The spiral of silence refers to the idea that when people fail to speak, the price of speaking rises. As the price to speak rises, still fewer speak out, which further causes the price to rise, so that fewer people yet will speak out, until a whole culture or nation is silenced. This is what happened in Germany.
If you do not speak, you are not being neutral, but are contributing to the success of the thing you refuse to name and condemn.
Rugby league greats farewell Canberra Raiders star Quentin Pongia at his funeral
Tough, courageous and highly respected. Words used repeatedly to describe former Canberra Raiders forward Quentin Pongia in tributes by family and former team-mates at his funeral in Greymouth on Saturday. Former Kiwis and Canberra team-mate Ruben Wiki remembered Pongia as a "brother and mentor".
"Three words sum up Q – blood, sweat and respect. The first two you give, and last one you earn ... and that's Q."