TO THE EDITOR:

Prophets are the ones who show us that “They” aren’t the problem. “We” are. Thus, be wary of those who point at others as the problem. Hitler rose to power and influenced millions of “good people” on the emphasis of “They”. In a Christian majority country (yes, many Germans were God-fearing Protestants, feeling their hold over culture and government waning), Christians looked to an imperfect leader who supported a political party seeking to bring back the simpler times, traditional family values and moral ways of life. And what was the Evil fighting against that old way of righteousness? “They” were. So Christians did what they could to stop “They” by gaining power themselves.

History offers timeless examples of how power corrupts and eventually ends with the “They” uprising. And because power breeds outrage when threatened, we push back against the anger of the “They”. When some Jews rebelled against the Nazi regime, I’m sure “good Christians” like us across the nation said, “Yes, we agree that what’s happening is bad, but…” and proceeded to say how Jewish retaliation was wrong. They said, “These Nazis aren’t great, but they support (insert traditional moral value here) - I’m choosing the lesser of two evils”.

The greatest prophet of all proclaimed that true love of God requires throwing away our demonization of “They” and giving up the idea that we know better than they do. Following this way isn’t easy for it means letting go of power, our war on culture and need for control - even if it leads to our own death. It’s a revolution of love that starts with addressing the evil in “me”.

Brody Hed

Becker, MN