#martin niemöller

[theivorybilledwoodpecker]

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.

— Martin Niemöller

[thatswhywelovegermany]

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 geschwiegen, ich war ja kein Gewerkschafter. Als sie mich holten, gab es keinen mehr, der protestieren konnte.

When the Nazis got the communists, I kept quiet; I wasn't a communist, after all.

When they locked up the Social Democrats, I kept quiet; I wasn't a social democrat, after all.

When they called the trade unionists, I kept quiet; I wasn't a trade unionist, after all.

When they took me there was no one left to protest.

Martin Niemöller (1892 – 1984), German theologist

[where-our-stories-start]

Martin Niemöller // The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King // "Nina Cried Power" (Hozier) // Emma Watson // Protector of the Small: First Test by Tamora Pierce // The Hunchback of Notre Dame // John Stuart Mill // Jojo Rabbit // "Naughty" (Matilda)

[benreyfaggot]

I apologize for posting this as it’s not usual for me to post something about political topics, usually I just reblog other’s posts, but I would like to give my two cents for all of my not straight/not cis/not white followers. I remember a quote from Martin Niemöller speaking of the Holocaust,

“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.”

I beg of thee, anyone who is a part of any minority group that is reading this, remember this. Palestinians are being murdered today and allowing their deaths is paving a road to yours. Speak out against this genocide, stand with Palestinians and stop Israel in anyway that you can. I know it may seem like your voice will be drowned out amongst others but one voice can have such an affect. No matter you amount of followers, no matter how many posts you have, no matter what you post, speak out against Israel’s war crimes and the Genocide being committed upon Palestinians.

[chainsaw-raven]

source highly recommend reading the full article

Maya Angelou: “No one of us can be free until everybody is free”

[immensoamore]

Prima di tutto vennero a prendere gli zingari, e fui contento, perché rubacchiavano. Poi vennero a prendere gli ebrei, e stetti zitto, perché mi stavano antipatici. Poi vennero a prendere gli omosessuali, e fui sollevato, perché mi erano fastidiosi. Poi vennero a prendere i comunisti, e io non dissi niente, perché non ero comunista. Un giorno vennero a prendere me, e non c'era rimasto nessuno a protestare".

[jeannereames]

Time for a reminder from Martin Niemoeller. We MUST stand up in support of "smaller" minorities targeted by the right. That's just the opening salvo, meant to soften up the opposition.

[thatbitch151]

For all those people that aren’t speaking up about the atrocities that are happening to the Palestinian citizens, I’d like to share this poem from the holocaust

“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.

—Martin Niemöller”

Speak out now, because if we decide we are okay with one population losing their rights, then we are okay with everyone losing their rights

And when they finally come to take your rights, there won’t be anyone there to save you. Because everyone else will be dead

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

“First they came …" is the poetic form of a 1946 post-war confessional prose by the German Lutheran pastor Martin Niemöller (1892–1984). It is about the silence of German intellectuals and certain clergy—including, by his own admission, Niemöller himself—following the Nazis' rise to power and subsequent incremental purging of their chosen targets, group after group. Many variations and adaptations in the spirit of the original have been published in the English language. It deals with themes of persecution, guilt, repentance, and personal responsibility.

* * * *

“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” ~Martin Niemöller, German theologian - 1946

[HELL AND EARTH]

[helpmeimblorboing]

First they came for the trans people

And I did not speak out

Because I was not trans

Then they came for the bi people

And I did not speak out

Because I was not bi

Then they came for the gays

And I did not speak out

Because I was not gay

Then they came for the women

And I did not speak out

Because I was not a woman

Then they came for the black people

And I did not speak out

Because I was not black

Then they came for me

And there was no one left

To speak out for me

[filosofablogger]

Padre Steve on "'Targeting' Pride" ...

One week from today will be the beginning of Pride Month, and I have grave concerns for the nation, especially for the LGBTQ community.  Pride Month is meant to be a time for celebration, a time of great joy for people who have been repressed and suppressed for centuries and are finally getting the respect we all deserve.  But this year … this year feels different, for there are threats of…

[theivorybilledwoodpecker]

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.

— Martin Niemöller

I wanted to post this because it seems pertinant now. I do want to point out, though, that if you're a cis white Christian man, they will never come for you. In America, they will never violate your rights.

Now, if I were a member of that group and remained quiet because it didn't affect me and couldn't hurt me, I'd feel like a psychopath. But if that's not enough to sway you, remember that just because they won't come for you doesn't mean they won't come for your loved ones. Do not let it get to a point where you need to watch your loved one die as doctors refuse to operate on your partner or child because ectopic pregnancies are illegal to abort.

[tiliman2]

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.

- Pastor Martin Niemöller (1892–1984)

[sorenthestoryteller]

... the people who were put in the camps then were Communists. Who cared about them? We knew it, it was printed in the newspapers. Who raised their voice, maybe the Confessing Church? We thought: Communists, those opponents of religion, those enemies of Christians—"should I be my brother's keeper?"    Then they got rid of the sick, the so-called incurables. I remember a conversation I had with a person who claimed to be a Christian. He said: Perhaps it's right, these incurably sick people just cost the state money, they are just a burden to themselves and to others. Isn't it best for all concerned if they are taken out of the middle [of society]? Only then did the church as such take note.    Then we started talking, until our voices were again silenced in public. Can we say, we aren't guilty/responsible?    The persecution of the Jews, the way we treated the occupied countries, or the things in Greece, in Poland, in Czechoslovakia or in Holland, that were written in the newspapers. … I believe, we Confessing-Church-Christians have every reason to say: mea culpa, mea culpa! We can talk ourselves out of it with the excuse that it would have cost me my head if I had spoken out.    We preferred to keep silent. We are certainly not without guilt/fault, and I ask myself again and again, what would have happened, if in the year 1933 or 1934—there must have been a possibility—14,000 Protestant pastors and all Protestant communities in Germany had defended the truth until their deaths? If we had said back then, it is not right when Hermann Göring simply puts 100,000 Communists in the concentration camps, in order to let them die. I can imagine that perhaps 30,000 to 40,000 Protestant Christians would have had their heads cut off, but I can also imagine that we would have rescued 30–40,000 million [sic] people, because that is what it is costing us now.

Martin Niemöller

[to-agori-me-ta-tsigara]

Όταν ήρθαν να πάρουν τους τσιγγάνους δεν αντέδρασα.

Δεν ήμουν τσιγγάνος.

Όταν ήρθαν να πάρουν τους κομμουνιστές δεν αντέδρασα.

Δεν ήμουν κομμουνιστής.

Όταν ήρθαν να πάρουν τους Εβραίους δεν αντέδρασα.

Δεν ήμουν Εβραίος.

Όταν ήρθαν να πάρουν εμένα,

Δεν είχε απομείνει κανείς για να αντιδράσει…

Για σένα που νομίζεις..

ότι η δική σου σειρά δε θα φτάσει ποτέ..

ότι επειδή ακόμη δε χρειάστηκε να πας στο νοσοκομείο

και να σε διώξουν

γιατί δεν έχεις λεφτά..

Ότι επειδή ακόμη έχεις ένα πιάτο φαΐ, δε θα στο πάρουν

Ότι ακόμη δε σου πήραν το σπίτι του πατέρα σου

για χρέη στο Δημόσιο, θα τη γλυτώσεις

Ότι επειδή το παιδί σου ακόμη είναι στο σχολείο, θα συνεχίσει..

Ότι η ζωή σου δεν επηρεάζεται από εκείνη του διπλανού σου...

Martin Niemöller

[d-i-x-i-t]

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.

—Martin Niemöller