Standing with Ukraine, Standing for Democracy
Every week in Kamloops, we gather to stand with Ukraine. Recently, we’ve noticed more people honking in support—a simple gesture that carries profound meaning. When we stand with Ukraine, we aren’t just supporting a distant nation under attack; we’re actively standing for Canadian values, for democracy itself, and for the international order that protects smaller nations from being devoured by larger, authoritarian ones.
These weekly gatherings have taken on new urgency as we witness concerning developments across our southern border. The election of leadership that positions itself as anti-Canadian, anti-Ukrainian, and paradoxically, anti-American in its rejection of long-established democratic institutions creates ripple effects felt far beyond U.S. borders.
From MAGA to MASS: Making America Super Small
Trump’s recent actions against Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, and Radio Free Asia represent a troubling shift in America’s commitment to global free press and democratic values. This isn’t just budget-cutting—it’s the systematic dismantling of institutions that have projected American ideals worldwide for decades.
The executive order to shrink the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM) to its “minimum legal function” effectively silences America’s voice in critical regions:
- Areas experiencing active conflict like Ukraine
- Authoritarian regimes including Russia, China, and North Korea
- Countries where independent journalism faces severe threats
These cuts don’t merely represent budget savings; they abandon America’s long-standing role as a defender of press freedom and democratic values globally. When Voice of America employees were placed on administrative leave and instructed not to enter offices or access systems, it wasn’t just a staffing decision—it was the silencing of a powerful instrument of American soft power.
A Pattern of Media Hostility
This move follows Trump’s public condemnation of US media as “corrupt” and “illegal,” revealing a consistent pattern of hostility toward independent journalism. The administration’s targeting of government-funded international broadcasting organizations appears particularly calculated:
- It rewards authoritarian regimes that have long sought to silence these American voices
- It follows earlier conflicts with VOA during Trump’s first term, when he forced two directors to resign
- It coincides with increasing criticism of “mainstream media” as enemies of the administration
As RFE/RL President Stephen Capus stated, canceling these grants represents “a huge gift to America’s enemies” that will leave nearly 50 million people in closed societies without access to accurate news and information about America and the world.
The Cost of Silence
What’s particularly alarming is the speed and silence with which these institutions can be dismantled. Radio Liberty survived for 75 years, supported by both Democrats and Republicans as a vital tool to promote American values abroad. Now it faces potential closure in a matter of days, with relatively little public outcry.
This silence from the American public is itself troubling. By not actively opposing these actions, Americans risk enabling the construction of another Russia-like media environment—where independent voices are systematically silenced and only state-approved messaging remains. The promised “Make America Great Again” increasingly resembles “Make America Small and Silent” as the country risks retreating from its global leadership role.
Meanwhile, the world watches, increasingly uncertain about America’s reliability as a partner and defender of democratic values—values that were once the bedrock of American foreign policy. As America’s voice grows quieter on the global stage, nations that once looked to it for leadership search elsewhere for reliable allies in the defense of democracy.
The question remains: will Americans recognize what’s at stake before it’s too late? Will they understand that when they stand for Ukraine, for Canada, for international alliances and democratic values, they are ultimately standing for the America they aspire to be?
To read more please check the following links:
Президент Радіо Свобода прокоментував повідомлення про скасування гранту на діяльність компанії
https://www.radiosvoboda.org/a/news-prezydent-radio-svoboda-finansuvannia-kompanii/33349038.html
Trump’s cuts hit Voice of America, Radio Free Europe
https://www.dw.com/en/trumps-cuts-hit-voice-of-america-radio-free-europe/a-71933686
Trump freezes VOA, Radio Free Asia, Radio Free Europe
https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250315-trump-freezes-voa-radio-free-asia-radio-free-europe
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