First They Came

"First They Came" is an iconic poem by a German pastor named Martin Niemöller. It is an absolutely chilling warning that if we do not speak up when others' rights are being curtailed, we very well may be next.

The United States of America, under the insanity of the trump administration and the trump-republicans, has started sliding toward becoming the next fascist, authoritarian dictatorship, thowing away hundreds of years of democracy.

I think keeping track of whose rights are being trampled is an important reminder of how dangerously close we are.

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First They Came

First 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 for me.​

Trump is Here

First trump came for the illegal migrants, and I did not speak out--
     Because I was not an illegal migrant.

Then trump came for the trans community, and I did not speak out--
     Because I am not trans.

Then trump came for the free press, and I did not speak out--
     Because the trump-controlled state media made it look like news was still coming out.

Then trump came for even legal migrants if they speak out against his regime, and I did not speak out--
     Because I am not a migrant.

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We all know how this went in Germany when Hitler came to power. 
​How long before We The People decide to speak out, and save ourselves?

You can help make a difference.

EVERY single person voicing dissent is important.

Let's not, as Americans, get to the end of this poem,
​where there is no one left to speak out for you or me.