LIFE UNDER A TYRANNY
SIR,—In these days, when there is so much talk about freedom and its opposite, I wonder how many people realise that in Britain, Germany or any other country freedom and tyranny can and do exist side by side ; seeing that a tyranny is only really a tyranny for those who are in opposition to the Government for reasons political, religious, economic, or, as in the case of the Jews, racial? Persons who support and admire a Government are unconscious of tyranny, no matter how autocratic it may be. Its leaders they regard with affectionate admiration: its most exacting demands are yielded to gladly, obedience appearing as a labour of love performed in a noble cause: no pity is felt for the Government's victims, who are regarded as anti-social persons who richly deserve their fate. There is in this respect absolutely no difference between the attitude of. mind of the blindly patriotic German towards the fate of Pastor Niemoller and the Jews and that of his British counterpart towards the fate of 18B prisoners and conscientious objectors. Even the very large number of people who, while not enthusiastic admirers of a Government, are indifferent to politics and to all forms of religion of which the Govern- ment disapproves, are not living under a tyranny provided they are not too heavily taxed or treated harshly purely on grounds of race. They continue to enjoy the pleasures of their home life and the interests of their trade or business, and they find pleasure in the many cultural pursuits and entertainments to which even the most oppressive Governments do not object. Much as we may deplore their lack of what we regard as intelligent political interest—an interest that brings such tragic results to the political rebels—it is absurd to think or speak of them as though they were deprived of every benefit
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