19 March 2024, Tuesday, 11:34
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Together We Can

23
Together We Can
Iryna Khalip

News feed has recently become funeral. I can't remind such number of early, terrific and tragic deaths.

Young and talented poet Ihar Kananovich stepped up from the roof. Entrepreneur Tatstsiana Dupanava committed suicide tired of resisting lawlessness. Talented film director Uladzimir Issat who worked in Ukraine also passed away. A bit earlier Andrei Shevchyk, one of first opponents of new decrees and supporter of political prisoners, passed away. Being terminally ill he participated in rallies of entrepreneurs in winter.

However, it is heard: well, we wanted to meet in real life the other day, to sit with a glass of wine and to talk - this is the new reality of a modern world where all are friends - about common projects and people we know, and dream about new European Belarus. It did not happen.

It always happens when you put your life away for later. After a holiday, after an annual report, after the teacher-parent meeting, after the winter, after the change of the power... We easily replace freedom with submission to external circumstances. Now we always have a reason to justify ourselves. And only after one's death we burst into life: I wish I could have time, chance to meet, to ask, to help. Now it's too late.

I remember the autumn of 2006, six months later after the Square and dispersion of the tent camp. Women’s consultation clinic, pregnant women are waiting for ultrasound. As usual I got to talk to a woman sitting next to me. She was expecting the second child. She and her husband used to come to the Square every day that protest March. And that what she told me: "I am forty and we wanted a second child. But we did not dare for long. We wanted our second child to live in a free country, had a choice and did not know what the BRUY mean. That was the reason. But after the dispersion of the Square we came up with a thought - why should we comply with the government? Why should we seek reasons not to let our child see this world because of these freaks? How can we dare plan life based on "the revolution comes first, then we can give birth to our children?" Who is this Lukashenka? He is just spit on the road. Why should we take him into account?! That won't go!

And this is the true truth. We got used to put the government first. Not because of some actions, but because of its very existence. First we should overthrow Lukashenka and then meet and have a long talk. Then climb the Everest, see the northern lights and shoot the rapids. And finally we will have a long talk! And it will be later, but now the homeland is in danger, guy.

And then he dies.

What can we do? First, remember all those killed, committed suicide, died from heart attacks and cancer. All of them wanted to see freedom, but they did not live until this moment. It means that we must. Let us remember those who passed away. Let us not allow these freaks to destroy us and our country. Let us call and meet each other, "likes" on social networks are not accepted. Do you rememberthe absence of fear when we were facing the riot police together? That moment gave us the feeling that we would not be killed and we would win.

The darkest time comes before the dawn. But the dawn is about to come. Can you hear these heavy sounds? This is the sound of ticking clocks.

Iryna Khalip, especially for charter97.org

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