OPINION
The Soapbox
Stand up. Speak up. It’s your turn.
Edmond Burke once wrote, “Those who do not know history are doomed to repeat it.” Donald Trump is building his entire candidacy for President on fear, a complete lack of historical knowledge, and a failure to understand the basics of our Constitution.
In what I believe is the vilest thing he has ever uttered, Trump said that he wants to catalog all Muslims and bar any Muslims from entering the United States. He even went as far as to imply that Muslim-Americans, fighting in our military overseas, would not be allowed to return to their homes.
Trump’s remarks scream of fascism and are all-too-reminiscent of Nazi Germany, where millions of the unemployed, trade unionists and Jews were rounded up, tattooed with a number, placed in camps and ultimately murdered.
“Those who do not know history are doomed to repeat it.”
Are we really going to stand here and let Donald Trump get away with suggesting we should do this to all Muslims? Would he still be gaining in popularity if he suggested that we do the same to Christians? Of course not. If he said something like that his polling numbers would fall so far Jim Gilmore would be looking down on him.
The Right Wing also loves to talk about the Constitution and “Freedom of Religion” when it serves them – but quickly forget that freedom of religion provides protection for all religions.
Many Americans are living in fear, afraid that radical religious extremists will be “murdering people in the streets.” We have become so afraid that we are now rejecting 5-year-old children, who are fleeing from murderous tyrants, from coming to the United States as refugees.
Of course, people like Donald Trump do not seem to be concerned with the horrific and murderous acts carried out by Americans on other Americans. We have seen religious zealots attack innocent people at Planned Parenthood clinics across the country, and what’s their response?
If FOX News is demanding that President Obama refer to ISIS as “Islamic Terrorists” then why isn’t FOX News calling for President Obama to call these domestic terrorists “Christian Terrorists?”
Lets just call them all what they are: terrorists. Whatever their agenda, whatever their motives, their only goal is to instill fear.
We must not be afraid. We must not begin another religious war based on fear and hatred. We must stand strong against ISIS, not because they are Muslim but because they are murdering innocent people. We must open our hearts and welcome those running in fear for their lives, with open arms.
We must remember the immortal words of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King:
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.
Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
Hate multiplies hate, violence multiplies violence, and toughness multiplies toughness in a descending spiral of destruction.”
Want to get up on your Soapbox? Opinion-driven articles are always welcome. Send submissions for consideration to Carol Robidoux at robidouxnews@gmail.com.
Matt Murray is the creator and managing editor of the NH Labor News. He is a proud husband and father, a dedicated union member, and a progressive activist working for social and economic justice from inside the labor movement. Follow him at @NHLabor_News or on Facebook at Facebook.com/NHLaborNews.
