Imagine this:
Mexico, claiming it was simply “taking back its historic lands,” suddenly invades the United States.
They occupy large parts of Texas, Arizona, and California.
Their army holds firm.
They bomb major U.S. cities — Chicago, New York, Miami — causing massive destruction and thousands of civilian deaths.
And now they tell the world: “We are only restoring what was once ours. This is a rightful correction of history.”
Now imagine Donald Trump standing at a press conference, faced with this reality.
Would he say,
“We must seek peace, even if it means ceding Texas and California to Mexico?”
Would he calmly tell the American people,
“Let’s accept it. History is complicated. These territories were once Mexican, after all.”
Of course not.
He would be shouting into every microphone:
“This is an invasion! This is theft! We will NEVER give up a single inch of American soil!”
He would rally the nation with promises of total victory.
He would call for overwhelming retaliation.
He would never accept peace under the terms of occupation and surrender.
And frankly, neither would any other U.S. president.
Neither would most Americans.
Because giving up your own land, your own people, and your own cities to an invader — just because they claim some historical right — is simply unthinkable.
Now think about Ukraine.
When Russia invaded Ukraine, it wasn’t just a “border dispute.”
It wasn’t just a “regional quarrel.”
It was a brutal attack on a sovereign nation.
Cities were bombed, civilians murdered, and vast territories occupied — all under the excuse of “historic Russian lands.”
And yet, many voices — including Trump’s — have suggested that Ukraine should just “make a deal,” “give up some territory,” and “move on.”
But if it was America under attack — if it was your city burning — would you say the same?
When you frame it this way, it becomes clear:
What Ukraine is doing is exactly what we would do.
They are fighting for their survival, their freedom, and their future.
Just like we would.
Just like we should.
There’s a word for giving up your land to an aggressor who says, “It used to be ours”: surrender.
And surrender has never been the American way.
Peter van der Wel (12025
Curious to hear your thoughts.
Would we really react differently if it happened to us?
#Ukraine #Freedom #Leadership #Future
