I understood why my kids liked Sesame Street when they were young. Sesame Street was fun. But why were they so entranced with “Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood”? Why did they sit for thirty minutes five days a week watching a soft-spoken man in a cardigan? There was no action, no bad guys, no change of scenes. But Mr. Rogers was kind, and he liked his neighbors. I guess that’s what appealed to them.
I thought about Mr. Rogers a couple of weeks ago after reading a newsletter by Viktor, an earnest young Ukrainian who tries his best to write about love and kindness and survival in the midst of war. Sometimes he writes about the beauty of his country. Occasionally he mentions how much he misses the wife and young son he sent away for their safety.
But in a recent newsletter, he sounded alarmed for us. He’d heard about the tariff threats to Mexico and Canada and the comments about making Canada the 51st state. And he wanted Americans to realize how lucky we are to have good neighbors. Don’t mess it up, he seemed to be saying, or you’ll be sorry. (He said it more diplomatically, of course.)
Viktor and his parents and grandparents know what it’s like to have a bad neighbor. He wouldn’t wish that on anyone.
And I have to admit that I do tend to take our friendship with Canada for granted. Since I was a kid, one of my favorite spots for a short vacation has always been Victoria, BC. It’s a beautiful place, and the people are friendly. In my heart, I believe Canada will always be our best friend.
We’ll never mess that up. Will we?
*****************************
As soon as I finished writing and saving this post, I checked my emails and found that I’d just received a new newsletter from Viktor. The title was: “What Sunflowers Teach Us about Hope.” In his beautiful meditation, Viktor calls the sunflowers witnesses “because they stand tall, their golden faces turned toward the sun, as if they know something we often forget: no matter how dark the night, the light will return.”
photo by Aleksandr Eremin
If you’re interested in Viktor’s essay on sunflowers and hope, you can read it here.
Hi Nicki,
I see from your blogroll we have some blogger friends in common.
It made me think about good neighbours and bad in a historical sense, in regard to Ukraine. Blessed with resources, neighbouring countries want to seize them. It has not been easy for them and I stand with Ukraine too. Thanks for connecting me with Viktor. Although I have been blogging for many years, I have only just joined substack.
Cheers,
Amanda
Hi, Amanda.
Thank you for following me. I’m looking forward to reading Australia, like the US, has been lucky not to have bad neighbors nearby. It’s something we take for granted. Reading Ukraine’s history, I was amazed at how many times they were invaded from one side or the other and how many times they found allies who then turned against them.
First off, what a lovely painting Nicki – how multi talented you are <3
As for neighbours, there's no doubt that having good, friendly neighbours – whether at a domestic or national level – makes the world a better place to be in. Less stress and more joy – scenarios we all appreciate (apart from the weird people currently in power in the US).
Thank you for sharing Viktor's latest essay. I've now found him on Substack and signed up too. I look forward to reading more fully when the boxes are behind me.
Three years ago, I read a history of Ukraine, The Gates of Europe by Serhii Plokhy. All the way through it, I kept thinking that things will work out for them this time in this war because now they have an ally. But before long that ally would turn on them. Throughout their history, they’ve had enemies on one side or the other, from the Vikings to Byzanthium to the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth to the Golden Horde to Russia. Blessed with a beautiful, rich country; cursed with bad neighbors and unfaithful allies.
I’m so glad you found Viktor on Substack. Best of luck with the unpacking.
I like sunflowers, wish I could grow them here. [The chipmunks and birds eat the seeds when I plant them.] I agree that this country is in decline and it wears me out to think about why that is. I live in a red part of the country so people are pleased, not seeing where this is headed— and how eventually it’s going to impact them negatively.
Someone on the next street plants a few sunflowers on a small sloped area at the edge of the road–not a favorite spot for the squirrels. The sunflowers are bright and beautiful, but standing alone, they do look a little ragged. A whole field of sunflowers is an amazing sight.
Today’s news is particularly sad. Trump blamed Ukraine for starting the war and made up a bunch of lies about how much money we gave Ukraine, about Zelenskyy’s poll numbers, etc. I hope enough Americans will care about what’s happening, at least when they’re personally hit with the results of the current cruelty and craziness here at home.
It’s all so horrid. Why anyone on Earth thought voting him back in would “MAGA” is beyond me. He and his brethren are the antithesis of great. They are horrid.
On a more positive note, your painting is exquisite!
Thank you, Nancy. It’s part of a painting I did from a photo of kids watching a puppet show, the entertainment at my daughter’s birthday party. I thought using just two kids would look more like children watching TV.
Ditto.
This is really sad. 😓 I love the quote though: “because they stand tall, their golden faces turned toward the sun, as if they know something we often forget: no matter how dark the night, the light will return.”
Yes, it’s really sad. This next thing really brought me to tears. Today at the conclusion of the Munich Security Conference, the chairman gave the closing speech. He said he was so sad that our trans-Atlantic values were no longer common. Then he said, “Let me conclude … and this becomes very difficult … ” Then he dissolved in tears, and someone came up and hugged him, and he walked off the stage to hearty applause. Europe is heartbroken and scared.
It’s strange to turn to a Ukrainian for comfort and hope.
Well, I can’t blame the Canadians for booing “The Star Spangled Banner” at every hockey game possible. This administration is aiming for annexation and dictatorship both. I wouldn’t want to be our neighbors. Our only hope is that the incompetence will slow the process for a few years and we can eventually rebuild both the federal infrastructure and our international relationships. So sad for our National Park Service right now.
Good neighborly ways don’t work with Trump. Unfortunately, the only thing for Canada to do is to stand up to him. I think it makes sense for them to boo our national anthem.
The incompetence will help, but more is needed. I’d rather continue being polite and nice, but the destruction of our federal government and our international relations feels like war. We need to respond by fighting back.
I suspect you’re thinking of the firefighters hired by the National Park Service. Considering the CA fires, that hiring freeze in unconscionable.
Our stance with Canada (and Mexico) worries and saddens me. I feel like we’ve turned into the bully who steals lunches.
We’re used to feeling like the good country, admired around the world. I hate being considered the bully who steals lunches.