Sara Marie Brenner is the Creator and Editor of TheBrennerBrief.com and the host of “The Brenner Brief” talk show airing on Monday nights from 9-1030pm ET. Twitter @saramarietweets
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On Nov. 7, there were many depressed conservatives, Republicans and even moderates who were surprised that Republican nominee Mitt Romney did not win the presidential election. As we came out of our fog by Thanksgiving or so, many became angry, more motivated and even defiant because of what we knew was coming down the pike. Case and point: Hobby Lobby.
Why does Hobby Lobby’s defiance matter?
In the 1930s, when the German Chancellor and Nazi leader Adolf Hitler was enacting laws to starve Jewish men and women of their incomes through banning them from holding certain jobs or forcing them to close their businesses, the vast majority of the German people stood aside and allowed the oppression to happen. While there were pockets of defiance, there weren’t many; and, this lack of an organized defiance — both international and domestic — eventually led to the brutal murder of millions of Jews, a world war, and half a century of communism in Eastern Europe.
One of my Democrat, Jewish, consultant friends from Cleveland, Ohio, Vic Rubenstein, wrote to me this past week over his concern with Sirius/XM having pulled Fox News Talk from its lineup. In an email to me this week, he said:
I’m not particularly a Fox News devotee, but the issue of Sirius XM’s cancellation of FNC is far more reaching and significant than the network’s news and editorial posture and party politics. … Americans should never be denied the ability and right to make informed choices. … And as a Jew, I’m haunted by the similarity between this type of suppression and pre-war Germany.
I will cancel my subscription to Sirius/XM and have urged friends, family and colleagues to do the same. Wherever the dissemination of news is endangered, freedom will falter.
Jewish business boycott in Germany: April 1933
Likewise, I disagree with Time Warner Cable’s having pulled Current TV (which has been bought by Al-Jazeera) from its lineup this past week. Whether we agree with a network’s views or not, if the voices of dissension are silenced the result is the tyrannical control of information.
If you cancel your Sirius/XM subscription or switch to Dish Network or DirecTV to protest Time Warner’s decision, you are using your feet and your pocket-book to show displeasure with a company’s decisions. You have the freedom to do this, and if you disagree with their actions, you should exercise that freedom. Otherwise, there will never be a consequence for a company’s unpatriotic decisions.
On the other hand, Hobby Lobby is choosing to step forward to fight a government that is on the verge of becoming tyrannical. Unlike the 1930s in Germany, there are many Americans and American-based companies who are infuriated with this government and its actions, and are not going down without a fight. In the past 48 hours, TheBrennerBrief.com has averaged 22,191 visitors per hour because we have been promoting the Hobby Lobby CEO’s statement that he will act in defiance of the government attempting to dictate to it what health insurance it must provide, violating the religious foundation of the company in the process.
If only the Germans, Americans and global leaders had fought the Nazis in 1930s Germany as companies like Hobby Lobby and individuals like its CEO are doing today. We cannot allow a government to take our freedom and liberty to run our businesses and our homes as we choose without shining a spotlight on it for all to see. Conservatives, and especially Republicans, always seem to say, “oh, don’t fight back against the nasty comments or the lies — people know it’s not true, and you just get down in the mud with them when you respond.” I absolutely, vehemently disagree. When people — whether they be liberals, government bureaucrats, or President Obama — know that they will get away with something without any backlash, they will continue the behavior. You beat these people back by fighting back in whatever way is appropriate, possible and necessary. In fact, that is why I started The Brenner Brief radio show in July, and the web site in November.
Just as your money can leave Sirius/XM and Time Warner Cable, your money can also go to Hobby Lobby. I encourage you to participate in Hobby Lobby Appreciation Day today, and show financial support for a company that is defying a government — in particular, one man — that is working every day to remove our freedoms and liberties. This is why Hobby Lobby’s defiance matters — whether it’s the Nazis, Sirius/XM or President Obama — we have an integral example of how to fight back even when you feel defeated, and evidence that remaining silent is not the way to win.
By speaking out, being civilly defiant and objecting to your government’s stripping freedoms and liberties from us, we can make a difference today, next year and in the generations to come. Imagine how much different the outcome would have been if only the Germans in the 1930s had done the same.
