The world longs to learn the lessons history teaches

For students of history, May 8 should be framed in the context of a joyous occasion, commemorating the 77th anniversary of the fall of Nazi Germany, bringing an end to a war in Europe that cost tens of millions of lives.

In the United States and Great Britain, May 8 has been celebrated as “V-E Day,” short for Victory in Europe, marking a military triumph of epic proportions.

In the former Soviet Union, the end of World War II in the European Continent came a day later on May 9, 1945, when the official document of surrender was signed by German authorities in Soviet-controlled Berlin.

However you prefer to slice it, the anniversary has evoked memories of the horror of World War II and the millions of lives lost, while also serving as a reminder of the sacrifices made in protection of fundamental freedoms.

Last week, as Victory Day was celebrated across Russia highlighted by a grand parade through Moscow’s Red Square, the world was watching, trying to reconcile the pomp and circumstance with the reality of Russian war crimes being played out almost simultaneously on the Ukrainian stage.

The irony of it all was as tragic as it was thick.

On the one hand, a meticulously planned parade featuring an elaborate display of Russian military might with a corresponding call-to-arms to rid Ukraine of “Nazi filth.”

On the other, television and newspaper images of the truly sinister side of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, pushed by a false narrative meant to justify mass killings, indiscriminate bombings, and widespread terror.Seventy-seven years ago, the world appeared to be on the verge of a new order, one free from the atrocities that occurred during a six-year period etched in horror.

From all corners of the world, leaders joined hands in promises of “never again,” creating the United Nations to help maintain international peace and security, to develop friendly relations among countries, to promote social progress, to secure better living standards, and to safeguard basic human rights.

It all seemed so right. Until it wasn’t. Wars in Korea, Vietnam, and the Middle East served as the most visible reminders of man’s inhumanity to man, but conflicts in Africa, the Balkans, and South America cast a disturbing pall as well.

Where and when will it end? It’s a two- part question for the ages and is one that has perplexed countless generations.

The current situation in Ukraine, which has sent millions of refugees fleeing for their lives, leaves us to wonder if we have learned from the inherent tragedy of war, and gauges our willingness to speak up against barbarism and injustice in hopes of preventing further suffering.

Last month, in the spring issue of the Paradigm magazine, we told the story of Primerus member Eckart Brodermann and his determination to “make a difference” in the lives of Ukrainian refugees seeking safe harbor in neighboring countries.

In late February, shortly after the Russian invasion, Brodermann and his wife, Silke, traveled great lengths to toss a lifeline to five refugees. In doing so, they welcomed a mother, three children, and an aunt into their inviting German home for an indefinite stay.

It was an act of kindness that the Brodermanns are hoping will pay long range dividends, inspiring others to do likewise, particularly by those in the Primerus community. The example they set mirrors the Primerus commitment to service above self and the values we cherish.

Collectively speaking, we are a country of immigrants. We welcome the stranger. We help those in desperate need.

It’s now time to consider how best we can build upon that tradition, reminding ourselves of other war-time crises and how we somehow made room.

Best regards,
Jack Buchanan, President