A succinct, clear and yet emotive plea for rationality, thinking beyond the immediate or the hyperbole of 'leaders' and media.

This is an excellent piece that, in my view, would be a beneficial read for anyone who cares about more than themselves and immediate circle and even for those that are incredibly selfish - if only they were likely to give it objective thought.

I've read continually about the invasion and met many views, some strong, some weak, some reasonable, some not. However, what I've rarely come across is a critique that truly considers what is happening, rather than simply recycling 'official' history or taking sides.

Thank you for this. I've had an awful day, not made better by listening to pundits & politicians making simplistic or ideologically driven comments on the Ukrainian crisis and then, after a switch of scene, seeing the trauma ridden faces of mothers and their frightened, confused & disturbed infants and children, surrounded by hundreds of others at railway and bus stations ...

I don't believe in good or bad or, indeed, in any absolutes. Neither do I have, any longer, any belief in 'love'. My feeling now is that most, if not all of us, are victims of a huge social conditioning confidence trick, commonly known as 'culture'. However, that's a discussion for another place and time. Enough here, to say that I agree with your conclusion but would put it slightly differently: Empathise with one another. Empathise with the planet.