“When Trump came for the Mexicans, I did not speak out—as I was not a Mexican. When he came for the Muslims I did not speak out—as I was not a Muslim. Then he came for me…” So proclaimed the New York Daily News’ recent cover, the latest in a series of provocative covers. The tabloid was, of course, blasting Donald Trump for his recent policy—
Actually, hold on. The headline was not really about Trump’s recent policy proposal (can we even call it that?) to ban all Muslims from entering the United States. It was about a much bigger problem. It was about the many people who share Trump’s bigoted opinions that—
Actually, hold on. The headline wasn’t really about the presidential candidate’s supporters who are either bigoted or ignorant or lack common sense or all three. Instead, the newspaper’s cover was about the vast majority of people who may disagree with Trump but fail to stand up against his rhetoric because, hey, unless you pray to Allah, it’s not as if Trump is coming for you.
Actually, hold on. As the Daily News suggests, an attack on any single minority is an attack on all of humanity. The paper’s headline is a clear spin on a famous poem by Protestant pastor Martin Niemöller, who had written about Holocaust complicity:
“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, and I 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.”
People who say nothing to counter Trump’s bigotry are saying a lot. While they’re not necessarily supporting his views—
Actually, hold on. That is exactly what silence does. It permits hatred and ignorance. Permitting and supporting are identical in this case. We are all in danger of being stereotyped, scapegoated, and having our rights stripped when we don’t speak up. Which is why it’s great that House Speaker Paul Ryan finally said at a conference that Trump’s comments are “not what [the GOP] stands for.”
“Some of our best and biggest allies in this struggle and fight against radical Islamic terror are Muslims, the vast, vast, vast majority of whom are people who believe in pluralism, freedom, democracy, individual rights,” Ryan added.
Ultimately, we are all Muslims.
