** Khatyn was a village in Belarus, in Lahojsk district, Minsk voblast. On March 22, 1943, the population of the village was massacred by the 118th Schutzmannschaft battalion and the Special SS battalion. The memorial constructed at the site of the massacre features 26 symbolic chimneys with bells – creating an image of a burned village.

I can’t help myself in this essay from dropping a few hints, making some philosophical generalizations, and offering a few simple general observations. But I really don’t want it to appear as either an approval or a condemnation of the Belarusian presidential elections. So let me begin with some nebulous phrases, intended for those tempered individuals who can forge their way through a jungle of words to the source of Truth.

An old man once told me: “Life isn’t what we think it is, but the one we live in. And we all know well the life we live in. That’s what constitutes real life.”

I’ll only be repeating numerous philosophers who have said that our life reminds one of a game of chess. There is always Someone who moves the pieces, all those pawns, knights, rooks, and kings. And queens, too. Note that playing chess always involves sacrificing pieces for the sake of an elusive victory. And when that very Someone tires of moving the pieces, a dreamy senseless silence falls on the checkerboard of life. But then something fascinating occurs: as soon as a chess piece pops up that is willing to move on its own, you can immediately sense the resentment amongst the ordinary pawns and the chess nobility. You can hear their voices, “Hey you, you either stand in line, or just lie around in this life. Where the hell do you think you’re going!”

But the piece just keeps on crawling, grating his teeth and crawling, repeating all along the way, “I will lead you all out of here, we are going to move on our own, we’ll play the chessgame all by ourselves…”

And in the back, where the Someone who used to move pieces is standing, there is only this cosmic silence. They’re all waiting to see the outcome of the aroused chess folk. Remember how they once cried out: “Crucify, crucify Him!” Maybe they won’t wait. Maybe it’s just some test for us, a test of freedom. Remember how it happened in the Bible with Adam and Eve. They chose freedom! And shall the serpents bruise your heels? Shall our skins stiffen on the winds of freedom? And our souls, too.

But the soul has already stiffened. What has this freedom transformed us into? I’ve often asserted: freedom and order are mutually intertwined. More order means less freedom. More freedom means less order. So, you choose! There is just only one kind of freedom that means more order, not less. This is the freedom in Christ. Yes, that may sound strange to some of you, but for others this statement is clear and logical. Sorry for wandering off the subject.

So, ladies and gentlemen! What is democracy? But I beg you – let’s not mention those who have used this concept to cook some greasy gruel for the entire world saying, “All of you, eat from this pot. And if you choke on it, you will die a democratic death. So, be patient and rejoice, even though you are choking!”

Let’s do without those who have slobbered with their liberal dribble on the concepts of democracy, shrouding them in decorous dogmas of lovely and false words. Let us use plain language, not the “gruely” kind. Democracy is not about choosing what you like, but what the majority of your fellow-countrymen have chosen. For instance, Barack Obama was not my favorite, but he has been elected, so, now he is my President, and since he is my President, I must be a law-abiding citizen of the country where I live and he is President.

Let’s look now at Belarus from this simplistic point of view. I don’t need to mention how I was praised and vilified. While my words at President Lukashenko’s press conference were not in themselves improper, everyone understood them in their own way. Some with tears of gratitude, and some with tears of hostility – like, “You, naive American, what do you know about our home-grown revolutionary truth?” My understanding might be primitive, but it is clear on one thing: the majority of citizens voted for this President, and those who don’t love him still must accept this reality.

As to certain Evangelical Christians living in Belarus, who don’t like President Lukashenko, I’d say once again, “Christian believers have no business participating in battles on the barricades, shedding their own blood and the blood of others. If there is no deadly threat to ourselves and our nearest and dearest, we have no right to take up the sword. For He said to us, “Put up thy sword into the sheath.”

Christ gave us a different kind of weapon – love. It makes the devil (as well as some “Christian militants”) ill, and it is the only reliable weapon we have been given. Love gave us prayer, and prayer gave forgiveness, and forgiveness provides us with patience. In Belarus eighty percent are Orthodox believers, fifteen percent are Catholics, if you consider those who are Jewish and Muslims, then only about one percent is Protestant. This one percent has 1 300 Evangelical churches in Belarus – I’m talking about vibrant, active churches. Look at the situation from Christ’s point of view, and then come to some conclusions based on this comparison.

I reiterate: freedom and order are mutually intertwined. More order means less freedom. More freedom – less order. And you can’t have absolute freedom, just as you can’t have absolute order.

But the majority of people have chosen Lukashenko, even though some people consider the elections to have been fraudulent. This opinion may be true in part. But anyone taking a trip across Belarus would agree: the majority of people voted for him, for the “father,” their “batka.” When I was in Belarus, I remembered something that once happened to Bernard Shaw. He was watching his own play being performed in a theatre. After the last scene the whole audience burst into applause. One lady pushed her way to Shaw and hissed at him, “This has been an awful play.” “You are right. I don’t like it either. But how can we two stand against them all?”

