A cold, wet winter abounds as a small, poorly equipped band of untrained patriots outmaneuvers and foils the presumed onslaught of an overwhelming, superior military force. This asymmetrical fight for freedom and independence seems hopeless and impractical to the analytic eye.
Yet, when the moments seemed their darkest just over two-hundred and forty-five years ago, the inspiring challenge from Thomas Paine girded the heroes of their time:
"these are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value."
If history seems detached, irrelevant and confined to a bygone era, well, we are witnessing a tragically similar fight for liberty and sovereignty unfold before us in Ukraine. But while this war, like all wars, is awful and heartbreaking, this one is uniquely unimaginable with TikTok and the global media outlets recording the attendant yet unfiltered acts of brutality. The raw, illegal 18th-century-style land grab is shockingly brutish and equally incoherent amidst our 21st-century globally connected world.
Nonetheless, I am inspired and proud of the Ukrainian people's resilience. Ukrainian President Zelensky’s heroic leadership is an example for the world. With every act of bravery and courage, the Ukrainian military and volunteer fighters, the Kyiv Mayor Klitschko, and the unarmed crowds who incredibly repel the advance of Russian tanks show that they are ready to pay the highest price for democracy. No less courageous are the anti-war protesters in Russia.
The Ukrainian War has touched SimSpace. One of our training content team members, has extended family who lives on a farm in the Donbass region. There is active fighting in the area, and relief organizations have yet to arrive. They are in regular contact with them and are working on getting supplies.
So, what can you do to help Ukraine? SimSpace will be donating to all four of these charities:
SimSpace is also participating in two broader DoD and State Department initiatives to counter Russian aggression against Ukraine and other Eastern European countries. Additionally, on 19 March, we will provide the cyber range environment for one of the preliminary events for the International Cybersecurity Challenge (ICC 2022), where the world will come together to train against cyberattacks similar to those employed against Ukraine.
Like our Nation’s founders who chose to Stand for Freedom, to Stand with the Brave, and to Stand against Tyranny, I Stand with Ukraine. Please join me.
—Hutch
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