‘First They Came’ echoes true today
Apropos now is the famous WWII-era poem by German pastor Martin Niemöller, “First They Came.” It’s too long to quote, but to condense — “First they came for the Communists, but I wasn’t a Communist so I didn’t speak out.” Then they came for the Socialists, trade unionists, Jews and I didn’t speak out because I was none of those.
“Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak for me.”
Update to today — “First they came for educators, artists, journalists and brown immigrants who don’t look like me.” Who is next: Black, LGBTQ+, disabled, trans, elderly, you …?
Let’s all speak out.