19 March 2024, Tuesday, 12:38
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A Far Cry From "Happy New Year"

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A Far Cry From "Happy New Year"

We cannot even imagine how much we can do.

I have recently tried to explain myself why an editorial office of charter97.org have been doing things they do for 17 years already not looking for any fame, money, comfort in its conventional meaning. Many people are busy with arranging their lives comfortably, choosing a tranquil and content existence.

I guess we just don’t know how to betray friends, dreams, ideas and principles.

And no matter how empty and nasty you may feel deep inside, being weak and losing hope, finally this inability to betray does not let you lose yourself and makes you keep going.

Not a single member of the staff of charter97.org left when our friend and colleague Aleh Biabenin was killed. Although, frankly speaking, we were really scared, we couldn’t betray the memory of him.

A few journalists left the country and continued work when almost all the editorial staff was arrested on December 19, 2010. Those who were lucky to stay free had no right to forget those imprisoned.

When emigration lasts for almost five years, not six months as it was expected, there is a wish to give it all up and come back home. But the dream cannot be betrayed and you just stay because you can do more when you are free.

A Belarusian tourist has recently met me in Warsaw. He said he was a businessman and thanked "for everything you do", and then took a long story that all "sacrifices are wasted", "the Belarusians will not uprise", "they are different now" and so on.

I asked him one thing: "What have you done to make a difference?"

"I have a family", the tourist said.

I recommended him to see a psychotherapist and left.

I'm tired of this perpetual nagging. No-drama guy, a successful businessman wants someone else but not him to shape a better life in the country. Let Statkevich, Sannikov, Liabedzka or Dashkevich take risks, while he works, builds up a home, buys a car and goes to the sea.

And it has all been said about fears for the family by Vasil Bykau in his "Sign Of Trouble." And about the excuses ("If it were not for children, I would – wow! I would have escaped into the forest. But there are six children, one cannot go far"), and about the response to it ("They are to curse you for whole of their life for your cowardice").

I'm not an orphan as well. On the Square’s fifth anniversary my mother said: "I am a participant of those events." She used to carry me parcels to the KGB prison and that terrible time took her a lot of strength and health. But she has never blamed me for that.

Now everyone has to start with himself. We have no idea how much we can do. I often travel to Ukraine and see how ordinary citizens of this country are doing great things – save lives by sending to the front money, clothes, medicines, equipment, defeating by seemingly little effort aggressive and soulless Russian military machine.

Albeit to a lesser extent, we had it here in Belarus after December 19, 2010. When I came out of prison, I learned from Viktar Ivashkevich, that after the announcement of the action of solidarity with political prisoners it had taken only a day to raise five thousand dollars for prison parcels and support to the families of the former political prisoners. By the evening of that day in the office of the BPF there was no place for parcels, there was a queue near the council just to go inside and leave the things.

I am very grateful to everyone who has responded to our call this year and helped the site to survive donating money. Believe me, even the smallest amount is the support. And no one has been arrested, has he?

In interviews our Nobel laureate Svetlana Alexievich often repeats the words: "It is essential to protect the human inside youself." And it really is the most important thing today.

Let's remain human beings and not betray ourselves, our friends, our dream and our country.

Natallia Radzina, the editor in chief of charter97.org

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