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Editor’s Note: When Cynicism and Kindness Are Not Mutually Exclusive

The word “healthy” rarely modifies “skepticism” or “cynicism” anymore, as if there’s no longer such a thing. It’s still OK for journalists to be skeptical, but not cynical. They both basically mean to be questioning of facts or motives, but they say skepticism comes from an open mind, cynicism from a closed one – that skepticism hardens to cynicism.

Fear of being labeled a negative thing like “skeptic” or “cynic” prevents many from questioning facts or motives. I think we can thank positivity for this. She knocked down the two miscreants, banishing all naysaying. Upon her throne positivity placed kindness, a ruler worthy of the crown.

But here’s the unlikely duo picking themselves up and brushing off their butts. They’re shouldering into the bewildered crowd, proving that skepticism and kindness, positivity and cynicism are not mutually exclusive. If kindness and positivity won’t stop one country from invading another, will Russia be stopped because we know that people are motivated largely, sometimes purely, by self-interest?

We’ve sanctioned Russian banks and Russian officials and oligarchs close to Vladimir Putin. The U.S. Department of Treasury lists them all and how those actions are expected to hobble those institutions and individuals. “Sanctions” may seem like a slight word, too small to combat the muscular “Russian invasion.” Those who own a London estate or a Mediterranean yacht and send their children to private European schools apparently don’t view sanctions as slight. 

A skeptic may wonder whether that’s been done too late. Surely these types of sanctions couldn’t have been a complete unknown. Surely during that long lead-up to this invasion, they were managing to stash their assets, protect their wealth. If this is the case, sanctions won’t work.

Some oligarchs, like Evgeny Lebedev, the Russian-born owner of London’s Evening Standard newspaper and son of the former KGB agent Alexander Lebedev, published a front-page statement this week with a headline that read, “President Putin, Please Stop This War,” beside a photo of a young Ukrainian girl killed by shelling. He had not previously come out against the invasion.

Other wealthy Russians are also speaking out. They are said to be doing this because the sanctions are working and they are trying to save whatever they can of their fortunes.

A skeptical position, a cynical take perhaps. But if not this, what would cause Putin to please stop this war?