The month of May always brought back memories of a war and the occupation of a foreign power.

In that month, the terrible war finally came to an end. Most of those that lived during those difficult years can clearly recall the devastating time. Next year will be 80 years since the war came to a close with the winning by the democratic allies over the autocratic terror of a minority. A minority, that by way of a democratic system, gained the power. When that power was obtained, the rules of democracy were no longer in effect. Hitler and Mussolini obtained such a power and never did relinquish that power. No elections — brute force was the only way to mend the free society. And that caused many millions of deaths.

We know about it, attend commemorations and talk about it. But do we still feel the danger of that side of corruption and terror? The people that personally experienced that terror are at least 85 years old and they form a small percentage of the population. A minority that is never being heard.

It is sad to acknowledge that about a quarter of the American population believes force against political adversaries can be allowed. And you find that belief on both sides of the political spectrum. Like it was in Germany before 1933 — where street fights between Nazis and communists were a daily occurrence. When a quarter of the population thinks that no negotiations but brute force should be the basis to decide, that is dangerous. In many countries a great deal of the population will become filled with fear if it ever gets this far.

In the meantime, it remains like playing with fire. In these countries, the polarization is not less and is the demonizing from the political opponent is just as deep.

An autocracy will attack a democratic society. You may remember the early May days of 1940 when Western Europe was so easily overrun. And we think on the consequences of what took place throughout a great deal of Europe during five years of oppression. It cost the lives of millions of innocent people before a period of relative rest and peace — at least in Europe — put us all to sleep. It is difficult to understand that there are people in Europe in 2024 that are in international positions and are on the side of a dictator that is over that democracy. We know exactly what sort of result that kind of institution will have.

What we all take from that terrible war — which is not, but almost still present — is the life remembrance that the autocracy, war, force and terror do not serve anything. Not only that but that those things all make it much worse and eventually will bring fear without a winner.

Ask the “winner” of the war. The loss, grief, trauma, does not ever go away. And we are thankful that many did fight for our freedom. But when you ask, they will say that they rather would not have done it if it could have been prevented — but it had been needed.

Collectively, we are standing for the choice; remembering and learning the lessons received from the recent past. Or we are being pulled down by the fanatic minority. But a hate-driven minority can be stronger than a docile, drowsy majority. It is up to us to turn the tide.

Remembrance day — Liberation 2024. Lest we forget — Lest we never learn.

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So you say you want to write?

Go for it.

Send us 500 or so words of scintillating copy. Make it funny. Make it poignant. Make it count. Make it any way you want.

Just don’t cuss. Don’t be boring. And have a point.

If we like it, we’ll run it.

Email submissions to community@rv-times.com. Put “Readers Who Write” in the subject line, and tell us the city where you live.