We recently passed the first anniversary of the war in Ukraine. The first images of the scene last year were horrible, especially the faces of the Ukrainians who were displaced, mourning loved ones, or just plain fearful of what was next.
Since those days, the TV news coverage seems to have moved on to more strategic, tactical and political aspects of the battle. But I’m sure the humanitarian crisis there is about as settled as the war itself. Not close.
I hope we don’t forget the faces of those that are suffering there. I hope we don’t dismiss those that are suffering elsewhere in the world or in our own towns. I hope we can spend some time each day reflecting on the fact that no matter how safe we may feel at any given time, death, destruction and suffering are always near at hand. Maybe we avoid them, maybe we don’t. But either way we are susceptible. We are, as Sting says in his song, Fragile.
I released a musical cover of Sting’s Fragile last year around this time in an attempt to inspire people not to forget that life is delicate, and that we should help those who are suffering. Our cover and the video that accompanies it are focused on Ukraine, but it really applies to all people everywhere.
Here’s our recording of Fragile, coupled with early images of the war. At the end of the video scrolls a list of humanitarian aid organizations working in Ukraine, among other places. Give in to the impulse to help; if not in Ukraine, elsewhere. If not with money, in some other way.
Fragile is available for download at www.toddfulginiti.com for a donation, which will be forwarded to Global Giving.
Follow us here at Wise & Shine for stories on a variety of topics. Read more of Todd’s writing at his magazine styled Five O’Clock Shadow blog, and visit Todd as a musician/artist at www.toddfulginiti.com