Sunday, February 06, 2022

It CAN Happen Here

Bloodlines
The Republican Party is currently split between followers of former president Donald Trump, and those rejecting Trump – who more closely resemble the Republicans of my days in Washington – men and women who put the preservation of democracy uber alles, above their own reelection and fundraising.

Some Republicans in the latter camp have come together in “The Lincoln Project.” [https://LincolnProject.us] “The Lincoln Project is an American political action committee (PAC) formed in late 2019 by former and incumbent Republicans.” [https://en.wikipedia/wiki/The_Lincoln_Project]

One of the Lincoln Project’s undertakings is the production of videos. One, “Bloodlines,” portrays how democracies have – and can again – be transformed into authoritarian states. That video is embedded below where you can watch it.

It is preceded in this blog post with the famous poem, “First They Came” – which will take on even more meaning after you have watched the video.

-- Nicholas Johnson, February 6, 2022

First They Came

German Lutheran Pastor Martin Niemöller (1892–1984)
1946

First they came for the Communists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Communist

Then 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 out for me

"Bloodlines," The Lincoln Project, January 22, 2022



January 6, 2021

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1 comment:

Unknown said...

I grew up in a Republican household. I was registered as a Republican until 3 years ago, when I finally just could no longer be associated with the GOP. I hadn't actually voted for a Republican for a long time (except, perhaps, in a local election). When I appeared at the Auditor's office and signed my new registration as a Democrat, I looked up and told the nice woman assisting me, "I feel cleaner already."