History of Sorts

In 1993, the Dutch band “De Jazz Politie” wrote a song titled “Ze Zijn Terug,” which translates into English as They Are Back. The song was a protest against the rise of right-wing radicalism and neo-Nazism.

The song is described from the perspective of a Holocaust survivor who relives her experiences through the right-wing radical images she sees on TV. In the middle of the song is a fragment of a speech by Adolf Hitler.

Below are just some translated excerpts from the lyrics.

And then she wakes up
From Mother’s last kiss
That she can still give her
On a Polish platform
And then she wakes up
And hears the same language
It seemed to have disappeared for a moment
Now, back in the news.

And then she wakes up.
From the kick in the face
From father’s cold hands
In the cage where she lies
She often wakes up with a start
And is called a pig
Sometimes dreams come true
Too true to be beautiful.

I heard this song again a few days ago, this time I cried when I heard it.

De Jazz politie warned us in 1993.

I have been warning for the last 8 years or so about the return of extreme politics. Now, as in the 1920s, they tried to separate far left and far right political ideologies(or rather idiocies). However, these 2 cannot be separated; the one fuels the other. They may have different flags and uniforms, but they are the same. And again, governments are ignoring this. At least in the 1920s, they had an excuse because they did not have the Luxury of hindsight. Now, they do have the luxury of hindsight.

Back then, students called for boycotts. Back then, books were burned. Back then, art was banned. Back then, critical voices were silenced. Back then, the media was manipulated. The list is endless, but also identical to the list of 2024, with one major difference, now it is global.

We can still do something now, it is not too late yet.

But act we must if we don’t want to see smiley young men marching in uniforms and in unison. Targeting groups they deem offensive, because basically, where they were once called sub-human, now they are called offensive or canceled. Just remember this time it could be you and your friends and family.

https://www.musixmatch.com/lyrics/De-Jazzpolitie/Ze-Zijn-Terug