“First They Came For”
This poem, written as a confessional by Pastor Martin Niemöller in 1946 was his coming to terms with his failure to speak out against the Nazis during what has become known as the Holocaust.
“First they came for the Communists, and I did not speak out, because I was not a Communist
“Then they came for the Socialists and I did not speak out, because I was not a Socialist
“Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out, because I was not a trade unionist
“Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out, because I was not a Jew
“Then they came for me, and there was no one left, to speak out for me.”
They are coming for the immigrants, they are coming for the media, they are coming for judges and the rule of law, they are coming for public education, they are coming for veteran’s health care, they are coming for the books and our libraries, they are coming for the least fortunate among us. Who will speak out for them?
They are coming for our colorful history and heritage, they are coming for our Constitution and the right to protest peacefully, they are coming for our government of, by, and, for the people. Who will speak out for us? Not the billionaires nor, apparently, our elected representatives. Now is our time to speak out.
Larry Hodgden
Tipton