It Starts With Fear

In the 1920's and 1930's, Nazis started their campaign of terror with bullying tactics. The tactics they used caused fear to reign supreme. Appeasement was tried to pacify and stem the tide. But it just encouraged the tactics employed by the Nazis and emboldened them to go on to more and more horrible things with the end result being the world thrown into a worldwide conflagration and the ultimate of horrors, the Shoah.

There were a few brave people and newspaper writers that attempted to stand up to the onslaught of hate but there were too few voices raised in protest. Today, the world is seeing terror tactics employed by Islamists. The world is seeing intimidation tactics in an attempt to stop free speech. The Mohammed cartoons created by some Danish cartoonits are far more innocuous than the cartoons that are printed daily in Arab newspapers that dehumanize Jews and spread the infamous blood libel lies.

So many lies are spread about Israel but no matter how many times the same lies are said, it does not make them true.

Fear and intimidation kept many people from speaking out when Hitler was raising to power. A lot of Germans bought into the idea of Hitler's racial purity and superiority. Today, we are seeing Islamists who believe that Islam is the only true religion and all must submit. In effect, Islam is superior. Acts of terror and intimidation are being employed around the world by Islamists. Are we seeing a replay of the 1920's and 1930's? Will there be enough people to counter the Islamists bullying tactics and acts of terror?

Today, it's the book author, the film maker, the cartoonists, and the newspapers who dare criticize Islam. The Israelis have been on the recieving end of terror acts for decades. And too many blame the Israelis instead of those who commit the acts of murder. It sounds all too familiar.

First They Came for the Jews

First they came for the Jews
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the Communists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for me
and there was no one left
to speak out for me.

Pastor Martin Niemöller