I can’t get “20 Days in Mariupol” out of my head

Commentary

The Oscar winning best documentary film should be required viewing for anyone casting a vote in the upcoming election

The story I posted yesterday, Jimmy, Oscar and Donald, was my take on Sunday’s Academy Awards broadcast. As I wrote, “…it was a night in which serious films, films dealing with important aspects of history, morality and human behavior, were showcased.”

It was also a night in which ex-president Donald Trump posted an angry, vile, uncalled for critical rant about the show, “…Disjointed, boring, and very unfair*. Why don’t they just give the Oscars to those that deserve them…”

*I’m not sure what he meant by “very unfair.” Perhaps he’s claiming the voting was rigged!

If you haven’t read my story, I urge you to read it. At the very least it will give you some background for my post today.

One of films I highlighted was, “20 Days in Mariupol.” Winner of best documentary film, I described it as “… a devastatingly graphic film about Russia’s initial, unprovoked, illegal invasion of Ukraine and its indiscriminate targeting of civilians in the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol. A Russian atrocity which continues to this day.”

I haven’t been able to get “20 Days in Mariupol” out of my head, out of my mind, out of my heart. The visual account of Russia’s devastation of the city and its non-combatant citizens is horrific. The human suffering resulting from the attacks – attacks on apartment houses, fire stations and yes, hospitals – were inhumane war crimes.

Here’s the film’s trailer:

The filmmaker Mstyslav Chernov’s acceptance speech was moving, heartfelt and important to watch:

Think about this film, think about Chernov’s words, and then think about the words of the aforementioned ex-president as captured in this February 11 AP headline…

Trump says he told NATO ally to spend more on defense or he would ‘encourage’ Russia to ‘do whatever the hell they want’

…and at this campaign rally “screed:”

And then think about your senators and representatives who blocked aid to Ukraine unless it’s tied to a border protection plan (headline courtesy New York Times):

Congress Abandons Ukraine Aid Until Next Year as Border Talks Continue

And then think about those same senators who blocked passage of the bi-partisan border bill in order to deny Biden credit for it, allowing Trump to campaign on the issue (headlines courtesy of the AP):

Senate Republicans threaten to block border security bill they negotiated

The striking turn of events comes as Donald Trump tells the GOP to sink the bill, arguing that it could take the political heat off Democrats ahead of an expected rematch with Joe Biden.

Finally, think about what America, what the world, will look like if Trump wins the next election. And, then do more than thinking – implore your Trump supporting, GOP voting friends ( I know you have them…we all do) to watch the film, to watch Chernov’s acceptance speech, to watch Trump’s rant and ask them why, for God’s sake, why they will be voting for him and his cynical Congressional toadies. Ask them if this is what they mean when they say “Make America Great Again?”