My father was
in the Army during the Second World War.
To me and my siblings, the treachery of Imperial Japan and the horrors
of Nazi Germany are very real.
In a couple of
months, we’ll commemorate Holocaust Remembrance Day. Today, I’d like to recall a poem by Martin
Niemöller, a German pastor and theologian born in Lippstadt, Germany, in 1892,
who wrote about the Nazi rise to power:
In Germany, they
came first for the Communists,
And
I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Communist;
And then they
came for the trade unionists,
And
I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist;
And then they
came for the Jews,
And
I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew;
And then...
they came for me...
And
by that time there was no one left to speak up.[1]
Many of us are
familiar with the quote. It echoes along
with “Never again” as a warning and as a prick to our conscience. Some of my friends believe America has taken
the first step down that slippery slope towards fascism. Fascism has been defined as “a political
philosophy, movement, or regime that exalts nation and often race above the
individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a
dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible
suppression of opposition.”[2]
While I have
been concerned by some actions taken on my behalf by my country my entire adult
life, I’m not ready to make such a bold statement of disaster.
However, we
must all be aware and be vigilant to protect our rights. We must exercise that attribute of moral
courage within us, so that we are prepared if the need arises to make a stand. We must realize that taking such a stand is
not without risk. Martin Niemöller
publicly criticized Adolph Hitler, and spent the last seven years of Nazi rule
in a concentration camp.
We, people of
the United States imbued with moral courage must stand up and call out ANY
attempt to marginalize or discriminate a people in this great country.
When one is
caught off guard by a comment, it takes real talent to be able to say the right
thing. Take a few minutes and consider
how you would respond if an intolerant remark is made in your presence.
If you don’t, who
will speak up for you?
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