“Lebensraum… is impossible without invading other countries or attacking other people’s possessions. Further successes can no longer be attained without shedding of blood. It is a question of expanding our living space…” – Hitler.
“When at last the cat woke, the bunny asked her friend, who was much older, ‘Where do we go when we die?’ The cat said, ‘No one knows. But we are all the same as each other, because we all ask this question and wonder.’ The little bunny thought about it, then she said, ‘Is there something nice about dying, about no longer around?’ The cat said, ‘Before you were born, you were not around either. Was it nicer then?’” – Sheila Heti, A Garden of Creatures.
By Rey Moreno
Bombs fall down while the children sleep
The evil man doublespeaks in his arrogant manner; while the old man brings his democratic alliances together. I warn you, says the old man, you’ll pay a heavy price. Bring it on, the evil man retorts, you may be surprised. So in the early dawn of late February, while the children sleep, massive bombs explode in the country called Ukraine. The evil man justifies his invasion a special military operation, a denazification campaign of Jews who rule the land. But how can a Jew be a Nazi, said Zelenskyy, the president. You must think of us as naïve and stupid. You are underestimating us. We will fight you till the end!
While the children sleep bombs fall down from the sky like rain. There is no distinction of target: civilian sites are a fair game. Buildings collapse, streets littered with debris and dead bodies. Cities and towns obliterated; people starve and die. The evil man says everything is going according to plan. Let us erase these people who can speak Russian but are not real Russians. We own the land and it is about time to kick them out. Come what may we will win! For the West is weak and that old man has a fractured country to run. Sanctions are not effective; we have oil revenues. Our economy is strong. We will survive. Glory to all Russians!
The bombs continue to fall while the children sleep. We cannot remain and die. Flee to other lands and hope for their kindness. Open your borders and ease our pain. We beg you for your mercy. Come to Poland we will take care of you. You can stay as long as you like. Other countries did the same. Refugees they become; lives suspended and displaced. It does not bother the evil man. The better they leave their country, the easier for us to conquer. Let us continue the invasion. Time will be on our side. The West cannot sustain their unity. In the end we will prevail. Our people will honour us for what we have done. Glory to us O great Russians!
The children sleep while bombs explode everywhere. We are fighting like hell to save our independence and democracy. The West applauds our valour. They provide us weapons and watch us fight and die. They cannot do more, afraid to expand the war. Some day when you get your NATO membership, we will be there for you. That is a promise but right now do fight on your own. Here are more weapons as you requested. Thank you, said Zelenskyy, we will never forget how you just stood by. The evil man gets mad. I tell you, you will suffer consequences. I cannot be humiliated nor stopped. My people love me, O mighty Russia in my heart and mind!
The bombs keep coming while the children sleep. The evil man changes his war strategy. He appoints General Dvornikov, the Butcher of Syria, to be in charge. Donbas is the new target. Let us pulverize Mariupol; fully liberate Severodonetsk. Let us grind our way to victory. Get it done people. Your glory awaits you. Hear O hear, you mighty Putin. You are as strong as a bull. We are proud to serve you. Your personal ambition of Russian empire inspires us. We cannot fail you. Don’t forget to call on Mama when I die. She deserves to know. And don’t forget to provide her with pension. Don’t just promise O mighty Ruler of the Russian Empire!
The children cannot sleep because of the raining bombs. They, too, suffer in their innocence. I ask the great Putin how he can ever
sleep, knowing young lives are blown to smithereens. The evil man shrugs, he says, just the cost of war, nothing to be so moral about it. I cannot believe how dismissive he is, a man without conscience. He continues, a ruler must be ruthless for what is best for the country. If you cannot stomach deaths, destructions and violence, you have no business to rule. Governing is not for the weak; tough decisions must be made. Sacrifices for the greater glory are called for. I am building an empire so Russia will forever be great!
Bombs keep coming while the children try to sleep. They ask, when will these stop. When will the evil Putin realize he cannot win. How can French President Macron say let us not humiliate Putin further. This war is not about the bruising of egos. So many of our people have died; lives destroyed. Why is a one man’s insanity be saved from embarrassment. We may be young and ignorant of the ways of the world. Yet we still can sense what is right or wrong. What is Macron after. A Nobel Prize award as a peacemaker. We cannot forget and forgive. The evil Putin is the aggressor. If he loses, we will never shed a tear for him. We think he deserves to die!
It’s been more than hundred days when the Russian invasion began. Still there is no end in sight especially in Donbas region. The Russians are much in control of the territory. Ukrainians go on fighting at a great loss of brave soldiers. Don’t stop caring. Evil must not prevail. Putin cannot win again. We have the will to fight for all of us freedom-loving people. Stay the course, keep on helping us. We don’t ask for this to happen to us. But the evil man has targeted our country for no reason, except his misplaced interpretation of history. And for that we have to be erased with bombs falling down like rain, day after day, while our children only wanted to sleep!
9 June 2022