So, the Paralympic Committee banned Ukrainian athletes’ parade uniforms with a map of Ukraine on them...
Olympic committees are really doing everything they can to make Ukraine look like a country without symbols — like a “neutral country” — instead of countries like Russia and Belarus, which should be in that role but are currently competing under their national symbols.
I want to say — then ban Ukrainian bodies altogether.
Ask how people become disabled in our country.
A Russian shell that leaves me without an arm — is that apolitical?
A fragment from Russian destruction that leaves me without an eye — is that outside politics?
Losing my leg to a Russian mine — is that just some natural disaster, like something blown in from Russia by the wind?
Masses of tortured bodies in territories occupied by Russia, which you won’t allow us to show together with the map of our country — is that “political” because it might make Russian Paralympians uncomfortable, since they were the same soldiers?
You are just as “for peace in the world” as those Russians who simply don’t finish the sentence out loud — “without Ukraine”.
Ph: by Marta Syrko