Please share this column with others who may not understand the connection, or the importance of not sitting silent.
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Related articles
- Tragic letter from The Hobby Lobby CEO: results of personal freedoms slipping away (thebrennerbrief.com)
- Hobby Lobby Appreciation Day: Saturday, January 5 (thebrennerbrief.com)
- Hobby Lobby to Defy Obamacare Mandate (radio.foxnews.com)
- Tens of Thousands Stand with Hobby Lobby (radio.foxnews.com)
- On Saturday, January 5th – THOUSANDS of Americans to Support Hobby Lobby Over HHS Mandate Battle (thegatewaypundit.com)
- Hobby Lobby Appreciation Day: Stand Up for Religious Freedom (heritage.org)
The Brenner Brief 
I thought Sirus just dropped FNT on the XM service but kept it on the Sirius side?
This is the way it always starts. Just reading Israeli and UK papers on Obama’s MSM propaganda machine. Even the rest of the world in seeing the forces of tyranny at work. Conservatives cannot afford to remain quiet anymore. Great article!
Although I do understand your point and agree with most of what you are saying as a Jew I cannot support Hobby Lobby. A company that forces it’s religious beliefs on it’s employees is not a company I can support. They only allow Christian holidays off, and none of the Jewish ones. They close every Sunday so that their employees can go to church, but Jews don’t go to temple on Sunday. So they make it impossible for any person of another religious persuasion to work there, it really feels like a Christian’s only club and I don’t support exclusionsists. From a business standpoint, their prices are way higher then the competition, and their hours are very inconvenient.
Seriously? Think about it.
The point is not that every business should support every religion, but rather that every business should be free to follow its owner’s morality and religious beliefs. If you were running a company according to Jewish precepts, I as a non-Jew would not have any problem supporting you – because I believe you have the right in this country to do so. Closed from sunset Friday to sunrise Sunday? More power to you! Closed for Passover but open Christmas Day? Great, I have a place to buy batteries in a pinch! In the same way, Hobby Lobby’s Christian owners have the right to run their company according to their own religious beliefs and practices. You, as a Jew, have the right to work for them or not, as suits you.
Now how do you know they make it impossible for a person of a different religious persuasion to work there? Have you called to ask if they’d let you off for Saturday temple? I bet not. And I also bet they would. Americans who are sensitive about their own religion are generally sensitive about the religions of others as well.
As for prices – have you ever set foot in a Hobby Lobby? Sorry, you’re wrong. Outside of the discount places that may or may not have what you need, Hobby Lobby has very fair prices that I’d say are on the LOW end. They are also large enough to carry pretty much anything arts-and-crafty you need at any moment. I’ve always been very happy with the place, myself. Their hours are just fine (do you really need to buy new paint at midnight on Sunday, or do you maybe need to plan a little better?).
They also do not “force” their religious beliefs on employees – they just make it convenient for Christians to practice Christianity. It’s not like they have a church requirement or anything. And frankly, even if they did, you aren’t forced to work for them! There are plenty of retail outlets that are happy to hire hard-working folks, even in today’s employment climate.
Last time I checked I lived in America. last time I checked I can spend my money where and how I want to.To choose which business I do or do not do business with. So why is it ok for me to spend my money where and how I want to but it is not ok for a corporation to do the same?To drop a service that for whatever reason is not working out for them.”Likewise, I disagree with Time Warner Cable’s having pulled Current TV (which has been bought by Al-Jazeera) from its lineup this past week” quoted from the above article. Both sides of the coin need to be viewed completely to make a valid statement about it…
I think this is just the beginning of the tyranny and the govt keeps trying to sell it as they know what’s best for us. Apparently Americans are too dumb to know how to take care of our own health.
Reblogged this on lauralee21's Blog and commented:
This is what we should do anytime govt tries to overstep its boundaries
Just throwing this out there. The Taco Bell in our area decided to reduce their fulltime employees to partime to avoid Obamacare. They stated this as fact. So this is the beginning….http://www.news9.com/story/20526053/guthrie-taco-bell-worker-speaks-after-hours-cut-to-avoid-health-insurance-mandate
We have actually reported on Wal-Mart doing the same previously, and today we have a column up about Wendy’s and another about Morgan Stanley. We have three separate columns about this on the site. You are absolutely correct.
