On 10th March Facebook made temporary changes to its hate speech policy to allow, in certain circumstances, messages such as “death to Russian invaders”. On 14th March Facebook rolled back some, but not all, of the changes. It confirmed that it will not allow calls for the assassination of Russian President Vladimir Putin. It clarified that threats against Russians can only be directed at the Russian military in Ukraine and must be written in Ukrainian.
Can hatred ever be justified? Well, it certainly seems to me that it is entirely justified for Ukrainians to be fighting their invaders and defending their country. I have been deeply impressed by the courage and determination they have shown in this. Big sacrifices have been made, and terrible losses suffered. I find this compelling, and I want to offer support in whatever way I can.
But fighting the invasion is not the same thing as hating Russians. The crucial moral test comes when prisoners are captured. Is their humanity respected? Are their wounds treated? Are their dead respectfully buried? Hatred would reject these things and take revenge. A good moral purpose would do these things, even at some cost and difficulty. And that good moral purpose then cries out so effectively to others, requiring them to support the cause. On 15th March the Ukraine General Staff claimed that the Russians had lost more the 13,800 men. If that is even half true, then ordinary Russian soldiers may yet turn out to be the biggest victims of this most unnecessary war.
In the Church we are profoundly concerned with the overcoming of hatred and evil, and building up of goodness and love. Our model in this is Jesus, who suffered terrible evil at the hands of people who he created and came to save. Evil did its worst too him, and he suffered, died and was buried. But having done its worst, the power of evil was spent so, when Jesus rose from the dead, evil no longer had any power over him. The terrible day on which he died became “Good Friday”, because evil had been defeated, not just for Jesus, but for us too, through Jesus.
We try to make Jesus the pattern for our lives. We too have to take up our cross and follow him (e.g. Matt 16: 24). We often have to suffer for the sake of goodness and love, but it is a suffering that is very worthwhile. Our Holy Week church services help us to learn and follow the pattern of Jesus. On Maundy Thursday (14th April) we remember Jesus at the last supper. On Good Friday (15th April) we remember his suffering and death. Then on Easter Day (17th April) we rejoice in Jesus’s resurrection. We learn to trust that hatred and evil can do their worst, but goodness and love must prevail in the end.
With prayers and best wishes, Fr Patrick
Prayer for Ukraine
Almighty God, we pray for the people of Ukraine.
Help them to defend their country.
We ask that you relieve those who suffer, comfort those who grieve and protect the refugees.
We pray for Russians involved in the conflict.
May we all learn to walk in the way of Jesus,
so that hatred and evil can be overcome, and love and goodness may flourish. Amen.