Cheering on the Underdog

Why the world is rooting for Ukraine

Like David taking down the giant Goliath with a slingshot.

Like Finland successfully defending itself from half a million Soviet soldiers sent in by Lenin in the Winter War of 1939.

Ukrainians today are giving the middle finger to Putin and the Russian military machine.

It’s a tale as old as time, like the child who stands up to the class bully.

First there is shock and fear from those looking on. They realize that it could have been them on the receiving end of the bully’s verbal and physical attacks. Maybe they already were.

But here is this kid standing up to the bully. Their chest puffed out, their face full of proud determination.

The fact that others are watching, emboldens the bully. They step up their attack on their victim. But that’s when the tables turn.

It’s tough to watch someone being bullied. It’s only self protection that keeps many of us from stepping up in defence. But when you see others doing it you realize there can be safety in numbers.

The kid begins to fight back with words and actions. And those looking on join in. First one calls out the bully despite being threatened with becoming the next target but then others step up.

Vladimir Putin is that bully. He has his cronies behind him. Those too weak to stand up to him like Lukashenko from Belarus.

President Zelenskyi is the face of Ukraine and when he calls out to the onlookers to join his international army, those who do, believe that standing up to the bully together in larger numbers is the right thing to do.

Of course this is not a school yard fight. This is war and instead of a bloody nose, people are losing their lives.

But Ukrainians are proud people. They have been picked on by Russia for centuries. Even when they were enmeshed in the Soviet Union, they knew that their day would come. From 1919 to 1991 they bided their time but they never lost their identity. And as the Soviet Union finally crumbled, Ukraine found its independence again.

It was a shaky rebirth as Ukrainians rebuilt their society and culture, honouring their freedom.

Today nobody can predict how this war will play out but it is clear that a lot of people will lose their lives on both sides. It’s likely that Russia will be the victor despite the defence that Ukraine mounts, but will pay a heavy political price on the world stage and at home.

Russia is quickly losing face at home, starting with the thousands protesting the war which eventually could lead to even larger protests as the Russian economy crumbles.

Vladimir Putin had no idea what Russia was in for and the resolve of the Ukrainians. He’s now playing the victim, telling his people that he’s only trying to defend Russia from the big bad Ukraine which is being supported by NATO and the west. A growing number of Russians are not buying it, and that could be his downfall.

But like a bully that has been backed into a corner, he could pull out the big guns before he loses face and backs down. And if that happens, the whole world will pay a horrific price.