I am always astonished at the depths that people can go and still see themselves as in the right. There are actually very few absolutes in this world, yet so many people believe that they are ABSOLUTELY correct. Many politicians and their followers take the moral high ground while standing on the rights of people who believe differently. I am not sure how they justify hand-picking who deserves constitutional protection, but I am sure that we need to protect everyone. There is a well known poem attributed to pastor Martin Niemöller (1892–1984) that makes a valuable point. When you protect others, you are protecting yourself:
First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out--
Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out--
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out--
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
I read a book this week that made me think about today's politicians and politicians of years ago. My Grandfather's Gallery: A Family Memoir of Art and War was written by Anne Sinclair. She tells the story of her grandfather who lost his prestigious art gallery to the Nazis. He was lucky enough to escape to New York with his family, but the story was wrenching at times. It showed humanity at its worst and at its best. We need to make sure that we never allow our search for power to bring us to those depths again.
On a lighter note, I am finishing an easy mystery that has kept me smiling throughout. Mummified Meringues by Leighann Dobbs is a light mystery that certainly fills the bill after reading any book where Nazis play a key role. The characters are likable and the plot easy to follow. Once you get past a corpse in the basement and a bunch of grandmas playing detectives, Dobbs writes books you can have fun figuring out.
I guess it is time for me to figure out what to read next. Hope everyone has a great weekend and an easy fast for those who do.
Happy reading,
- Beverly