Happenings in today’s world distresses most people and me. Yet some of my friends do not even want to stay informed. They figure what will be will be, and they will deal with it when it happens. Elie Wiesel, a Holocaust survivor, believes the worst sin anyone can commit is to be silent in the face of evil. When he accepted the award for the Nobel Peace Prize on December 10, 1986, he said the following in his acceptance speech.
We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. Sometimes we must interfere. When human lives are endangered, when human dignity is in jeopardy, national borders and sensitivities become irrelevant. Wherever men or women are persecuted because of their race, religion, or political views, that place must—at that moment—become the center of the Universe.
History is full of people, mostly men, who sought power and economic advantage over the lives of others through predatory practices. In the United States, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Elijah Cummings are two shining examples from a persecuted minority who challenged all predatory and unjust practices against their race and other under-represented and voiceless minorities. Unafraid, they rose up and shined a bright light for people to follow and to stand firm against the injustices practiced against all of them.
I pray that people of conscience will also rise up and do the same against racism, genocidal practices against the Kurds in Syria, Myanmar Rohingya Muslims, Yazidis, and the Uyghur Muslims in China. Persecuted minorities need the United States and the world’s protection against all predators, not withdrawal, silence, and the giving of green lights to the predators. We should not be pulled into darkness.
This holds true for evil cartels in countries such as Mexico and Central America where protection money must be paid by innocent civilians if they wish to stay alive and keep their children from being drafted into the cartels to be foot soldiers and sex slaves. We need to willingly leave our comfort zone to aid and assist vulnerable people who are preyed upon in this world. It is my hope that young people like Greta Thunberg will start a movement that challenges people of all ages to rise up with them and leave their comfort zone to shine a light on predators and their evil practices.
I pray that people will accept God’s calling to protect the innocent and vulnerable. May God bless, guide and protect them and give them the courage, energy, and wisdom necessary to confront and overcome all obstacles. May predators and their predatory practices be brought to justice so that peace and good will reign forever.
Think about it
- What are your thoughts on today’s genocides? What can you do about them?
- Why do you think anti-Semitism is on the rise? What can you do about it?
- What can you do about white supremacy?
- How and why have political leaders given the green light for the persecution of minorities?
- Actions and inactions have consequences. How can we call ourselves Christians when we turn a blind eye on unbridled evil? What can you do to help the persecuted?