By Jacqueline Johnson
Like many others, I have been trying my best to follow the issues and events concerning the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Recently, I was granted an eye-opening experience to which I am very grateful. On Friday, March 11 Ukrainian Catholic University hosted a conversation involving over 200 universities worldwide, where several Ukrainian students shared their experiences and thoughts surrounding the conflict and what it means in their lives.
I am a history major here at Houghton, and it is moments like these that strike a renewed realization in me on the importance of history and the importance of listening. The first woman who spoke cried for her friend, who had recently been killed as a result of the conflict. Another shared how she and fellow students had been spending their time writing letters, making blankets, and baking cookies to aid Ukrainian soldiers and refugees. While my free time is spent playing nerf or enjoying the fleeting spring weather, these university students spend their time thinking about the growing conflict all around them.
Following this experience, I was also thankful to have a conversation with Dr. Francesca Silano,Assistant Professor of History, who specializes in Soviet History, and who organized the live viewing of this conference here at Houghton. During this conversation, I asked about her perspective as a professor during this conflict. She said, “The responsibility of teaching history is always the responsibility of teaching students to meet people…trying to meet them, and understand them, and be where they are.” Thinking back to hearing the student’s stories, I think I can understand that.
I think that when one looks at history or current events, it is extremely important to remember that history is made up of people. People with their own motivations, fears, wishes, and lives. I recognize that I am in a position of great privilege. I am able to pursue my education, and I am able to do so with relative stability. I am grateful for this. I am also grateful to know that I am privileged. We live in such a globalized world, for better or worse, and one of the most important things to be gained from that is the ability to see others and try to understand. I am grateful to the professors who organized this event and events like this, and I am grateful for the students who shared their lives with strangers all over the world so that they might understand. I urge others to pray for peace and to listen to the stories that people need to share. ★
