John Quiñones
hosts a television show that has been on the air for twelve seasons called, What
Would You Do? The premise of the show places individuals in situations acted
out by marks to see “what would you do?” in that situation. Some of the
episodes have been interesting.
In one, a
restaurant worker refuses to serve a homeless man who has money to pay for a
meal. In another, an individual leaves a briefcase or purse on a bench and
walks away. Things like that.
Each situation
is dependent upon who is present. Some come forward to help. One man buys food
and offers it to the homeless man. Another argues with the restaurant worker to
let the guy eat. In the case of the purse or briefcase, one individual chases
down the guy/woman who left it on the bench.
I watch the show
sporadically at best, but when I do, I am interested in those who don’t say
anything, those who choose to do nothing.
Back when I was
in fifth or sixth grade, I remember going to a diner in Milwaukee with my
sister, Betty. We were sitting at the counter which was something new and
different from me. While we ate, there were patrons who came and went as any
customer might do. I remember the hustle and bustle of the place and at that
time, being kind of a quiet kid and new to the “big city” I was at once
apprehensive and exited at the same time. Probably in equal parts as I recall.
An interesting
thing happened . . .
A man walked in
and sat down on one of the stools at the counter but off to the left. Like
many, he grabbed a menu and looked it over and waited. My sister and I kept
eating. Then the man begins to say, “Why is everybody staring at me?” Each time
he said it, he got louder. He even pounded the counter.
I have to say I
freaked, maybe more than a little. I wanted to leave and I actually got up from
my stool even though my meal wasn’t finished. My sister, a nurse at that time,
placed her hand on my arm and shook her head. I remember wanting to argue that
we should leave, but my sister only held my arm and shook her head.
So my sister I
finished eating but I watched the guy out of the corner of my eye as did the
other patrons. Eventually the guy left and it went back to a kind of normality,
I guess. As I said, I was new to the big city and eating at the counter of a
diner.
I think about
that situation from time to time. I think about the brave souls who march and
protest and who dare to speak out, to write in order to make a point of view
known. I know there is a time and a place for it. I also know there are those
who choose to say nothing, do nothing and leave things as they are while they
grumble among friends.
Martin Niemöller
was a prominent Protestant pastor who was as an outspoken public foe of Adolf
Hitler. As a result, he spent the last seven years of Nazi rule in
concentration camps.
He is perhaps
best remembered for the quotation:
“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.”
Doing the right
thing, saying the right thing isn’t always comfortable and safe, is it? It’s a
lot easier, safer to ignore and keep on walking. Perhaps circle on back when
the coast is clear and murmur encouragement or condolence when no one is
looking.
Saying and doing
the right thing is especially tough when it involves a friend, someone you
admire and like. It because a lot easier to just walk away, to remain silent. I
think in these cases, Silence Isn’t Necessarily Golden. Something to think
about . . .
Live Your Life,
and Make A Difference!
To My Readers:
My fifth work of
thriller/suspense fiction Caught in a
Web will be published by Black Rose Writing in April of 2018. It is
currently in the very skilled hands of an editor I especially admire. When she
finishes, I fix what’s needed to fix and then I send it to Black Rose and their
editors will no doubt find more for me to fix. The real work of any writing
takes place in the edits, something I both dread and get excited about. Yeah, I’m
smiling as I write this. As always, I will keep you posted on the progress.
Please feel free to connect with me at:
Twitter
at @jrlewisauthor
Facebook
at: https://www.facebook.com/Joseph.Lewis.Author
If you like Thriller/Suspense fiction, check out my
novels:
Available on Amazon for .99 the Lives Trilogy
Prequel, Taking Lives:
FBI Agent Pete
Kelliher and his partner search for the clues behind the bodies of six boys
left in various and remote parts of the country. Even though they don’t know
one another, the lives of FBI Agent Kelliher and two boys become interwoven
with the same thread that Pete Kelliher holds in his hand. The three of them
are on a collision course and when that happens, their lives are in jeopardy as
each search for a way out. http://bit.ly/Taking-Lives-JLewis
Stolen Lives, Book One of the Lives Trilogy:
Two
thirteen-year-old boys are abducted off a safe suburban street. Kelliher and
his team of FBI agents have 24 hours to find them or they’ll end up like all
the others- dead! They have no leads, no clues, and nothing to go on. And the
possibility exists that one of his team members might be involved. http://bit.ly/Stolen-Lives-JLewis
Shattered Lives, Book Two of the Lives Trilogy:
Six desperate
and violent men escape. One of them stands in a kitchen facing a 14
year-old-boy with a gun. There are many reasons for the boy to pull the
trigger. Mainly, the man had started it all. http://bit.ly/Shattered-Lives-J-Lewis
Splintered Lives, Book Three of the Lives Trilogy:
A 14
year-old-boy is willing to make the ultimate sacrifice. High up on an Arizona
mesa, he faces three desperate and dangerous men in hopes of saving his father
and his brothers. http://bit.ly/Splintered-Lives-J-Lewis
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Thank you for your comment. I welcome your thought. Joe