1 min read

I commend Canadian Rhiannon Hamdi for the well-written Aug. 28, 2025 op-ed (“Our neighbors to the south need to look in the mirror”). 

We Americans need to look closely at what is happening in this country. Regardless of party affiliation, we should all be alarmed at the now-daily news of masked ICE agents roaming our streets; the opening of detention camps; ongoing political vendettas; the use of armed troops against the citizenry; the distortion and or suppression of information critical to a society that seeks to remain free and to protect its citizens; the dissemination of propaganda by leaders
bent on furthering their own agendas rather than serving the public; and the creation of alliances with foreign leaders known to be violating the freedoms and rights of their own people. 

If this doesn’t sound disturbing, I suggest people become familiar with the history of France from 1939 to 1945 to see how quickly complacency in the face of such developments can wreak havoc on a country that considers itself too strong and too secure to be brought to the brink of disaster. 

What happened in France during those years is eerily similar to what is happening in the U.S. now. But no one should simply take my word for this. With a little research, I’m sure everyone will be as surprised as I was to see how clearly history repeats itself. It also gives us a chance, if we’re wise, to head off disaster before it occurs.

Suzanne Roy
Lewiston

Join the Conversation

Please sign into your CentralMaine.com account to participate in conversations below. If you do not have an account, you can register or subscribe. Questions? Please see our FAQs.