Does anyone remember the quotation coined by Martin Niemoller? He was a prominent pastor in prewar Germany and an outspoken foe of Adolph Hitler. He will be most remembered for this simple, but terribly menacing, statement:
“First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out — Because I was not a Socialist. Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out — Because I was not a trade Unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out — Because I was not a Jew. Them they came for me — and there was no one left to speak for me.”
How strange is it to compare the events before World War II to current events taking placein this country now that Donald Trump has been declared president. His own Republican Partyhas no control over his actions, no say in his ramblings, no stopping his lies or his utter lack ofself-control. The Republican “leaders” do not seem to have any will of their own but are just goingalong for the ride, no matter where it takes them.
Is this what this country has come to?
Have the voters in this country lost the will to remedy this malfeasance in our government, or are they ready to fight for the principles on which this country was founded?
Freedom! Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness!
According to the Declaration of Independence: “… all men are created equal. They are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights. … That to insure these rights, Governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any Form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it. … It is their right, and their duty, to throw off such government and to provide new Guards for their future security.”
The only way I can think of to do this would be to vote in the primaries, vote in the general election vote whenever and wherever you have the legal right to do so. Don’t let someone steal your right to make a difference in the outcome, or someday you may not have any choice.
Donald Trump has failed, miserably, to reach the majority of the American people with his lies,mismanagement, arrogance and self praise. He has proven over, and over again, to be someonewho is loathe to share any political control with anyone or any group. His demands, which border on royal decrees, are constant and arbitrary. The turnover rate for his political henchmen has become comparable to the Keystone Kops, only not as funny. His stand on immigration is anathema to a country and system that has been built by immigrants.
All of this country’s population started with, and flourished from, immigrants and would not have survived without them. Tearing families apart, and holding children as hostages until the “wall” was funded is not good, moral or right.
In my opinion it is closely related to kidnapping and demanding the payment of ransom, except instead of the parents paying it would be the taxpayers.
I know I’m running on too long, but there are not enough words, time or space to describe the criminal acts being perpetrated on the citizens of this country by this tyrannical despot and his cronies in the Republican Party. I can only hope, and pray that they will come to their senses, realize where this individual is leading them and finally do what is right for the country.
Larry Wakefield
Aberdeen
