It’s good to be with you all this week for another edition of “Take It In.” A lot has happened in the national news. I am troubled to report on the shooting in my home state at UNC Charlotte. There were also recent shootings in Tennessee and the Poway Synagogue in California. I find it almost eerie that this all took place near Holocaust Remembrance Day, which was yesterday. I want to dedicate this post to all the survivors of such horrific tragedies.
History repeats itself. Human beings have short memories and have trouble remembering yesterday let alone learning from it. Violence, indulgence, and greed litter human history — they are not unique to our time. However, we must strive to do better than those who’ve gone before. We must imitate their courage, respect their wisdom, and avoid their folly. Once such time period we all can learn a great deal from is the Nazi occupation of Germany during the 1930s and 40s.
When Germany was undergoing the Nazi siege, many Germans lost touch with reality. Friedrich Reck-Malleczewen, author of “Diary of a Man in Despair, was staunchly opposed to the Nazi regime. In this book, he chronicles Germany’s descent in decadence and madness. He was part of a small minority who wanted to be rid of their tyranny and bring Germany back to its former sensibility and beauty. He recalls how the takeover happened little by little, over the years as Hitler assumed power in the years after WWI. First it was business and industry, then arts & entertainment, and finally all of German politics.
Old traditions and religious values were ousted. The youth were encouraged to take what was “theirs.” The old were silenced if they did not conform. It was a time of chaos, and a time of despair for those who refused to go along with the parade. All this time, however, so many Germans were immersed in the entertainment of the time and the claims (whether true or false) of Nazi victory. Even when Germany was literally going up in flames, people held onto their illusions and delusions. What does that mean for us today?
We must never become complacent in our safety or liberty. We have to recognize that sinister forces exist, and they want to place and keep us in bondage. They want to cause immense human suffering. They take over bit by bit, hardly ever conquering all at once. All the time putting blinders over our eyes so we stay in our cloudy slumber.
I encourage and call upon everyone reading this to remain vigilant. Recognize bad intentions and take action to stop them. Diffuse hatred and ignorance with love, respect and understanding. Counter violence with courage. Stop deception in its tracks with unwavering integrity. Be alert against false claims and fight them with reason and facts. Do not let empty entertainment distract you from genuine concerns and threats. Do not let history be repeated, just to provide more terrible examples for future generations. We have the strength of God and the wisdom of those who’ve before us readily available. Let’s put them to good use. May peace and grace rest with you all. See you next week, and Happy Cinco de Mayo.
“Really, this people, only yesterday so intelligent and discerning, seem to have been overcome by a disease of the mind”
~
Image by FotoRieth from Pixabay
Take it in 