Can one truly understand life under a totalitarian regime just by reading about it? U.S. Senator J.D. Vance, who grew up in a democratic country, was once photographed wearing a USSR-themed T-shirt, which he later explained was a Halloween costume. Meanwhile, Ukrainians, who lived under Soviet oppression, fought for their freedom. His recent debate with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, where Vance admitted he had never been to Ukraine but had “read” about it, clearly illustrates the gap between theoretical perception of dictatorship and lived experience. Why is freedom for Ukrainians not just an idea but a daily struggle?
When a Democrat Grew Up but Admired Dictatorship?
J.D. Vance, now a U.S. Senator, grew up in a country that guaranteed him freedom of speech, choice, and self-realization. However, in his youth, he was photographed wearing a USSR-themed T-shirt, raising questions about his stance on totalitarianism. His representatives later clarified that it was a Halloween costume and not a political statement. However, the mere use of dictatorship symbolism as a joke sharply contrasts with the experience of Ukrainians, for whom the Soviet regime was a reality of repression, prohibitions, and fear.
For decades, Ukraine has fought for its freedom, breaking free from Soviet rule and resisting Russian aggression. For us, this is not just a political theory but a lived experience of surviving under an oppressive system. That is why the contrast between Vance’s symbolic gestures and the real experiences of Ukrainians is so striking.
The Vance-Zelenskyy Debate: When Reading Is Not the Same as Experience
This difference became especially evident during a recent debate between J.D. Vance and Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The Ukrainian president directly asked him:
“Have you been to Ukraine?”
Vance replied:
“No, I have read.”
This exchange became a clear illustration of the issue: people who have never lived under dictatorship can afford to idealize or fail to fully understand its consequences. They do not know what it means to fear secret police, to be deprived of freedom of speech, or to be persecuted for dissent. For Ukrainians, this was a reality they desperately sought to escape.
Freedom as a Struggle, Not an Abstract Concept
For many Americans, freedom is something taken for granted, given at birth. For Ukrainians, it has always been a fight. From the Holodomor and Soviet repressions to the Revolution of Dignity and the war with Russia, every generation of Ukrainians has had to fight for their right to be free. And while we prove every day that our independence and democratic choice are not just theoretical discussions, some Western politicians continue to simplify the issue of dictatorship, failing to understand its true nature.
Conclusion
The debate between Zelenskyy and Vance once again underscored a crucial issue: one cannot understand totalitarianism without having experienced it firsthand. Theoretical knowledge can never replace real-life experiences under a regime where freedom is a luxury rather than a norm. Those who still fail to grasp the magnitude of totalitarianism’s consequences should listen more to those who have lived through it.
Likewise, just as one cannot fully understand dictatorship merely by reading about it, it is impossible to truly comprehend Ukraine and its war without being there. Only by visiting Ukraine and witnessing everything firsthand can one truly grasp the real cost of the fight for freedom.
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