My husband and I are sponsoring a young Ukrainian couple to come to our country on humanitarian parole. Will you help me welcome them?
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Image from Okean Elzy's music video "Vesna"
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What can an every-day American do to fight terrorism?
After 600 days of Russia’s brutal invasion in Ukraine, and with Israel now befallen to war, it is more clear than ever that America must stand up to terrorists, or else we become an accomplice to our enemies through silent acquiescence and inaction.
My husband’s parents in Ukraine taught us that you can’t give terrorists what they want. They say Russia wants to break them. That’s why they refuse to leave. When the iron curtain fell, they spent their prime years nurturing their newly independent country, Mama as a beloved teacher, and Papa as a well-respected business law attorney and prolific writer.
Even with rockets in the sky, sometimes dozens on a nightly basis, there is nothing we can do or say to convince them to turn their back on Ukraine. It is not easy for us, but we support their brave protest.
As crazy as it seems, the only thing which brings us real comfort is American weapon systems, such as the PATRIOT, an anti-missile battery which obliterates oncoming missiles with extreme accuracy, causing the concrete walls of our parents’ soviet-era apartment building to vibrate, as the blaring sound pierces the sky.
While those Cold War days seem so far from where we are, we have now inherited the wars of our fathers, and as history teaches, if we do not prevail over tyranny now, then we beget future wars on our children.
We do not live in a vacuum. What we decide to do or not do, as a country, as individuals, comes back to us. If we stand by and watch, then we willingly allow terrorists to lay our world to ruin. We are not powerless. We can't be beat into submission. We must hold on to the well-founded belief that the actions we take can truly make a difference.
If you're still unconvinced, then why wouldn't you at least try to find out?
This sobering reality can move any individual from any walk of life to pursue every available avenue to push back against the enemy.
Over the past year, I have personally encountered such individuals, who found ways within their own means to fight tyranny from American soil. A doctor who refuses to serve pro-Russia clients. A tech entrepreneur who’s company adopted an entire brigade of Ukraine’s armed forces. An immigrant, who builds English-learning communities. A lawyer, who hangs the Ukrainian and American flags outside of her office building. A judge, who raised funds to help Ukrainian cancer patients receive treatment. A musician, who travels the world to those places of concentrated power, and plays, in protest. A Russian, in search of political resistance, and asylum.
These encounters challenged me to do more.
So when Mark and I learned that we can help displaced Ukrainians come to the US, it was a no-brainer, and we took on the project right away.
First off, from fairly young ages, we’ve both been on either the giving or receiving end of welcoming deserving foreign nationals into our families' home. The welcoming of newcomers is part of our short-lived American heritage. And it's part of what makes America an exceptional country.
Secondly, we know that if anyone was going to do this, it would be the Ukrainian-Americans.
But like us, we see many of our fellow Americans also want to do more than just leave it to the “tax man”. So in welcoming the Ukrainians, we create a mutually-beneficial opportunity for our community, to elevate those who would savor the greatness which our free country brings.
And then we found them, or perhaps - they found us. Through the US government, we learned about a messaging app designed to connect Ukrainians to American sponsors. The first day I signed up, I got a message from a young man I will refer to as “D”.
“Please help me”.
Short, simple, to the point. I didn’t need a story to decide I was going to help him. But I’ll give you the story, anyway.
Not taking any chances, D had fled his country days before the full-scale invasion broke out, as masses of Russian troops built up along Ukraine’s border. The worst was yet to come. Shortly thereafter, martial law was enacted, and no military-aged man could leave Ukraine, with the exception of very strict circumstances. His hometown Mykolaiv was brutally attacked. So, he sent for his highschool sweetheart. She fled, and they married in Poland, where they shared a single cot in a stadium packed with thousands of other Ukrainian refugees.
With Poland’s resources spread thin, the young married couple fled to Denmark, where D found any means of work to scrape by.
Now, after shuffling around for nearly two years, these two brave and resilient Ukrainians are coming to America, with their dog named “Cookie”, to experience exactly why we are the greatest country in the world.
Besides my husband and I, this young Ukrainian couple doesn’t know a single soul in our country, and their entire life savings will get them by on the US dollar for only a few months. But we decided to help them because we saw how hard they worked to survive, and we knew this was their only chance at making it in America.
So I ask you once again, how can an everyday American fight terrorism? Here's what I've learned.
First and foremost, don't give terrorists what they want. Next, be cognizant of disinformation that aligns with the aims of terrorist's goals. Then, support leaders who represent a strong American resolve to support our allies. Lastly, help people who have been affected by terrorism.
I know that not everyone is prepared to do what my husband and I about to do. But you can still do something by supporting us.
D and his wife are on their way to the US from Europe right now, and will arrive in the last week of October.
Please help ease this couple's burden in establishing their lives here in the US. Proceeds are non-tax deductible and will go directly toward this young couple's housing, transportation, and supplies for the first few months here in the US.
We aim to raise $7,000 by Nov 1, 2023.
You may donate via the following.
Paypal: https://paypal.me/AlexandraZakhvatayev?country.x=US&locale.x=en_US
Zelle: alexandra.zakhvatayev@gmail.com
With deep appreciation and gratitude,
Alexandra Zakhvatayev
Southwest Florida
GOD BLESS USA
✌ ❤☺
