MANICHEAN MOMENTS
[This Monday’s Archive was first in TTP as a Glimpse on March 9, 2022, two weeks after Putin invaded Ukraine. The situation remains black and white, there is no gray area, good vs. evil, Ukraine vs. Russia, Zelensky vs. Putin. Zelensky is the most heroic leader of any country in the world today, Putin is the most monstrously evil. Let us hope that Trump stops taking the side of evil as per his deal for Putin’s diesel and his Truth Social post yesterday (10.18), and soon comes to his senses to embrace decency and freedom once again. And yes, I still believe Ukraine will triumph in the end.]
TTP, March 9, 2022
Most often, there are valid perspectives on either side of a dispute, not a simple divide between good and evil with no gray areas in between. That was not the case in Afghanistan in the 1980s. The Mujahaddin you see here were fighting a morally just war against immoral atrocity. The war waged by the Afghan Mujahaddin to liberate their country from Soviet Russian conquest was a Manichean Moment.
There is another Manichean Moment taking place right now in Ukraine. Once again, Russia is attempting to subjugate an innocent country with bombs and immoral atrocity. This is good vs. evil once more. There is no gray area. Those on the side of Ukraine and Zelensky fighting for freedom are on the side of moral decency. Those on the side of Russia and Putin are not. They are on the side of irredeemable evil.
That’s why, when I see photos of Ukrainian freedom fighters atop Russian tanks they captured, it reminds me of those I took of Afghan freedom fighters atop Russian tanks they captured. The Mujahaddin defeated Russia a third of a century ago. The Ukrainians will defeat Russia now. Good will triumph over evil once more. (Glimpses of Our Breathtaking World #191 Afghanistan photo ©Jack Wheeler)



“There are certain social principles in human nature, from which we may draw the most solid conclusions with respect to the conduct of individuals and of communities.” —

Durk’s fierce interest in the extension of life, not only in years but in vitality right to the end, was, one might say, ageless. [Don’t blame that dad-joke on Michelle, it was all me. But still true.] Durk wasn’t interested in a dwindling but long old age. His goal was vibrant good health right up until one was used up.

This is one of the magical places we experience on our Himalaya Helicopter Expeditions. An independent kingdom for 650 years in the remote Mustang region of Nepal, it is one of the last places of traditional Tibetan culture on earth, unchanged for centuries. There are sky-caves here – apartment complexes carved out of vertical cliffs 2,000 years ago – Drok-pa nomads in the high pastures, spectacular sacred ceremonies, all in a mysteriously beautiful setting where the Himalayas meet the Tibetan Plateau. (Glimpses of Our Breathtaking World #86 Photo ©Jack Wheeler)

