This is a very famous quote attributed to a man named Martin Niemoller. Martin Niemoller was a German pastor who in the beginning of the Third Reich supported Hitller’s rise to power. As things began to steamroll and he saw where things were heading, he began to oppose the movements of the Third Reich. Thus was born this very famous quote:
They came first for the Communists,
and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Communist.
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 Jews,
and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew.
Then they came for me
and by that time no one was left to speak up.
I have always found this quote extremely moving. Please use your voice and vote this coming election. Because if you don’t have any say in what is going on, who will be there later to speak up for you?
We have voting information at the Orland Free Library, including audio cassettes with voter information for the November general election.
posted by, Estel