The Rights of Others, - ©1997, Lane Baldwin

The Rights Of Others

Why should I stand up for the rights of others ? Why should I care? Why does it matter to me?

Often, when people hear of a problem seemingly distant to their own lives, they will ask questions such as these. Because they can't see how the problem affects their lives, they don't want to get involved. Or, they're afraid that getting involved my cause some problem in their lives, affecting their little corner of the world.

What these people don't realize is that it does affect all of us. Every time that we overlook injustice, turning a blind eye and deaf ear to the problem, our world changes for the worse. Every time we ignore crimes against our brothers and sisters (and we're ALL related!), it's as if we were accomplices to the crime.

It's time for all people of good conscience and good character to take a stand and speak out. It doesn't matter if the people affected are of the same religion or color as you. It doesn't matter if they live halfway around the world, or in your community. What does matter is that there are people in the world taking advantage of the rest of us, and unless we put aside those things that appear to separate us and work together, they will continue.

During the days of preparation for demonstrations at Mexican Consulates around the country to denounce the government's actions in Chiapas, Mexico, I read about a Lutheran minister that had become an outspoken activist for human rights. I can't think of a better demonstration of why we must all take a stand against injustice.

Martin Niemoeller was a clergyman of the Lutheran Church in Germany and a pastor during the 1930's and 1940's. In 1944 he was arrested by the secret police and was sent to a concentration camp, sentenced to death for speaking against the state. He was freed by the allied armies before he could be executed, 1 month before the war ended and 12 years after the German people elected the Nazis to power.

After the war Pastor Niemoeller became a vocal and passionate defender of human rights, and he reminded every single person he spoke to as to WHY it is so very important that each and every one of us speak out against prejudice, injustice, and oppression all the time and every time we see or hear it, why we have to "look out for the other guy."

He explained it this way:

. . . In Germany they came first for the Communists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew. 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 Catholics, and still I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me, and by that time no one was left to speak up. . .

Don't let this happen to you. Don't wait until it is too late. Act NOW! Send letters, faxes and e-mails. Make calls. Tell others about what is going on and get them involved. The time is long overdue that we hold our representatives accountable and take back control of our own lives, and our future.