From author, Patricia Friedberg
The desecration of Jewish cemeteries and the bomb threats
against Jewish Community Centers demand that I, a child in London during the 2nd
World War, speak out. If it wasn’t
for one foggy night during that war, Hitler would have invaded England and I, together
with all British Jews rounded up and sent to a concentration camp. That means my children; their children
and their children’s children would not be born. That means if I, who lived that history, stay silent, then I
too, am guilty. I’d be as guilty as
the Republican Party for not standing up to a dishonest President. I’d be guilty for not defending my
faith and those of the Muslim faith. And more than that I’d be guilty of turning
a blind eye to what I know is extremely dangerous.
I believe in free speech. I don’t believe in distorting the
truth, denying the press and making promises that can’t be kept. This is how Hitler took over Europe. This
is why millions of civilians as well as millions of soldiers on both sides of
that war were slaughtered. It is also why I felt compelled to write 21 Aldgate,
the story of two world wars and much more. Perhaps I had a premonition.
Donald Trump and his multimillion dollar cabinet, a cabinet
made up of mostly men seem to ignore history, or, far worse, accept the
connection to white supremacists which happens to be Trump’s base. Hillary
Clinton’s description, “basket of deplorables’ couldn’t be more pertinent.
‘Making America
First’ means, making it white, making it Muslim free, making it isolationist. Doesn’t that bring back the late 1930’s?
Isn’t that why America entered the war in 1941 instead of 1939 and only then
because Pearl Harbor was attacked? FDR did all he could to persuade the country
to enter earlier. Too many refused to listen then and they are not listening
now. And by the way, Russia started out aligned with Germany. Doesn’t that tell us why we can’t allow what
appears to be a dictatorship to govern the United States of America?
Mr. Trump you
have given permission and a voice to these purveyors of hatred. Your rhetoric appeals to the fears of
those who hide behind racial slurs and midnight destruction.
This is not new.
It happened in
my lifetime and it is happening again.
Heed...Lest history repeats itself.
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