Throwing Roses To Hitler

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Abby Zimet, staff writer

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A defiant August Landmesser, married to a Jewish woman, refuses to salute Hitler at a Hamburg shipyard in 1936. Photographer unknown.

Poor poor Drumpf. Turns out he is unbeloved not just by the Rockettes, most Americans and almost every other country - see China's shiny new Trump rooster and an international cascade of horrified, belittling images - but by manyMormons. Despite a long tradition of political neutrality and conservatism, many Mormons are reportedly upset at the planned appearance of their iconic Mormon Tabernacle Choir at the inauguration of a sexist, racist, intolerant, moronicalleged president-elect who "DOES NOT reflect the values of Mormonism and does not represent its diverse 15+ million members worldwide." Charging that Trump betrays the church's principles and values, almost 30,000 Mormons havesigned a petition to protest the scheduled performance and demand it be cancelled.

One heroic singer has gone further, and after days of painful soul-searching hasresigned altogether. In an impassioned open resignation letter and Facebook post, Jan Chamberlin explains that over many sleepless nights, "I've tried to tell myself (that) I can continue in good conscience before God and man," but ultimately determined, "I could never look myself in the mirror again with self respect...It will appear that Choir is endorsing tyranny and fascism by singing for this man." Chamberlin goes further, drawing parallels with Nazi Germany and its "gargantuan crimes": "Tyranny is now on our doorstep; it has been sneaking its way into our lives through stealth... Evil people prosper when good people stand by and do nothing." "For me, this is a HUGELY moral issue," she ends. "I only know I could never 'throw roses to Hitler.' And I certainly could never sing for him." Jan Chamberlin, lead the way among so many appalled souls.

Saying No in the Twilight Zone

At Mt. Rushmore

In Iceland

In the U.K.

In China

In Germany