My great grandfather was Walenty Adamczyk, which became Valentine Adams in rural Pennsylvania when he emigrated in 1900. He was born 1872 in Xychlin, Russia, a village which existed since 1309, was captured by the Teutonic Knights in 1331, then was restored to Poland, then annexed to Prussia, on and on, as your brilliant Reconstruction of Nations has shown on a grand scale. As a student of Chaucer in college I knew of how Chaucer created Saint Valentine’s Day, but you’ve reminded me of it today! Thank you!
Such a sweet man you are, Professor! Thank you for a perspective on Valentine's Day that isn't hearts and candy and connubial bliss. The hope and courage and perseverance you celebrate in your essay are a balm to all our souls, unlike the "sugar-high" consumerism and downer for those not-romantically engaged which are the typical "Hallmark"s of this day. As always, you appeal to higher values and greater virtues. Again, thank you.
It's official! United24's announcement today: Timothy Snyder’s fundraiser for the Shahed Hunter has reached its goal! The Professor of History at Yale raised $1,268,196 for the anti-drone system. A total of 11,278 payments were transferred to this fundraiser via UNITED24.
Beautifully written. Thank you Dr. Snyder, for being so thoughtful and genuine. I sent this part to my son, (with your name attached, of course). I am head over heels with your writing!
"....we just might have a fresh and correct thought about this particular holiday, which is perhaps not so trivial as we make it out to be. The seasons do turn, but what comes next is up to us, and we have to act more quickly than we think. Much depends on our encouraging one another in all of the different kinds of love. Since Valentine's Day is for the birds, then perhaps we should hear their song: love is more courage than certainty ".
Ukraine's 2021 Eurovision song was, I was told, a spring song as well. It's on my playlist so I'll listen to it today. It really is spring here in northern CA and the almond orchards are in bloom -- may it soon be a spring of freedom and victory in Ukraine. I'm familiar with Razom but didn't know about the Amazon wishlist, thank you!
I've been reading Road to Unfreedom, about the 2014 invasion. I am being pretty slow with it. But it seems to me that, in a loose metaphorical way, 2014 was our Sudentenland 1938 and we (as in Western governments) completely missed it. We're still not catching on.
Feb 14, 2023·edited Feb 16, 2023Liked by Timothy Snyder
Thank you so much for the information about needed donations to Ukraine. I was able to get five of the "most wanted" items on Amazon for less than $300. Now I feel like I am able to help directly. Slava Ukraine!
Thank you for sharing this, and connecting us across time and geography with the universal lure of returning spring. Here in Virginia, I have just heard the first spring peepers singing on a warm evening this week. Specks of bluebird wings in the fields remind me to clean out and resecure their houses for a new season. And a singing wren has once again found an opening under the door in my barn, just big enough to sneak in and check out nesting sites in the high shelves.
Some things remain, similar. In Dutchess County NY I’ve spotted a field tilled, in another maybe the same farmer working on his tractor. Thank you for this beautiful piece. I noticed yesterday that your sponsorship on United24 to purchase the Shahed Hunter Anti Drone System was $18,000 away from realization. Hoping we all share love and $. Our Valentines wishes for you and all of Ukraine
"Chaucer and 'Shchedryk' can be brought together, as part of that common heritage; and when we have them together, we just might have a fresh and correct thought about this particular holiday, which is perhaps not so trivial as we make it out to be. The seasons do turn, but what comes next is up to us, and we have to act more quickly than we think. Much depends on our encouraging one another in all of the different kinds of love. Since Valentine's Day is for the birds, then perhaps we should hear their song: love is more courage than certainty." Thank you. A beautiful and inspiring column.
I am thoroughly delighted that you have shared the connections between juxtaposed diaries, the seasons, the saints, swallows and the courage of Spring and love. Growth and embracing the future take tremendous courage, and I don't think courage can exist without love. Thank you so much for sharing this with all of us!
"The seasons do turn... Much depends on our encouraging one another in all of the different kinds of love."
Indeed the seasons do turn, so for a start, let's develop a particular kind of love to specially characterise each season of the year. There is young spring love with the gambolling lambs and the tender new shoots, but also then the gently blossoming love of summer comes upon us. The love bearing fruits ripens in autumn, and, closing the cycle, there comes that deep and altruistic winter love, where seeds are put into the earth to grow, develop and flourish through the seasons of the following year.
And note, while seasons are indeed universal, they do not occur at the same time all over the earth for everyone. Between northern hemisphere and southern, opposites are juxtaposed at any one time. Here we are invited to nod to the other in acknowledgement of their seasons; your winter is my summer, and my spring sees your autumn. Only thus can the totality of our human love for each other be realised.
These are a few thoughts. Can we elaborate them into a burgeoning compendium of love?
My great grandfather was Walenty Adamczyk, which became Valentine Adams in rural Pennsylvania when he emigrated in 1900. He was born 1872 in Xychlin, Russia, a village which existed since 1309, was captured by the Teutonic Knights in 1331, then was restored to Poland, then annexed to Prussia, on and on, as your brilliant Reconstruction of Nations has shown on a grand scale. As a student of Chaucer in college I knew of how Chaucer created Saint Valentine’s Day, but you’ve reminded me of it today! Thank you!
