(No picture-taking is allowed in the Halocaust Museum. I got this picture off the internet)Over the weekend I saw a documentary about the Warsaw Ghetto and then visited the Halocaust Museum. World War II has always been a topic of interest to me, and especially the Halocaust. It is said that "those who don't learn history are doomed to repeat it", and I think this is true. If we don't take the time to examine history and how certain events came to happen, we won't know how to prevent such things from happening to us or future generations.
Anyway, while at the Museum, I couldn't stop thinking about the things we've discussed in my class and especially the idea of public opinion. Every time I read or learn about any aspect of the Halocaust, I can't help but get angry. It may seem like a strange emotion to have-- I imagine most people would say that it makes them sad, contemplative, or shocked. But as I got further and further into the museum I became more and more frustrated. It seems to me that the Halocaust would never have happened if those who opposed Hitler had not been afraid to speak up. Hitler was ONE MAN. He was ELECTED into power. It just blows me away that people become so afraid of losing their freedom, that they do the very thing that takes it away. Let me explain. The Germans were so afraid of losing thier democratic government that when Hitler came into the picture and gave all kinds of false promises, they went along with it blindly. And in doing so, gave away the very freedom they were trying to preserve. If they had instead evaluated the words of Hitler practically, questioned his motives, and spoken up when they saw that he was corrupt, 2 out of every 3 Jews living in Europe would not have been brutally murdered.
So this begs the question, why are we always so afraid to speak up when we see someone in error? Are we afraid of people judging us? We should not have to answer to anyone but our own conscience. Are we afraid of being hurt becuase our opinions are different than others? Why couldn't one person sacrifice themselves to save millions of others? I know that seems easier said than done.... I'm not even sure if it's the right answer. I'm just throwing out the question as something for all of us (myself included) to consider.
I'll leave you with this quote by Martin Luther King Jr. that was brought up in my class last week:
"He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it." MLK
Some great points given here, it causes thoughtfulness. How could one man do so much damage to the society of some very intelligent people? Jesus said (paraphrased) "If you seek to gain your life you'll lose it. But if you seek to lose your life for my sake, you'll gain it." Seems like the Germans tried to keep (gain) their freedom but they lost it. Where if they had been willing to speak up, possibly at the loss of their life, they may have gained it. The people in the US may be in the same situation during this period of history. The political landscape is similar, it seems. We all need to speak up and proclaim the principle that life, liberty, and property are given by God, not the gift of any politician. Have doubts about property being a gift from God? First of all, your intellect and emotions are your property as well as your tangible goods. Further, the Bible teaches against stealing. And, the act of stealing could not exist without the ownership of property.
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