When Nice Isn’t Nice
“Nice people made the best Nazis. My mom grew up next to them. They got along, refused to make waves, looked the other way when things got ugly and focused on happier things than “politics.” They were lovely people who turned their heads as their neighbors were dragged away. You know who weren’t nice people? Resisters.”
― Naomi Shulman
In my ignorance, up until about ten years ago (2016), I thought that what happened in Germany during the 1930s and early 1940s with Hitler and the Nazi Party could never happen here. But now I understand how this can occur anywhere when people become complacent, fail to recognize that democracy and human rights carry great individual responsibility, and let their need for personal comfort override their inner moral voice. We cannot afford to be passive when it comes to protecting our own rights as well as the rights of those around us, including those who differ from us. There is real danger from those currently in positions of power in our nation, who have and are breaking the law and causing significant harm to our people, our nation, our environment, our international partners, and our national reputation. With each unanswered power grab, this administration reaches for more. We cannot turn a blind eye to egregious acts. When resistance is most needed, we cannot afford to simply “be nice.”
During recent testimony before Congress, the United States Attorney General unbelievably attempted to justify or deflect from egregious actions or inaction by citing recent stock market highs. Profits by the few cannot justify this warped mindset.
It’s not a time for cowardly niceness; we need ruthless accountability, and not-so-nice citizens demanding it, regardless of political party.
I am totally with you on this, my friend! And like you I was not aware of the how rampant it is that people will turn away rather than stand with their inner moral voice. And yes they do have a moral inner voice! Well written and may we continue to voice our views on these blogs.
Many people whisper and share their opinions in private, but they hesitate to speak out loud and take a stand in public. It’s much easier to be “nice,” and I get that. But now is not the time to be nice.