Wes Mantooth

"THEY CAME FIRST for the Communists,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist.

THEN THEY CAME for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist.

THEN THEY CAME for the Jews,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew.

THEN THEY CAME for me
and by that time no one was left to speak up."

I've always loved this quote and I wish more people would take it to heart (maybe we can slap this on front lawn of court houses instead of the 10 commandments) because they would care more about issues that don't immediately have any impact them (and I'm as guilty of that as the next guy...but I do try). BUT that doesn't really reflect the average person in my opinion and at the end of the day, for most, issues that have a direct impact on their lives will always trump issues that don't. In turn stuff like the ground zero mosque will be allowed to fester and grow while they worry about voting in somebody who will lower taxes (or whatever).

Then again our history here in the US is riddled with issues like this and no matter how ugly they seem to get at the height of the controversy we seem to do an okay good job at getting them worked out in the end. As troubling as some of this is, perhaps its not the worst idea in the world to just leave it alone and let those involved play it out. Facing an issue head on, getting our deepest thoughts and fears out on the table now, no matter how irrational might go a long way in getting people to think about it, learn from it and work on creating a better world tomorrow. Sometimes looking at raw ugliness right in the face can get people to realize that the values and beliefs they hold need to change.

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