“first they came for…”
This phrase is the beginning of a statement made by Martin Niemöller after the ending of WWII. A German Lutheran pastor who changed his affiliations and beliefs as he witnessed the horrors that Hitler perpetrated. I guess he found that the world got a little smaller when they came for him. https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/martin-niemoeller-first-they-came-for-the-socialists
The first time I saw this statement it was on a stone monument/memorial to the holocaust located on the streets of Boston, Mass. Those profound words as well as the memorial stay with me still some 30+ years later. I cannot explain the devastating effect that it had that day. And I don’t think I will ever forget his quote.
the changing wind
In September of 1986 Barbra Streisand gave a concert at her home. It was the first time in 20 years she had performed in concert. The concert was to raise money for like-minded folk against anti-nuclear activities and the preservation of our environment, civil liberties, and human rights. Now this is NOT a call to arms or umbrage. Regardless of what your political leaning she had something memorable to say. She talked about the then recent disaster at Chernobyl. The nuclear explosion that left us all “downwind”. And so to her, the world just got a little smaller.
my neighbors in europe
You may find that for me to refer to Europe as my neighbor is a little odd since I reside in the United States (proudly I might add). But my Rennie made a statement after we got home from that magical trip in May https://sassaleeyours.com/eiffel-offal-and-awful-my-adventure-in-europe/
He said that, “the world just got smaller”. I get it.
All of my life I dreamed of going to Europe. Specifically to Greece, Italy and Spain. I never imagined that it would come true. Travel across the ocean to another part of the world that I had only read about in books? But then, we did it. My whole outlook changed as did my expectations. Now it isn’t so much if but when we go back. It doesn’t seem so far away anymore.
check out what’s next door
If you have been listening to the news at all in the past couple of weeks (and don’t live under a rock) then you are aware that once again Israel is under fire. It is so easy to imagine this ancient country with its endlessly persecuted people as being on the other side of the world. And really not relevant to our here and now in the States.
But guess what! Just a fun fact for you. They are just a little “downwind”. Roughly 600 miles from Santorini, Greece. One of those magical places I visited in May. Six hundred miles. Let’s put that in perspective for you.
San Francisco to Las Vegas is 596 miles – Chicago to North Carolina is 791 miles and there is 773 miles from the east side to the west of Texas
careful what you wish for
I swore when I started this blog that I would stay away from politics and religion. And I do hold myself to that. But I would be remiss if I didn’t speak from this forum and remind you that we as a people are getting ready to make yet another important decision in the coming months for our country. I ask you to do one thing.
Stop and think! We are all downwind and as Niemöller came to know if we stand by and wait because we don’t think it affects us then there will be no one left to speak up when you find out that “the world just got smaller”.
I remain as always,
Sassaleeyours…