We Were Afraid

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Liz Cheney, who used to be high up in Donald Trump's administration,
 writes that he knew he had lost the election, but went ahead with 'stolen' lie.

Throughout history, some ordinary people knew what dictators were doing, because of their jobs. Someone who works in a government mortuary knows something is wrong when bodies of a certain group of citizens, are wheeled in without supporting paperwork.

Why didn’t you say something?

We were afraid.

Adolf Hitler and the Nazis are one example. Some Germans say they were just following orders. Others say they were afraid to speak up about the prelude to the Holocaust that permeated all walks of life. We only hear about that fear when dictators like Adolf Hitler are dead. We know about some African countries where citizens are forced to carry placards and stomp their feet. ‘I have kids. I don’t know anything about this Gaza and Israel thing, but I have kids.’ Another example is the world of narcotics, protected by a skin as tough as a crocodile’s. Territory drug chairmen that grow, process and distribute the product instill fear in all those around them, including the church.

We were afraid. Does that make us cowards? In a way it does, because we only we speak up after irreparable damage is done, when a lot of water has gone under the bridge, to borrow an English proverb. Liz Cheney is the brave one because very few people speak out while the problem is still buoyant. To her, Donald Trump will be in the bloodstream of the Republican Party for a long time, if it makes him the 2024 nominee. She wrote Oath and Honor because she can see the damage, and foresee even more.

Nonqaba waka Msimang

Executive Blogger

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