Just a moment to thank and welcome all my new followers. I'm a bit shocked. And humbled.
They include - and this is lovely, I admire them hugely - Simon Schama, Stephen Sackur, Laura Pidcock and Daniel Taylor.
Plus MEPs, MSPs, the odd senator, journalists, historians, writers.
They include - and this is lovely, I admire them hugely - Simon Schama, Stephen Sackur, Laura Pidcock and Daniel Taylor.
Plus MEPs, MSPs, the odd senator, journalists, historians, writers.
And - before this turns into a lovefest for blue ticks - this absolutely massive number of smart people who think about things, care about others, and who all share common values.
Not an echo chamber at all. But common values. Which all speak so loudly at a time like this.
Not an echo chamber at all. But common values. Which all speak so loudly at a time like this.
We've all been through a time of so much division, so much anger; all turning on each other, with this platform intensifying that.
But if you ever wanted to know just how precious democracy and humanity are, if what's going on doesn't tell you, nothing ever will.
But if you ever wanted to know just how precious democracy and humanity are, if what's going on doesn't tell you, nothing ever will.
If you ever wanted to know about the road to hell which authoritarianism leads to, if what's going on doesn't tell you, nothing ever will.
If you ever wanted to know how desperately we all need HOPE and faith in the future, that so many have united for Ukraine says everything.
If you ever wanted to know how desperately we all need HOPE and faith in the future, that so many have united for Ukraine says everything.
Not just governments. Not just organisations. But awfully close to EVERYONE.
It's extremely rare for a war - the war to defend Ukraine - to be so obviously just. And for the aggressors to be so obviously wantonly in the wrong.
That's despite all the ills of the West.
It's extremely rare for a war - the war to defend Ukraine - to be so obviously just. And for the aggressors to be so obviously wantonly in the wrong.
That's despite all the ills of the West.
Despite all of our hypocrisy, all our double standards, all the crimes we've committed in the still recent past.
Sometimes - as rarely as humanly possible, please God - war is, tragically, necessary. Certainly wars to defend a sovereign people from merciless slaughter.
Sometimes - as rarely as humanly possible, please God - war is, tragically, necessary. Certainly wars to defend a sovereign people from merciless slaughter.
That doesn't make me or anyone else a 'warmonger'. It actually makes us people who love, value and cherish peace.
To put it another way: if a foreign army invaded Britain and started killing its people, would YOU be a 'warmonger' if you took up arms against them?
To put it another way: if a foreign army invaded Britain and started killing its people, would YOU be a 'warmonger' if you took up arms against them?
Of course it wouldn't.
The more the world unites, the more isolated the Russian government becomes. And the closer we get to war being over and peace in Europe being restored.
Everyone's heart goes out to what the Ukrainian people are enduring. Unthinkable to so many of us.
The more the world unites, the more isolated the Russian government becomes. And the closer we get to war being over and peace in Europe being restored.
Everyone's heart goes out to what the Ukrainian people are enduring. Unthinkable to so many of us.
And here's the thing about life: we all, every one of us, depend on each other. Need each other.
The extent to which this has been forgotten over the last 40 years, but even more so over the last decade, has been catastrophic.
So y'know: let's stick together. 🙏
The extent to which this has been forgotten over the last 40 years, but even more so over the last decade, has been catastrophic.
So y'know: let's stick together. 🙏
The heroic people of Ukraine need us to. All those - and there are very many - bravely objecting to this monstrosity in Russia do too.
Retweet and share the truth. Don't spread lies, don't fall for Russian propaganda: which has done so much harm in all our countries for years.
Retweet and share the truth. Don't spread lies, don't fall for Russian propaganda: which has done so much harm in all our countries for years.
Stand together. #StandWithUkraine
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