Elderly voters in the country, who number about 4 million people, voted almost unanimously for Lukashenko. Of the remaining 5 million votes – even though the opinions of those people are divided – Lukashenko still took the majority. Even if you subtract another twenty percent from the eighty percent, that still means that he was chosen by the majority.

He has been in power for a long time! But I think it’s not important how long he has ruled, but in what manner. Look at France: Mitterrand was President for 14 years, so what? He brought benefits to his country, so the people kept voting for him. I would have liked for Reagan to be in power in the United States forever, but we are mortal beings, and death doesn’t take into account our wishes.

I want to say one more thing. Even Lukashenko can become a bridge, through which changes will come to Belarus, if we act with biblical wisdom, not a plebeian approach. Lukashenko might become a bridge for assistance to the people of Belarus.

Some parts of Europe were outraged by the Belarusian elections. They don’t feel indignant that they have almost become  “the European Arabic Emirates.” But they don’t like the elections in Belarus, where, by the way, the people live without the lawlessness and stress experienced in Russia or Ukraine. Europeans have difficulty understanding the psychology of this small country that goes like this: we don’t want to sacrifice those few simple modest things we own for the sake of greater ones we are often promised. People instinctively feel that if their country is given to those modern presidential hopefuls, they will give it to anyone who is ready to pay. People know from their own sad history that it’s so easy to destroy and so incredibly difficult to rebuild.

Those “democratic” discussions throughout the world are mainly centered on the events at Minsk Central Square. Here again we see double standards. When half a million students in Rome, Paris, or London go out to protest and burn cars – they are sprayed with water cannons and met with tear gas. The police break their blackjacks on their backs. And nothing happens! Both sides consider this a natural reaction. But in Minsk everyone was guilty except for those who were breaking shop windows and smashing down doors.

Now let’s have another look at the Christian believers, I mean, at the Protestant minority. There are a few churches where the draw of the barricades seems to be stronger than the draw of Christ. Christ is the One who gives new life, not in the name of a certain church, but in the literal sense. Then temptation comes, and you realize that in this earthly life you can have fame, money, you can enjoy all the sweet sins. You can be in the middle of “important” events, wear a halo of martyrdom, and casually collect medals for fighting against the lack of freedom. You can actually turn this struggle (if there are no serious threats for yourself, of course!) into a profitable business. It is difficult for me to imagine Christ breaking windows and smashing in doors in these circumstances…

Let me repeat myself: in a country that is eighty percent Orthodox and fifteen percent Catholic, Belarus has 1 300 Protestant Evangelical churches. Yes, in some places there is a concealed opposition against them because some people are afraid of the Protestants’ dynamism and activism. But the churches survive, they prosper, they sponsor events, meetings, Bible studies, concerts, they run colleges, and schools! They are alive! They tell me, “We, Protestants, find ourselves under pressure!” Tell me, did Christ have it easier? I remember what old people used to say when I was younger: “The Church is like a spring, the more you squeeze it, the greater the force when it is released.”

Now let us turn to America’s interests. I think that regardless of who is the President of Belarus, America should strive to have a good relationship with that country and its leaders. It’s not only Belarus that needs us, but we need it as well. Belarus is the doorway to Europe, to enter and exit. President Lukashenko does not cave in to the U.S., but he doesn’t cave in to Russia either. This is his principle, not to bend to anyone, and to use all tools at his disposal for the sake of his people. Yes, he happens to be harsh and crude at times, but I have never seen a president so organically connected with his people as Lukashenko. He is exactly the same as his people.

Naturally, he is far from being an angel. But have you ever seen angel-presidents? I can’t remember a single one who had wings instead of hands.

Belarus has its own path, its own way. President Lukashenko once told me, “Ours might not be the best way. But it is our way. If we had not taken it, we would have been just crushed by the Russian mafia, racketeers, lawlessness, and corruption. We would have disappeared as a nation.”

As for the United States, I consider it very unwise not to establish good working relations with Belarus. It’s not wise to lose a dependable friend in the center of Europe, to lose a people who can be committed to their friends not only for money like some others. And don’t take it out on Lukashenko – as if it’s entirely his fault that the relationship between the United States and Belarus is not improving. Permit me to object. No, it’s not only his fault. Rather, the crisis in the relationship arises from the inflexibility and mindless stubbornness of our officials, who put before the real interests of the country their own interests, teaching others who America should make friends with. I’ll tell you with whom. We should make friends with everybody! Having good relationships with all countries is beneficial for any country. Friendship with Belarus can provide benefits to America, for it gives us the key to unlock a door through which the West can enter the East. I have previously written about this in my article “Degradation of the American Diplomatic System” for the Russian-American Business magazine.

I’m not sure whether or not I have managed to tell you honestly and plainly about Belarus. My “tale” may seem neither neutral nor honest to some readers. I’ve expressed my own point of view. This opinion of mine is always based on my deep affection for that long-suffering land, where millions of people were killed during World War II, where beautiful and humble people live, where the bells of Khatyn – the village reduced to ashes during the war – toll, reminding us that in this brief life a bell tolls for each of us. We should answer its call with peace and love in our hearts.

* Mikhail Morgulis is the chairman of the Spiritual Diplomacy foundation.

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