Before the events of Sept. 11, 2001, many of us used to wonder how could good German citizens allow the rise of the Nazi movement into power. But after eight years of George W. Bush we've all learned that people are easily herded and controlled by relentless propaganda and economic scarcity. Anyone even half awake now knows how vulnerable democracy is, how malleable the Constitution is, and how probable it is that those who desire power will attempt to seize it.
Scholars who study the rise of Nazism basically understand it as the frog in the kettle syndrome. If you put a frog in water and slowly turn up the heat the frog will stay in the kettle without much protest until finally boiled to death. In other words: The demonic is most effectively employed slowly, step-by-step, inch by inch. Martin Niemoller, a Lutheran pastor, reflecting on Christianity's and his own compliancy in the rise of Nazism put it this way:
"First they came for the Jews and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the Communists and I did not speak out because I was not a Communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak out for me."
Which brings me to my point. Have you heard about what's happening in Arizona? Seems they have passed a new get-tough law on panhandlers... ummm, I mean illegal immigrants. Sounds like anyone suspected by any police officer, for any reason, can be stopped and asked for proof of citizenship. Those without proof will be subject to arrest. Those who are with the offender can also be arrested. Those who might be driving an illegal immigrant to a job, or to church, or home, or a party, or to the clinic or school or hospital, they can be arrested.
Given the context, in Arizona, a border state, my bet is not too many white middle-class folk will be asked to identify themselves. My bet is that lots of brown-skinned people will be made suddenly suspect. Right here in America. What's next, yellow stars on one's back?
To say the least this is disturbing. It doesn't matter who is to blame for this cultural hardening of the heart and clinched fist toward the neighbor. What matters is what you and I will do to stop this cancer from developing and spreading. What matters is to stop this madness because first they came for the panhandlers, but I did not speak out; then they came for the illegals, but I did not speak out; then they came for the liberals, and at some point they will come for you and me. Unrestrained power is evil.