Freedom Fighters

Another day of winter for PFT today, but no liquid sunshine.

Pax: Poacher, Berry, Josey, Schlitz, Witch Doctor, Capn’ D, Ostertag, Aruba, Felix, Squirrel

BEAT DOWN & DOWN PAINMENT

Warm up:

Mucho Chesto

Stretching

1 mile boxtrot

Round 1 (880)

• 1x 880 m run
• 1x 440 m boxtrot
• 1x 880m run
• 1x 440m boxtrot

Round 2 (Push Ups)

• 220m run
• 20x pull ups
• 220m boxtrot
• 220m run
• 20x pull ups
• 220m boxtrot


Announcements: Men’s Fraternity, session #3 occurs on Wednesday. Mentorship tonight at Shadowlawn.

Prayer: Cap’n D led us out in prayer. A special note of prayer for Neo’s brother, Poacher’s sister-in-law, and the people of Ukraine.

Moleskine: A note of reflection on the current Ukraine crisis.

      Most of us (the free world) have been dismayed, disappointed, shocked, and disgusted by Russia’s attack and invasion into the Ukraine. Despite Russia’s unprovoked aggression, we see real life examples of leadership (from the front & by example), valor, a thirst for freedom, and the will to prevail against seemingly insurmountable odds. Sound familiar? It should. After all many similarities to our founding fathers’ fight for freedom in the 1770s.

      While not a revolution, Ukrainians discovered the benefits, trials, challenges, and obligations of a democracy. As with our own, this was not always clean. The Ukrainians have people across the ideological and political spectrum, some even extreme to advocate for neo-naziism, even after the horrors of World War II. With all of its flaws, the most unlikely of people rose to lead this nation in a deadly neighborhood – a former comedian and actor, a jew, whose family was almost exterminated by the Nazis of World War II. Despite his lack of military training or hardening, he remains with his people, warriors, and nation at its most vulnerable time and at mortal danger to himself and his family. He leads with inspiring words of wisdom and actions that galvanize his people and people around the world. This is leadership.

      In similar fashion, our own founding fathers led with similar convictions to prevail against the superpower of the day. King George, like Putin, believed that he would simply send his military forces against an inferior force, roll over any resistance, and subjugate those same colonists indefinitely. He, like Putin, did not count on the power of the taste of freedom and the will to prevail at all costs, even if that meant the lives of these men and their families. In their day, our founding fathers wore targets on their tunics, enemy #1 for the British and subject to immediate execution without remorse or trial upon identification and capture. As with Putin, King George did not count on small victories playing into the colonists prevailing in the long run. After all, Washington retained less than 200 fighters in Trenton in 1776. Without their victory and withdrawal to continue to fight, the revolution likely would have ended at that place in that year. Other nations provided arms, training, and advice, but failed to directly intervene, mostly due to calculation about their own geopolitical balance of power. Nonetheless, Washington’s small successes, charisma and will garnered international support that helped the colonists prevail.

      If you haven’t watched or read the news about the Russians’ invasion of Ukraine, tune into a couple of different news outlets. Regardless of attitude toward events that caused the conflict, few will deny the real leadership and example that Ukrainians demonstrate against the Russian aggressor. For the first time in many years, our politicians are generally unified in condemnation of the Russians and praise for the Ukrainians. Perhaps more interesting is the international support to isolate Russia and provide as much aid (minus direct military support) to the Ukraine. This represents a classic David and Goliath story and the Russians are clearly losing the information warfare campaign.

      Where am I going with all of this? In a world, where many are most concerned about their wallet or next best vacation, know that the Philistines and Goliath will always seek to destroy and occupy those neighbors they deem weaker and inferior. It is easy to lose sight of the wolf at the door after generations of prosperity, but the world has been, is, and will likely remain full of wolves, ready to pounce when they believe the time is right. We must remain strong, resolute, and prepared to defend democracy…the largest threat to autocracy and oppression.

      As a lifelong professional Soldier, I am struck by Ukraine’s citizens’ leadership and will to defend their homeland and way of life. We should only be so brave and committed if we shared similar shoes.