I try to ignore the news especially if it’s about things I can’t do anything to help with. I’d rather decide what’s important to spend time learning than let an industry with financial incentive decide for me. It’s hard now that everyone’s talking about Ukraine and Russia. I understand why. It’s getting to me hearing about the men unable to leave, and worsened by how many people don’t care.

I saw a post earlier that said “it sucks the most fragile are the ones suffering the most” and listed the groups “suffering the most.” Women, children, poor people, and the elderly. So everyone that has a chance to escape, except the 18-60 yo men living in poverty. It’s one of many things I’ve read and heard like that since yesterday. I don't see a point in talking to these people, they justify it.

I know about the male disposability evolutionary theory, I still don’t understand how someone can think that way. My first thought is that they must be sheltered, but many aren’t. They’ll see men suffer in front of them and still think this way. It’s depressing and infuriating. I wish I could help. I only know from an outside perspective how badly combat can mess you up (my father, PTSD and physically disabled from the infantry), and from outside is bad enough. I hate thinking about what they must be going through and I can’t do anything.

A few years ago there was a new boy in my class. He came from Ukraine after his brother was killed. He couldn't speak English and it was a small rural school so there was no human to translate, he had to use Google Translate. (Later he was moved to a big city in another province where he probably got better support.) He was the same age as me and I'm 19 now. If he was still in Ukraine, he'd be stuck there. Every other man currently stuck there is just as much of a person with a personality and their own dreams and goals, their lives matter to them, they don't deserve to be seen as disposable.

I know the men in Ukraine aren't going to be reading this, but the message being sent can affect us all, so I want to remind you guys you’re not disposable and you matter. You deserve peace and safety just as much as everyone else. You’re not obligated to sacrifice your physical and mental health for people that don’t care about you. I love you all.