How Many People?

 There is a well-known photo of German factory workers universally saluting Hitler - universally, save for August Landmesser, who stoicly, courageously, refuses to pay homage to the Fuhrer. The photo raises so many questions..,

...what gave him the courage?

...how many others felt as he did but lacked his courage?

...why did so many feel the need to go along to get along?

...how did so many fall for Hitler's lies, anger and hatred?

...would history have been different if the righteous-minded hadn't been so cowardly?

Edmond Burke famously said all that's required for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. How many among us today know better yet sit in silence, or worse, speak favorably of what we know to be wrong, false or dangerous simply because it is in our own immediate best interest? We all like to believe that we would be among the brave, but then again, so did Peter, who assured Jesus he would not deny him if confronted as Jesus had said he would - three times before the cock crows. Therein lies the challenge. If we wait to speak out, to act, until the threat of doing so is too great, we are far more likely to fail the test of courage when the time comes. That is why the time to act is at the first hint of something that seems to go against our values, lest such behavior becomes normalized bit by bit until it is too late.

As for the photo above, only Landmesser is remembered. The rest are just so many sheep.

[Footnote: I recently watched a debate among Republican candidates for Arizona governor. One candidate asked for a show of hands from those who believed the 2020 presidential election was stolen, then immediately raised her own hand. Two other candidates hesitated before raising their hands in unison, as though waiting to see if the other would follow. So, I'll ask the question again - how many people have the courage to stick to their deeply held beliefs in the face of peer pressure? And when that peer pressure normalizes dangerous lies, whether about the security of our elections or the threat of other races or religions, what price do we pay as individuals and as a society? In such circumstances, we do not have the luxury of pointing fingers. We can only look in the mirror.]

For further thought:

This 1938 photo and caption can be found in the U.S. National Archives. It also served as a cover photo for at least one edition of Hannah Arendt's "The Origins of Totalitarianism." I would argue that it represents a midpoint somewhere between August Landmesser above and the half-hearted believers who would have opposed Hitler if they could have, but were too afraid to do so. Those would be the folks who mouth prayers at church or stand when everyone else does at a concert, but don't really have their heart in it. This woman, at least, couldn't hide her misery or shame at being forced to submit to what she abhorred.