If people who cherish freedom, who know the importance of mutual

Hear the solemn warning of Tariq Ramadan, whose words ring like a trumpet before the dawn: “If people who cherish freedom, who know the importance of mutual respect and are aware of the imperative necessity to establish a constructive and critical debate, if these people are not ready to speak out, to be more committed and visible, then we can expect sad, painful tomorrows. The choice is ours.” This is no idle reflection, but a call to vigilance, a summons for those who value liberty and dignity to rise and make their voices heard. For silence in the face of injustice is the seed of sorrow, and hesitation in the face of tyranny is its greatest ally.

At the heart of this teaching is the recognition that freedom is never secure on its own. It must be defended, spoken for, and lived in action. To cherish freedom is not enough; one must guard it. To respect others is not enough; one must show it. To know the need for debate is not enough; one must enter it with courage. Ramadan warns that if such people—the very ones most capable of building societies of justice—choose to hide in comfort, the cost will be borne by the future in the form of sad, painful tomorrows.

History gives us stern reminders of this truth. In the years before the rise of fascism in Europe, many who loved liberty remained silent, preferring peace in the moment over the discomfort of resistance. Their silence was not neutrality—it was surrender to the tide. And the result was devastation: war, oppression, and the crushing of millions. Those who could have spoken earlier often confessed later that their silence was complicity, their inaction a form of betrayal. Ramadan’s words echo this ancient truth: to remain silent when one must speak is to choose defeat before the battle is fought.

Yet history also shows the opposite. Consider the example of Martin Luther King Jr., who in the face of hostility, spoke tirelessly of justice, respect, and dialogue. He was not silent; he was visible, committed, unwavering. Though threatened, imprisoned, and despised by many, his refusal to retreat changed the course of a nation. His life embodies the truth that constructive and critical debate, when carried forward by those with courage, becomes a force strong enough to tear down walls of injustice and build a future brighter than the past.

The lesson here is clear: the choice is ours. We cannot wait for others to fight for truth while we remain hidden. Each generation must decide whether to face the difficulties of speaking out or to passively accept the calamities of silence. To love freedom is not enough—it must be defended in public and in private, in words and in deeds. To respect others is not enough—it must be shown in actions that uplift the weak and challenge the proud. To desire debate is not enough—we must enter it, even when it is uncomfortable, for only in honest dialogue can truth emerge.

Practical is this counsel: do not remain hidden when your voice is needed. In your community, your nation, your workplace, your family—be the one who speaks when others fall silent. Stand for fairness even when it costs you comfort. Resist the urge to withdraw into indifference, for every small silence joins into a great silence that empowers injustice. To be committed and visible is to ensure that tomorrow’s generations inherit not chains, but freedom.

So remember the words of Tariq Ramadan: “If people who cherish freedom are not ready to speak out… we can expect sad, painful tomorrows.” Take them as both warning and promise. For if we fail, sorrow awaits; but if we act, hope endures. The future is not written in stone—it is written in the courage of those who rise to protect truth. And the choice, as he said, is indeed ours.