So if your Jehovah’s Witness boss signs you up for a healthcare plan that doesn’t include blood transfusions, you support that right? You can pay for the blood transfusions on your own, no problem.
Comparisons of something one doesn’t like to Nazi Germany are older than the internet and completely asinine.
By distracting us with sideline issues, you’ve missed the point yourself.
The government should not have the right to tell a business how to run its health insurance program. The employees know what is offered and can go elsewhere if they don’t like the benefits.
This is soooooo NOT like Nazi Germany – I cannot even believe it is being compared (must be the Freedom of Speech that is protecting you, Sara Brenner). The Government is NOT saying you are forcing your employees to take these drugs or even have an abortion even if an employee wants to keep the baby – THAT would be Nazi (go see the Holocaust Museum – and bring tissues). The Government is saying it needs to be AVAILABLE, not used. IF Hobby Lobby and ALL the other Conservatives really thought about it, WHY be so militant that someone NOT have an abortion, bring the baby to full term (perhaps in a hostile womb environment with drugs, smoking, bad nutrition and whatever else the less than mature individual takes with her body) and birth the baby only for the Pro-Life individuals to say, “Yeah, we have saved another life” and not even THINK of the hell that child might have been born into (neglect, starvation, abuse, the list can go on and on). And don’t tell me that EVERY baby is adoptable as that doesn’t happen every time (look at the horror stories of babies being found in dumpsters and infants being abused and killed by people who have NO IDEA of caring for someone else let alone a helpless baby). DON’T tell me every child born to a mother who wanted an abortion is adopted by a nice family and that the laws that said “yes, it is okay for you to abort this baby with these drugs” are now saying, “we need to make sure this mother really wants to give her baby away.” See the irony? I BELIEVE that instead of making such an issue over these drugs, perhaps we (AS A NATION) should be thinking of counseling (oh wait, Planned Parenthood is supposed to do that, but conservatives do not like this) and instructing teens and young adults on safe sex and being holy to their bodies (oh wait, conservatives don’t like the schools to do this and say parents should teach their children at home – which would be AWESOME but doesn’t happen in ALL households). It is time AMERICA to really think about the cause AND effects of our decisions. WHO will speak out for the helpless Victims before AND after they are born?
When you write with all caps your comments aren’t even readable, and it doesn’t make the writer look all that mentally stable. *That* is the irony.
Nonetheless, the comparison is definitely a valid one, and even the Democrat man who is a Jew – mentioned in the column – agrees.
This column is an opinion piece. You’re welcome to not agree; however, you aren’t entitled to your own facts, with which your comments here are tainted.
[Sarah’ Response]…. When you write with all caps your comments aren’t even readable, and it doesn’t make the writer look all that mentally stable. *That* is the irony.
Nonetheless, the comparison is definitely a valid one, and even the Democrat man who is a Jew – mentioned in the column – agrees.
This column is an opinion piece. You’re welcome to not agree; however, you aren’t entitled to your own facts, with which your comments here are tainted.
[Robin’s Response]…. So sorry that you were not able to read my emphasized wording, will try not to insult you with those this time. However, you show your true colors by not even trying to see another side of an issue you yourself bring to the table.
Since this is an opinion column, here is my opinion of your response:
1)Give me facts in response – don’t try to discredit my opinion by attacking me as a person, that is juvenile and below your intellect.
2) One person who is a Democrat and of Jewish faith who by chance agrees with you just shows there is a wide variance of views in Democrats (Which is fine by me, it makes debates more interesting). It does not, however, state a fact and is still only an opinion of one person. Again, fine by me, but don’t tell me I am bringing up my own facts when I am only stating what I see in the newspaper, internet and experience in my own life. Sorry, don’t have specific articles, perhaps next time.
Best of luck with your opinion column. These are only suggestions for you in your future responses and you are welcome to disagree, but don’t expect only opinions that are your own. Regards; Robin Stone