First of all thank you for the Chaucer and the Ukrainian song of harvest and hope. And thank you to all the birds who give us hope and beauty.
My friends and I are raising money to bring some refugees out of eastern Ukraine. And we are donating to your suggestions.
Im hanging a Ukrainian flag on my front fence.
Let us all hang Ukrainian flags everywhere we can, to show the world that patriotic Americans from coast to coast support Ukrainian victory!
And as a declaration that this nation will protect Democracy against invading tyrants.
Slava Ukraini! 🇺🇦🕊️
Such a sweet man you are, Professor! Thank you for a perspective on Valentine's Day that isn't hearts and candy and connubial bliss. The hope and courage and perseverance you celebrate in your essay are a balm to all our souls, unlike the "sugar-high" consumerism and downer for those not-romantically engaged which are the typical "Hallmark"s of this day. As always, you appeal to higher values and greater virtues. Again, thank you.
“Love is more courage than certainty.”
Truth.
We donate to all your recommendations, fund local refugees, and work on an art project collaboratively with artists in kyiv ...
It's official! United24's announcement today: Timothy Snyder’s fundraiser for the Shahed Hunter has reached its goal! The Professor of History at Yale raised $1,268,196 for the anti-drone system. A total of 11,278 payments were transferred to this fundraiser via UNITED24.
Beautifully written. Thank you Dr. Snyder, for being so thoughtful and genuine. I sent this part to my son, (with your name attached, of course). I am head over heels with your writing!
"....we just might have a fresh and correct thought about this particular holiday, which is perhaps not so trivial as we make it out to be. The seasons do turn, but what comes next is up to us, and we have to act more quickly than we think. Much depends on our encouraging one another in all of the different kinds of love. Since Valentine's Day is for the birds, then perhaps we should hear their song: love is more courage than certainty ".
Ukraine's 2021 Eurovision song was, I was told, a spring song as well. It's on my playlist so I'll listen to it today. It really is spring here in northern CA and the almond orchards are in bloom -- may it soon be a spring of freedom and victory in Ukraine. I'm familiar with Razom but didn't know about the Amazon wishlist, thank you!
I've been reading Road to Unfreedom, about the 2014 invasion. I am being pretty slow with it. But it seems to me that, in a loose metaphorical way, 2014 was our Sudentenland 1938 and we (as in Western governments) completely missed it. We're still not catching on.
Thank you! This is beautiful, beautiful hope-filled thoughts, a gift!
Thank you so much for the information about needed donations to Ukraine. I was able to get five of the "most wanted" items on Amazon for less than $300. Now I feel like I am able to help directly. Slava Ukraine!
Thank you for sharing this, and connecting us across time and geography with the universal lure of returning spring. Here in Virginia, I have just heard the first spring peepers singing on a warm evening this week. Specks of bluebird wings in the fields remind me to clean out and resecure their houses for a new season. And a singing wren has once again found an opening under the door in my barn, just big enough to sneak in and check out nesting sites in the high shelves.
Some things remain, similar. In Dutchess County NY I’ve spotted a field tilled, in another maybe the same farmer working on his tractor. Thank you for this beautiful piece. I noticed yesterday that your sponsorship on United24 to purchase the Shahed Hunter Anti Drone System was $18,000 away from realization. Hoping we all share love and $. Our Valentines wishes for you and all of Ukraine
"Chaucer and 'Shchedryk' can be brought together, as part of that common heritage; and when we have them together, we just might have a fresh and correct thought about this particular holiday, which is perhaps not so trivial as we make it out to be. The seasons do turn, but what comes next is up to us, and we have to act more quickly than we think. Much depends on our encouraging one another in all of the different kinds of love. Since Valentine's Day is for the birds, then perhaps we should hear their song: love is more courage than certainty." Thank you. A beautiful and inspiring column.
I am thoroughly delighted that you have shared the connections between juxtaposed diaries, the seasons, the saints, swallows and the courage of Spring and love. Growth and embracing the future take tremendous courage, and I don't think courage can exist without love. Thank you so much for sharing this with all of us!
Beautifully written- as poetical as the poetry you talk about. I will never see swallows in the same way.
"The seasons do turn... Much depends on our encouraging one another in all of the different kinds of love."
Indeed the seasons do turn, so for a start, let's develop a particular kind of love to specially characterise each season of the year. There is young spring love with the gambolling lambs and the tender new shoots, but also then the gently blossoming love of summer comes upon us. The love bearing fruits ripens in autumn, and, closing the cycle, there comes that deep and altruistic winter love, where seeds are put into the earth to grow, develop and flourish through the seasons of the following year.
And note, while seasons are indeed universal, they do not occur at the same time all over the earth for everyone. Between northern hemisphere and southern, opposites are juxtaposed at any one time. Here we are invited to nod to the other in acknowledgement of their seasons; your winter is my summer, and my spring sees your autumn. Only thus can the totality of our human love for each other be realised.
These are a few thoughts. Can we elaborate them into a burgeoning compendium of love?