The war in Ukraine–I don’t care if Russia calls it a “special operation” or not. You can put a turd in a cone and call it ice cream, it’s still a turd–appears to be unique in a great many ways. The propaganda war has been entertaining if nothing else.

However, I’ve really been inspired by so many Ukrainians picking up guns to defend their nation. We know that a lot of Americans wouldn’t.

Yet successful artists in a nation are typically those who one wouldn’t expect to fight. In Ukraine, that would appear to be wrong.

When then-comedian Volodymyr Zelenskyy appeared in the music video for Ukrainian band Antytila’s 2018 single Lego, no one could have imagined the direction of their next collaboration.

Fast forward four years and Zelenskyy, now Ukraine’s president, is in charge of a country at war with its neighbour Russia.

Members of pop-rock group Antytila, meanwhile, have swapped their guitars for guns and are helping to defend the capital Kyiv.

“I don’t know what would have happened to us if someone else was in his [Zelenskyy’s] position now,” lead singer Taras Topolia told Euronews’ international correspondent Anelise Borges. “We’re proud of our president. He’s a representation of our national spirit and freedom. Not for a second over the past few weeks has he doubted that Ukraine would win.”

It is a belief the band also shares.

Now, I’m having to do some guessing about just how successful a band they are, but it does appear they’re not exactly unknowns in Ukraine.

Reading this story, I couldn’t help but wonder how many American artists would stay and fight.

I mean, sure, we can all figure Ted Nugent would, but what about other artists? How many would put down their guitars and pick up a firearm? How many would value their nation so much that they would step up and help keep it safe?

To be honest, other than Nugent, I can’t think of a single that might be willing off the top of my head. There are a few actors I could see doing it, but not musicians really. I’m sure there are some that I’m forgetting, but I don’t know who.

Yet for this band, they’re stepping up and doing something incredibly cool. My hope is that they make it through this war and the Ukrainian people recognize their bravery.

It’s easy to run when you’ve got the money to do so. It’s quite another to stay when you know on every level you don’t really have to.

Then again, in their mind, they may feel they do. They may believe it’s essential they stand and fight and that they have no choice.

Again, that’s something I can respect the hell out of.

Too many people who call themselves Americans would never even consider defending our homeland should it be invaded. They could learn a lot from the members of Antytila.

Of course, that would require them to be open to learning new things about bravery, heroism, and love of one’s nation, which I suspect few of them are.