I have to admit, when I first started reading this I almost thought you agreed with the statement that Ukraine is somehow more "civilized" than other nations whose civilians are victims of war, but then you went on to highlight some of the double standards so well. As glad as I am that so much of the West has united to condemn Putin for his aggression and unapologetic narcissism (although governments continue to fall short in holding him accountable), it all feels bittersweet. The same attention has never been granted to Palestine, Syria or other nations overwhelmed by war due to the mere grounds that they are more "different" from us. It's heart-wrenching.