What Would You Have Done in Nazi Germany? You're doing it right now.

"How could the Germans have allowed the Nazis to do what they did, how could they have not done anything?" I'm sure we've all heard someone say this, or even said it ourselves. Everyone one of us is now living the answer to that question, in what we say and how we say it, in what we're doing or not doing, in our behaviours, our opinions and beliefs.

I'm tired of hearing people wring their hands over the 21st Century Holocaust, while doing nothing material to stop it, shirking responsibility, avoiding accountability, feigning action. The question isn't 'what would I have done in Nazi Germany?' but 'what am I doing right now, in this moment?'

So, I came up with a framework to help people force that question to be answered. I have used it myself with people, and encourage anyone reading this to do the same.

For people not actively doing something to stop the genocide by the American Empire of our brothers and sisters in Palestine, Sudan, Myanmar and elsewhere, I assess them on my framework which is clear, brutal and leaves no room for escape.

One simple questions reveals who they are. People need to confront themselves and each other, and stop hiding behind "complexity", "neutrality", "discomfort", because those are the excuses Germans told themselves when failing to oppose the Final Solution because it was "complex" as jews were gassed, or that they wanted to remain "neutral" as Romani were slaughtered by the hundreds of thousands and they'd feel "uncomfortable but what can we do" as people with disabilities were euthanised for just existing, as crimes against humanity were mechanised and perpetuated in the 1940s. The same is happening, right now.

If you're one of those people, stop lying to yourself that you would've made a stand against Nazi Germany, because you wouldn't have, what you're doing right now is what you'd have done then. You would've been as cowardly then, as now, your bravado and lies are as transparent as the air itself. You're not convincing anyone otherwise, we all see you as the false allies you are.

When it comes to failing to work against, oppose and try to stop genocide, people fall into one of three categories, there are no other options, it's only one of these:

· Ignorant - lacking education, knowledge, being purposefully unaware or un-informed

· Negligent - lacking due care or attention to matters that are your responsibility

· Complicit - associated with or participating in a questionable act or crime

When you ask someone about the genocide, ask them directly: "Which of the three are you, ignorant, negligent or complicit?" Their answers reveal their cowardice.

"I don't really follow what's happening over there."

"I haven't seen any reliable news about Gaza."

"Both sides are probably bad, I don't know enough to comment."

"I don't trust the media, so I just stay out of it."

"I heard there was a war, but I don't know who started it."

"Is it still going on?"

This shows they're ignorant, as they refuse to, and haven't looked, because they don't want to know, as knowing requires them to feel or do something or admit their own complicity.

These people would be the happy Germans in 1942 carrying on about their daily business as their neighbours were disappeared and sent to a death camp to be murdered, while welcoming the family that moves in next door to replace them. They tell themselves things aren't that bad, it can't be as bad as they say, they would say "I am a not a Nazi, I didn't vote for them", pretending they're just a German trying their best to get by, and life is hard.

"I know it's bad, but what can I do?"

"I've seen the images, they're horrible, but I can't do anything about it."

"I'm not political, I just focus on my own life."

"I saw the news, but I had to scroll past it, it was too upsetting."

"I've been meaning to read up on it, but I've been so busy."

"I support Palestine, but I don't know what to do that would actually help."

"I've been following it but I'm too overwhelmed to act."

"I posted about it."

These people are negligent, they know, have access to information, seen the images, heard testimonies, they can't plead ignorance, so they choose inaction, because their own priviledge and comfort matters more than people's actual lives. Their job, weekend, mental health, social circle, their "peace of mind" all deemed more important than doing or saying anything to help materially stop a genocide.

These people are the Germans who admit to their friends the families next door, the Goldberg's and Rosenstein's have gone, they saw the trains leaving from the station, heard the whispers passed around, they knows the trains never return. They could have asked questions, but didn't, they could refuse to accept the lies, but don't, they could tell others what they suspect is happening, but never do. They have a job to do, a living to earn, a life to lead, "someone else will sort it all out, I am sure."

"Israel has a right to defend itself."

"Hamas started it."

"It's complicated."

"But what about October 7th?"

"What about the hostages?"

"If Hamas would just surrender, this would all end."

"I support Israel's right to exist."

"The Palestinian population has grown, so it can't be genocide."

"The numbers are inflated by Hamas."

"They're using human shields, what is Israel supposed to do?"

These people are complicit, as they don't ignore the genocide, they actively justify, defend and excuse it, using zionist Hasbara to shift blame, deflect, gaslight, lie. They're in no way neutral, no matter what they say, they're not "both sidings" anything, they're firmly and actively enabling genocide through their rhetoric, taxes, their own endorsement and votes.

These people are the Germans who not only knew, but they attended the meetings, agreed the actions and carried them out. They told their colleagues "the jews are a problem and need to be dealt with, look at how they started it all", they agree what's happening is necessary. They believe the propaganda, the lies, defend the criminals committing crimes, they know it's wrong, but they agree with it anyway, to ensure their comfort is maintained. They may not have been an SS soldier, a guard in Auschwitz, or even a civil servant in the Armaments Minitsry, but they nod along with the deportations, the extermination, the cleansing. They're your greengrocer, your bank manager, your painter, your plumber, your lawyer.

Step 1. Start with the question, "Which of the three are you when it comes to the genocide, ignorant, negligent, or complicit?"

Step 2. Don't let them escape, they will likely deflect, it's a defence for their ego. Now you need to name out loud the deflection for them, say, "That's a deflection, you're avoiding answering my question." They'll likely say they're "not political", "not informed enough", "just trying to be balanced" but these are also deflections, don't let them escape, keep asking, calmly.

Step 3. Don't get angry or frustrated, ask calmly as can be the same question, this is called the broken record technique, "I didn't ask you about that, I asked you which of the three you are." They will likely keep deflecting.

Step 4. Stay calm and firm, repeat the question again, "I didn't ask you for your opinion, I asked you which of the three you are, ignorant, negligent or complicit?" Keep doing this broken record technique until they get angry, walk away or answer properly.

Crucially, remember, the goal isn't to win a debate, it's to force a moment of self-reflection, you aren't here to convince them genocide is wrong. You just need to ask the question and let it sit, they need to realise what they are for themselves and will unlikely admit it out loud to you in the moment, but the question will eat away at them, and that's the point.

This isn't a game, it's about whether people are willing to act in the face of a genocide, and every conversation is an opportunity to either let someone off the hook or hold them to account. My framework isn't about shaming people, it's about clarity in action, in about helping to flip people into being better allies, as once people can accept which category they're in, we can change it, we can help them choose to stop being ignorant, negligent, or complicit, and start to act and be on the right side of history.

They are likely to say a version of the below, which is again deflection to camouflage which one of the three they are. These response are their ego's attempt to avoid accountability by claiming exceptionalism, a way of saying "I'm one of the good ones" without actually doing anything that costs them anything, but exceptionalism doesn't stop a genocide, doesn't feed a child, stop a bomb or break a siege, the deflection is just a story people tell themselves so they don't have to change anything.

"I'm the Exception"

"I'm not ignorant, I know what's happening."

"I'm not negligent, I've donated to a charity."

"I'm not complicit, I voted for someone who said they care."

"I've posted about it on social media."

"I went to a protest."

"I've been to Palestine before, have you?"

"I have Palestinian friends."

"I'm Jewish, so I can't be complicit."

"I'm a progressive, so I'm not like the others."

"I'm not political, but I care."

So here is the question I leave you with, what are you doing right now, what have you done this week, this month, this year? If the answer is nothing, then you know what question I will ask next, which of the three are you?

The question is whether you're going to stay there, or act.