Welcome to War! ??

Regardless of where on earth you are standing, both literally and figuratively you are in the middle of a war.

Today, we now have two Russian wars. One in Ukraine and one in Russia itself. ??

We have the war I see clearly... That is the war between the powerful and the poor. Money and BS vs hard-working people coping with lies from people they elected. ??

We also have lovely people at war with war itself. Which I honestly have the most compassion for even while I support the fight against the invasion of Ukraine.

WTF?!? ??

In USA I am surrounded by people who are united by our passion for FREEDOM. I love this. We are 300 million strong and we collectively stand for the freedom of people. We are literally from all the other countries on planet Earth.

My close friends in USA simply do not understand why I have been losing my mind over Ukraine. To be honest, I have been very confused about it myself. I am screaming at my dear friends to please start giving a dam about 40 million people that face destruction because of what we call "social economics".

Yes! I understand that putler's regime launched a war against Ukraine. I also understand that 140 countries sided with Ukraine regarding international law. No, I do not understand how people can so easily be manipulated to shift the conversation from (industrial-scale crimes against humanity itself) to (the war in Ukraine)

Maybe... I actually do...?? I grew up in USA. I lived all over this beautiful country as a LATVIAN. I never said "American Latvian" I always said I was Latvian. I celebrated my freedom by telling everyone I am Latvian.

People of every background went straight to hating me because during the cold war there wasn't a Latvia. On maps in USA, there was the Latvian province of Russia. So, in language, Latvian was equal to Russian. People said we stand for freedom and Russia is against freedom and better dead than red. I fought back talking about Latvians. I actually ended up in the hospital many times just fighting for Latvia... Once I had my nose broken. Another time my wrist. Another time a rib. All different states. One person didn't attack me. Groups of people attacked me... just for saying "I am Latvian!"

So... This is how much we hate people we know very little about.

I think... deep down people are thinking of Ukraine as part of Russia. I also think it is just easier to hate people we don't know very well.

When there is a connection between people, it is very difficult to knowingly cause harm to them. For people, this is like cutting ourselves. We are very social creatures and most of us find it extremely hard t hurt or kill another that we are related to. Killing "us" is hard and killing "them" is easy.

Ukraine... is still a "them" in USA. ??

So... dear friends who are honestly against war. Please start the war within which is another war but one worth fighting.?? We... the civilians who are 8 billion people strong can actually get really uncomfortable and start talking on a very real level to everyone else on the internet about getting connected.

What if 8 billion people are standing on a rock spinning in space whom all have the capacity to say "hello" and get connected... just did that? What if we all have a choice to stop wars by deciding we are part of the equation?

I started several conversations with artists from different countries about war and this war and all wars. I am inspired when they tell me how they feel sick inside but not sure why...

I think many of us can see a possibility for global connection but also, at the same time, see the fantastic level of hatred and prejudice we have all inherited from our cultures.

No... I am not asking people to love or hate others. I am asking people just to use the given technology we suddenly have to say "hello" to others in another country. Love and Hate will come naturally as we get related. Honestly, we will experience both love and hate with people as we authentically get to know each other.

Welcome to the war within if you accept this invitation... ??