"The world suffers a lot. Not because of the violence of bad people, but because of the silence of good people." - Unknown
A few weeks ago on Holocaust Remembrance Day, our president shared a statement, which you can see below.
To be honest, I love a reading about love and tolerance. We can always use more. However, there is one thing- one word- that is missing from this entire statement.
JEWS.
Contrary to most people's beliefs, while the Holocaust did include the deaths of many different groups of people who were deemed "unworthy", the first thing that will come up when you search the word is the killing of millions of JEWS, an attempted extinction.
You may be wondering at this point if I actually have a point, and the answer is yes, I do.
The Holocaust came about for the same reasons as the things you now see on your television screens and online news feeds. People are remaining quiet and following blindly.
The following statement is directed towards the teens of my generation as well as those who chose to stay quiet for the fear that their friends won't agree with them.
What do you do when you see a fight or an injustice? Do you stand around on your phone, walk by like nothing happened, laugh, or play along? Why have our social lives and social media suddenly become so much more important than teaching others that these injustices are not okay? There are so many people out in our world right now, helping others, marching, fighting for what they feel and believe to be right without fear of the consequence. Why are we the generation that remains stubborn in the role as the bystanders? Injustice does not only blossom from the one's who inflict it, but also from the ones who refuse to add their voices to the masses.
And to the others. Was there ever a time where you chose to fight for something just because you believed in the chance for a better world? A better chance for your children, your great grandchildren, your friends and future family. Our world is changing and suddenly, there are so many new things. New traditions and norms, ideas you didn't grow up with and I get that that is strange and sometimes does not seem right to you.
But you know what isn't right? Denying someone their happiness. The joy of love, the freedom of walking the streets free from the persecution of other people's mistakes, the peace, and protection that America is supposed to provide and represent for those who came to escape tyranny and war.
We are never going to be a nation of blonde hair, blue eyes, and perfection. What we will become if people chose silence is a nation of fear, tyranny, ignorance and loathing and like what I said in my previous article, we have come too far and prevailed to many times to let this stop us again.
So what I ask is for you to put it in perspective. What is more important? The world in which those to come will have to live in or remaining silent for the fear of losing popularity.
We are the now and we are the future.
"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not." - Dr. Seuss
