First They Came .... poem by Martin Niemöller
66"In Germany they came first for the Communists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me, and by that time no one was left to speak up."
-- by Martin Niemöller, prominent German anti-Nazi theologian and Lutheran pastor, best known as the author of the poem First they came....
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There are both good and bad on both side of any issue, and yes your poem is just as valid as the one you mock, You have the freedom to write such, freedoms’ that others would gladly take away if given half a chance.
You would paint all with the same brush, and call it right, while people of reason know that there is more to any issue than just black and white. But you would make it difficult to distinguish the difference between the two and so we have to go to war with both the good and the bad of those you would call evil.
The good often have no choice but to stand with the bad when their home land is invaded, and you would see all as bad.
For the most part it’s only a few who are so bad as to warrant it however their own people do not police them often granting the same freedoms we grant the good, unless they do harm to their own, and most are careful not to least they no longer have a safe haven.
Mike James. Are you denying the holocaust happened then?
Here's an updated updated version, then.
First, they came for the idiots, and I did nothing, cause hey, they're idiots. Take em.
thats imba troy !
i think this its a really neat poem.
probably one of the most moving poems ive ever read! makes you think about how lucky we are to have "freedom of speech."
True, it is a very moving poem, but the faxct of the matter is that it's slowly happeneing to us and we don't even see it...We are slowly being taken away little by little. We might not see it because it is so common on TV, but it's happening. Soon, we will all be taken and we won't be able to do anythign about it because everyone else will have already been taken becasue we never did anything. We allowed ourselves come to that. We allow such things to happen in America and act as if it's ok because at least it was them and not us...well soon it will be us!
During these political times when public good is being forsaken for narrow private interests. The words of Niemoller's poem keep echoing in my head. The diversity of public interests represented at the March 2011 Wisconsin Rally to keep collective bargaining rights is a hopeful sign in our times.
first they came, is such a moving thought provoking poem,but if people do not wake up, we will all be doomed. on wednesday I went to truro, the weather was beautiful, a beautiful blue sky, then the planes arrived the criss-crosses everywhere, the sky now full of white x's, free speech? what good is free speech if noone is listening. Actions speak louder than words. We don't have long they are depopulating us, wake up, wake up, the more people that are on to them could stop this mass control. Tell people that are still unaware of this mass control slaugter. Come on blair, brown, clegg, and the cabbage patch kid there all one to me none of them cared about you, why should they, there all over priveleged scum, there aim is to get rid of you, from the orders from above. Unlike them we have to care for each other, we can all do something, imagine if last weeks march was four million, spread the word the nwo is no joke.
its happening now first they are coming for the Mexicans then gays then colored then who knows whats next
I thinks it's happening today to Christian values and the rights we have to protect our Beliefs in society. If we don't stand for anything good then we will fall to everthing this country believes is freedom. Like the freedom ( right choose) vs right to life for unborn babies!
ON THIS JULY 4, 2011
Lest we forget: one of the first things the Nazis did was outlaw abortions. Yes they removed the freedom to choose. German and other women designated as Aryan were forbidden to have abortions and, ironically, executed if found to have had one, along with nurses and doctors who treated them. Meanwhile, the fascists were busy shooting and gassing pregnant Jewish women and everyone else they considered non-Aryan. A lot of brave American troops died to rescue Europe from the totalitarian terror of the Nazis. Not saying abortion is a good thing or that any woman would like to have one if she felt she had another alternative. Just saying it's important not to allow the United States to devolve into a fascist dictatorship where women are second-class citizens who aren't considered intelligent enough to make difficult decisions about their own bodies.
P.S.: Hitler also made homosexuality a death-penalty crime. What a prince.
I heard this poem years ago and fell in love with it,I am so glad for Google, to have found the words and the author of this beloved poem, I Love Google.
Hitler was not 'half jew' that is a myth. Removing the right to abortion in the 1930's makes it sound as if abortion was legal already in the 1930's ?? I find that hard to believe, but fuck that anyway. I am against abortion.
Understanding the first man's comment, he is not MOCKING the poem, he is commenting that the anti-nazi bullshit has gotten to the point where people are arrested and JAILED for saying they don't believe the holocaust. If some idiot wants to believe in moonbeams from mars or little green men, no holocaust, or scientology, that is their right. It's called freedom of thought and speech, the most fundamental right of all humans,upon which all other rights are born.
In many European countries it is now 'illegal' to disparage islam, but not christianity.
Also Loyal American, homosexuality IS a death penalty crime under Islamic Sharia law. If you are against women being second class citizens, then you need to fight against Islam. Because women do not have rights under Sharia law. But see in Europe, we can't even complain about their honor killings or forced marriages, beating their wives (LEGAL under islam) or WE go to jail.
Europe NO LONGER has freedom of speech.
Politics, religion. You KNOW if it is wrong, simple as that really. And if it is wrong, then the question is "Do you have the courage to stand up and say it's wrong?" If the answer is no, then you may as well be the one doing the killing.
Smirky- it seems that way, but at the same time staying silent could've been the only thing keeping him alive. It's like in an abusive situation back in the 40's; everyone knows it's going on but if they spoke out it would only get worse. In WWII they didn't know what they where up against. The battle could've easily been won by the Germans if they did only a few things different. But thank God it ended. Same goes for the Civil War, only 10% of white people in the south had slaves...
There is a war on for your mind. www.infowars.com
This is kind of a poem that never expired & never forget. Also it is applicable to the present & the future Time.
Martin was a little confused, wasn't he. If the Communists had been able to gain the power that Hitler and his National Socialists did, they to would have come for any religion or individual freedom.
“The oppressed are allowed once every few years to decide which particular representatives of the oppressing class are to represent and repress them.” – Karl Marx
America is like a healthy body with its patriotism, morality & spiritual life. If we can undermine these 3, America will collapse - Stalin
Communism - Grinding America Down http://bit.ly/p3tVrA
Horalius 3 years ago
Never forget, most of Hitler's top soldiers, including himself, were anti-social extremists who were either half- or full-blooded relations to the ethnic groups they helped to throw out of Europe, to create the nation of Israel in Palestine. For one of many references, see the book "Hitler's Jewish Soldiers".
An updated version:
When the Zionist Extremist Criminals first came for the holocaust deniers, I remained silent; For I did not ask questions and accepted the myth. When they imprisoned the revisionists, I remained silent; For the media told me they were hate-mongers. When they extradited the critics of Israel, I remained silent; For I feared being called anti-Semitic and losing my job. When they murdered the nationalists, I remained silent; For I was taught to despise my own race. When they arrested the patriots, I remained silent; For I trusted in Big Government and the European Union. When they came for the Christians, I remained silent; For I rejected the divinity of Christ. When they came for the opponents of the New World Order, I remained silent; For I was afraid of Satan. When they came for me, I cried out in anguish and despair, But there was no one left to help me.
- Mike James