I have a friend who is relentless about protesting the current administration. Attending opposition rallies, picketing, gathering signatures. She has an urgent feel to her activities, as though the world depends on her. She is daunting, she is at it every day. My friend looks a bit over the edge. Her fear is palpable.
Elie Wiesel says, “It is those who appear deranged, the ones who know what’s coming and that issue the first warning." Moshe the Beadle, who we meet in his book Night, returns from Auschwitz, telling everyone what he saw, people thought him deranged, crazy. He roamed the streets shouting to anyone who would listen and no one did, to their own peril. Moshe tried to save his friends, yet eventually almost all the Jews in Sighet were slaughtered.
Next year at this time, we head to the ballot box, and a chance to reset our current course. Will we allow ourselves to believe the Beadle of our times, or will the country choose four more years of the same or worse? My friend is the Beadle, she sees what’s coming and she heralds to all.
Will it be like Moshe, who stood by and watched as the world fell apart as he felt powerless? I cannot say.
I am only one person, so is my friend, yet together I believe we make a difference. Now it’s up to others. I wonder what will you do?
These words taunt me: “All that is necessary for evil to survive is for good men to do nothing.”
I’m Lou Nessand that’s my perspective.
