Another Sin: Silence

Closely related to Pollyannaism, in my  mind, is Silence.  Often, I think the two slide into each other.  I can’t speak for you, but in my own case, I have typically been an optimistic soul.  In most instances, I strongly applaud this attitude both for myself and in others.  Why?  Because generally I find viewing a half-full glass better than the reverse.  
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But in our current political climate, to remain silent if one is morally/ethically outraged by the silence of those in power who have always appeared to be reasonable regardless of ‘party’, is terrifying in its implications.   And though ‘ordinary people’ like me and my friends and acquaintances lack that same power, for those of us who DO march and protest, etc., during Week #2 of the new status quo, not speaking out when and if others applaud what’s happening right now, strikes me as evil.  I struggle with this ‘sin’ now, more and more.  And I see how easily the desire to assume a Polly Anna-ish perspective can slide into safe silence.  No, those of us with these tendencies must think carefully:  Are we mimicking the ‘Good Germans’ of the Nazi  regime?  Or are we going to say, ‘Enough’, and speak our particular truth, now, before it’s too late.  Playing Polly Anna or remaining silent risks running our country right into a repetition of 1930’s Germany.

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