I never knew that Alexandr Misko was Russian. All I knew and what mattered was that he plays a mean guitar in a unique fingerstyle that will dazzle you and he composes melodies that penetrate and inspire. His music on Youtube, which I encountered during the long months of enforced isolation due to the pandemic, was a source of consolation, renewed my hope and belief that the creative spirit we humans have can shape new melodies and a new future.

When the outbreak in Ukraine happened, thousands upon thousands of people around the world took to the streets and posted their anti-war sentiments on their social media to make their voices heard.

I opened my Facebook and saw a post written by Alexandr Misko, which reads:

“Lately lots of people have been asking me what I’m thinking about the current situation in the world, even writing offensive comments and messages just because of the fact I’m Russian.

My family’s pedigree comes from Ukraine, Russia and the Baltic states, and I’ve always been considering all these countries as a part of my own blood.

It’s devastating to see how the world is falling into pieces now, how many innocent people are suffering, how many lies are being spread around, how our future is becoming unclear.

I want peace.

Even though I can’t change big things overnight, I will be doing something that I can certainly do under any circumstances with all my heart – music. I’m happy if I can produce the music that is able to cheer you up and help you go through the darkest of times, no matter where you are from and where you are now.

I’m staying hopeful and sending my love and my thoughts to all of you guys who are reading this now.

We will go through all this.”

#ukraine #russia #nowar #нетвойне

I echo the sentiments of just some of the comments on his post…

I hope that it will end soon and the people of Ukraine and Russia can become as close as they had been in the past without this absurd current political agenda and its propaganda.

The people of Ukraine don’t deserve this war, but that’s also true for the people of Russia. Wishing peace upon all of you.

People who judge you based on your ethnicity are just no good racists. Just because the Russian government acts a certain way, it doesn’t represent every Russian citizen or Russian people around the world. A lot of people don’t want this war. That’s why there are protests in Russia too. Good people will be good no matter what their ethnicity is. Good luck to you.

I’m sad that you are having hateful messages just because you’re Russian. Your music is so beautiful and wonderfully performed, and uplifting. I feel sure that many Russian citizens would be against this dreadful attack on Ukraine and its people. Keep creating your music with love and bring joy and blessings to others.

Stay strong. Our generation and the next, if it is possible, will be the ones to bring about an age of peace and prosperity for all. If we make it, it will because we and others like us made the step towards our futures, as a whole humanity united.

Yes, a majority of us can’t do big things and change big things overnight. But certainly, we can raise our voices and make our aspirations for peace resound, which is what is happening now in the face of the Ukraine conflict.

 

Credit: Post and Comments from Facebook.com  https://www.facebook.com/alexandrmisko/

More about Alexandr Misko on: https://alexandrmisko.com/home

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/AlexandrMisko/featured