To Russia with Love

After I listened to Arnold Schwarzenegger's address to the Russian people on the war in Ukraine, I was struck by the power of his oratory, both in terms of content and delivery. In fact, his message is a masterpiece of non-violent language/peaceful diplomacy — the kind of language that unifies rather than divides, establishes common ground rather than focuses on differences.

As a starting point, Schwarzenegger greets his "dear Russian friends" and the soldiers serving in Ukraine. He explains that there are terrible events going on in the world that are being kept from the Russian people. Before diving into these realities, however, he shares his own connection with Russia that began with his admiration for Yuri Petrovich Vlasov — "the strongest man in the world" — whom he first met in Vienna in 1961 when he was 14 years old. Defying his father — a former Nazi who hated Russians — Schwarzenegger kept a photo of his hero in his room. In his address, he explains how his father had taken part in the devastation of Leningrad and was consumed by guilt for the rest of his life. But to Schwarzenegger, flags don't matter.

Only after establishing his affection and respect for Russia and the Russian people, does Schwarzenegger address the horrors of Putin's war in Ukraine. He first debunks Putin's lie that Russia is "de-nazifying" Ukraine, pointing out that Ukrainian President Zelenskyy is Jewish. He goes on to debunk the lie that Ukraine started the war, boldly stating that it was the Kremlin that had done so — and that 141 nations at the U.N. voted that Russia was the aggressor and that it should remove its troops immediately.

"The strength and the heart of the Russian people have always inspired me. That is why I hope you will let me tell you the truth."

Then he provides the facts about Russian casualties. Speaking to the Russian soldiers, he reminds them that 11 million Russians have connections to Ukraine, expressing the concern that the Russian soldiers could end up "broken" like his father.

Addressing Putin, he says, "You started this war. You can stop this war." His final message is to all those brave Russians who have been protesting the war, suffering beatings and imprisonment; they have "the true heart of Russia."

Then he ends as he began, by addressing his "dear Russian friends": "May God bless you all."

What an amazing tour de force! What power in words and strength of presence! What a prophetic performance! If you wish to be inspired, I encourage you to watch the video for yourselves.