The following poem was posted in this blog on October 28, 2005. It is still as relevant now as it was during World War II sixty years ago when this poem was believed to have originated. We have the right to choose who and what causes we support. Nevertheless, we should never forget the rights of our fellow humans who are oppressed, marginalised and discriminated. We should and must stand up for them too as long as we are able in any way we can. This poem tells us why.

First They Came…

A poem by Pastor Martin Niemöller (1892-1984)

Original

Translation

Als die Nazis die Kommunisten holten, habe ich geschwiegen; ich war ja kein Kommunist. Als sie die Sozialdemokraten einsperrten, habe ich geschwiegen; ich war ja kein Sozialdemokrat. Als sie die Gewerkschafter holten, habe ich nicht protestiert; ich war ja kein Gewerkschafter. Als sie die Juden holten, habe ich nicht protestiert; ich war ja kein Jude. Als sie mich holten, gab es keinen mehr, der protestierte.

First they came for the communists, I did not speak out because I was not a communist. When they came for the social democrats, I did not speak out because I was not a social democrat. When they came for the trade unionists I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist. When they came for the Jews I did not speak out because I was not a Jew; And when they came for me, there was no one left to speak out.

Links:
Martin Niemöller
First They Came…

You may also be interested in the following posts:

First They Came…
Slow Off The Starting Line
Wedding Tea Ceremony – Mum’s Cousins
Invitation Letter To Disabled Peoples’ International World Assembly
Monster Blog – January 25, 2007: Wheelchair Etiquette

This entry was posted on Sunday, November 25th, 2007 at 21:13 and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.