When nations are under pressure
Dogma rules the day and it goes unquestioned
Established views become final
Protected from any challenge
In these circumstances
Those who do not go along
And offend the conventional views
Take a serious risk
They may be labeled heretics or worse
They will be pursued by the righteous
By those who normalize people
Those who enforce absolute truths
Punishers who act, as if under compulsion
To make you appear as a serious threat
These defenders of established views
They will persuade others to join them
Mobilizing them to enforce conformity
To silence those who question things
Their attacks will be ruthless and overwhelming
They will have a life of their own
They will not easily subside
They will gather force
Even in the face of opposition
– Rotterdam, Netherlands
