In the face of hatred, remaining silent is no longer an option
“First 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, andI did not speak out—because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.”
Martin Niemöller
This quote by Martin Niemöller, a Lutheran pastor in Germany during World War II, rang loud and clear in my mind as I stood in line to vote last Saturday and saw the news notification pop up on my phone to announce that 11 Jews had been murdered in their synagogue during Shabbat morning services. I think my immediate reaction to my boyfriend, who stood in line next to me and is also Jewish, was, “you’ve got to be kidding me.” However, I was not surprised.
I was not surprised that an anti-Semitic white supremacist open fired on a sanctuary of Jews in morning prayer, as the Jewish people have unfortunately grown used to facing hatred and bigotry for the crime of being “different.” Martin Niemöller’s words rang clearer in my mind in that moment than ever before.
I heard “then they came for me” on repeat as my mind raced through all the hatred that led up to Saturday morning in Pittsburgh. Nine African American church-goers killed at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina. Three Muslim students shot in their apartment in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Hundreds of individuals shot and killed by police and tens of thousands of individuals killed by homicide each year. I could go on.
All this being said, it was clear to me that Jews, and those whose lives were taken in Pittsburgh, were not the first to suffer at the hands of hate and will not be the last. As “then they came for me” looped through my mind, it became clear to me that I, too, was guilty.
I by no means intend to place blame for the violence caused by one hateful anti-Semite on anyone but him and the individuals and systems that enabled him, but I cannot skirt my responsibilities to my Jewish community and the community at large.
Jews live by a value called “tikkun olam,” which roughly translates from Hebrew to be “defined by acts of kindness performed to perfect or repair the world.” While I have done my best to live by this value, giving my time and money to others, the shooting in Pittsburgh illuminated that I have not done enough.
I cannot pick and choose which parts of the world are in need of my efforts to repair, remain silent on those I have not selected as my token causes, and respond with anything other than admittance of guilt when hateful words and acts are still said and perpetrated in our nation. Again, I do not mean to assign blame to those who are not guilty of these hateful actions, but my silence or a shrug of my shoulders at an issue that ‘does not affect me’ speaks as loudly as complicity.
I believe I have done my best to support those in need, voice my opposition to those who carry out and enable hateful acts, and live by the value of “tikkun olam,” but the violence in Pittsburgh, along with the many, many other acts of hate before it, convey loud and clear that my best is not enough—I, and we, must do better.
Two ways you can join the fight against hate today
I wouldn’t be living up to this commitment if I solely spewed my opinion without giving you actionable takeaways, so here are two of the most impactful ways to respond to the Tree of Life synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh, along with other acts of violence and hate in our country:
- Vote like your life depends on it—for some, it does. Today is the day, so make time to vote. As my father texted me and my brothers a few days ago, “it’s more important than anything else you have to do.” Not only is it more important, but your time spent voting is sure to pay far more dividends than anything else you have to do today, as we, as a collective voice, have the power to change our nation for the better.
- Vote with your dollars. The opportunity to cast your ballot may only come around every few years, but in our highly commercialized society, the ability to vote with your dollars is constant. By “vote with your dollars,” I don’t mean you should donate to political candidates or causes, although if that’s how you choose to donate, please do; instead, spend the money you’re already spending on goods and services with companies that share your values. As consumers, we have incredible power to influence which companies succeed and fail and how they spend their money, solely through the purchasing decisions we make every day. By purchasing products and services from companies that share and act on your values, your opinion on where our country needs to head will be conveyed loud and clear. To find socially responsible companies, check out B Corp certified organizations, Fortune’s “Change the World” company list, or the FTSE4Good Index Series, which is “designed to measure the performance of companies demonstrating strong Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) practices.” Urge the companies you support with your dollars to take a stand against hate on social media or by contacting them directly.
Take a stand with your everyday actions
While these are just two actions you can take to ensure your voice and values are heard and recognized, there are countless ways to speak out against hate. Primarily, I urge you to stretch past your comfort zone and ensure your everyday actions communicate what you stand for. If you happen to slip into the comfort of complacency, as I often do, I’d encourage you to remember Martin Niemöller’s words. We are all at risk of facing hatred and violence, and without taking action, we are all complicit in its perpetration.