Nick Duck’s personal letter to us all

Before going to Ukraine, Nick Duckworth left a letter to be shared with all of us who knew him in case of his death, dated April 4th, 2022.

Nick would at this time not have imagined the impact he would have, how many communities would hear and amplify his voice.

Today, I implore you to give it a read, as the death wish of a foreign volunteer who has laid his body to rest for Ukraine, and indeed, for us all.

Dated: April 4th, 2022

Dear Friends & Family,

Today, I write this knowing my chances of survival are very slim. Mainly so I can encourage you to stand together. The lack of leadership in the U.S. has always baffled me. We constantly pride ourselves as the leaders of the free world, but I’ve honestly never seen it. Too many of us are so quick to turn on each other over politics.

I know this first-hand as I’ve watched it destroy my family. I guess that’s why I’ve always chosen the middle ground. Sitting here, I feel ashamed because I didn’t use my voice to try bringing not just my family, but us all together like I used to dream about as a kid. Instead, I’ve chosen to make my life forfeit and try to go help fight in what I see as the last world war. I know it seems like a crazy decision, but I’ve made this choice thinking about all of you. I’ve been given privilege to know this is way worse than anything you see on TV or social media. Generations are being slaughtered, our government is failing when the world needs us the most, and this is truly all because we have allowed those with power to remain in office for far too long. They’re so out of touch with society, and they compensate by turning us against one another at every turn. I for one can no longer accomplish my dreams for change, but you all can. So, I’m writing, asking you all to come together. Stop supporting this drawn-out charade. Demand new, younger representatives in every form of government head office. Ask yourselves how long you’ll watch, because I understand this isn’t just a war on freedom, but it is instead a war of control on populations en masse. All of us have a duty to protect the future, and that starts today.

I know this will only reach a handful of you, but I pray and hope you won’t be like I have been the last 14 years. If not for Ukraine, if not for the innocent lives that have been lost, do it for you. No threat of nuclear fallout should ever take away your voice or your will to fight for what’s right.

I love you all, and I’m sorry I cannot be your voice. My life is and always has been forfeit.

Mainly because I value yours more than my own.

Source: vipassana-newbie