving in groups of five or more cars, speaking out against the government, using social media to speak out against the government and accepting money from organizations funded by outside governments or foundations.
The laws were passed by a show of hands. Not by private ballot. A show of hands.
The penalties for breaking any of these laws is harsh.
The protestors are digging in with their rocks and sticks and homemade weapons.
They want to be heard.
The government is moving in with their trucks and tear gas and snipers on buildings and a vast assortment of military weapons.
I'm afraid.
This is real.
I walked those streets.
All the pictures above are mine.
Pictures of barricades and tents and burn barrels and people.
People.
Young. Old. Mothers. Fathers. Grandfathers. Grandmothers. Men. Women. Children.
Wanting their voices to be heard.
Our family is tied to that country.
Our youngest has dual citizenship until he is 18.
It matters to us what happens there.
Please pray.
Pray that it is not too late for a peaceful resolution.
I am afraid.
Well said Julia, these pictures just break my heart....I loved walking these beautiful streets and hope to take my daughter back one day so she can enjoy them too. This country has been through so much, and they deserve much better. Praying for a peaceful ending.
ReplyDeleteI am praying for peace with you.
ReplyDeleteJulia, I received an email from Chris and Mary Malone today about the situation in Ukraine. If you want me to forward it to you, I can. If you want it can you email at t_ellis_2001@yahoo.ca because I don't want to mail it if you already have it or don't want it. (It's not good news.)
T. Ellis
Julia, regarding my last comment. I don't have the original email from the Malones anymore. (I had been debating forwarding it to your email, but deleted that email and it didn't save the original email.)
ReplyDeleteI can forward further information I get from them if you would like.
T. Ellis
PS - I am already praying about your next Mulligan's Stew. I am trying to think about what I can give, too. Are you interested at all in Canadian gift cards? While it may enlarge the donor base, it may make it more unnecessarily complicated. What kind of gifts would be your dream gifts given out? t_ellis_2001@yahoo.ca