MITLAIFER

     No, I did not lose my mind nor create a word. This is a German word which essentially describes someone who really is a zombie within society. This person goes through life not caring about anything or anyone else other than himself and perhaps his family, and not sure about that.
     So why write about this now? Because this term was used to describe those of the German society, the Austrian society, in fact any society during Nazi times who simply went through life in a fog, not supporting the Nazis actively, but going through life simply not caring, not expressing any resistance to its horrors, its evils. Their silence allowed the Nazi regime to gain the upper hand. Their silence allowed their children to buy into the flags, the music, the uniforms, and the Power!! Think how if one million Germans had stood up against the growth of Hitler what the results might have been. 
     So why now? Because, my friends, like it or not, wishing to deny it or not, we are living in a society that is comparable to that of interregnum Germany, between the two wars. We have allowed and are continuing to allow the Demented One, the Evil One, to gather more reins of power in his hot little hands just as Hitler was allowed. Society wrote off the unimaginable deeds and statements often enough so that each bit of craziness just became part of it, and nothing became beyond the pale.
     Now think of today. How many things have we allowed to happen that would have brought down any other presidency? Why do we allow this? Is it that he has charisma? I do not think so. Is it because it is the way to save our democracy? Certainly not, for there are deep and dirty strains of an imperialistic government here. Is it because charity and caring are the words of the day? NO!!! We are destroying the lives, sometimes literally, of people who are simply different . Thinking immigrants? Well, think more, for we have begun to renege on the rights of other 'different' kinds. LGBTQ rights as people, women, as people of equality with men in all spheres, and the list grows daily. 
     This man and his crooked aides inspire hatred within people such as I have not seen before. He also somehow manages to hoodwink otherwise intelligent people to follow him despite the fact that they acknowledge his peccadillos. But they simply do not care, have never cared  and the majority seem to have become mitlaifers. Some have voted before, but are worn out now or simply say to leave them alone. What is more frightening is how many of the younger first time voters are opting out, tired of the whole stinking mess the older generations have created or allowed to grow.
     We need to pay more attention not so much to that dangerous and evil man, but to gaining an inroad into the mitlaifers of our society, to open their eyes to what is happening and their role in that, their responsibilities.
     On the way to catch a plane so I will close today's posting here, but with a recommendation for a book that will open your eyes, cause you to shiver and shake with a realization that history can and does repeat itself unless we are alert to prevent it, the bad stuff. It is not a book of horrors, of fantasy, but a story, based on a true story, of what happens to society if not enough care. The book is Resistance Women. Run to the bookstore, to Amazon, to the library and read it. Now. Or we will not have a tomorrow.