Then They Came

This essay is in direct violation of “Godwin’s Law”, comparing present political actions to Nazism. On the other hand, I would counter with an older proverb: “If the shoe fits – wear it”.

Niemoller

Reinhold Niemoller was a German Lutheran minister in the 20^th century.  During World War I he defended Germany, serving as an officer in the German Navy.  When Hitler and Nazism first came to power, he, like many Germans, thought it was “good” for the economy.  It took years, but Niemoller ultimately stood against the Nazis prior to the beginning of World War II.  

He was arrested and sent to the concentration camps, first at Sachsenhausen and then Dachau.  He managed to survive the war, and continued to minister, becoming the head of the World Council of Churches in the 1960’s.  After the war, he wrote the following “confessional” for his inaction at the beginning of Hitler’s rise to power.

The Confession

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.

Who Speaks

We live in a time when “they” are coming.  We see it in our nation, the United States of America, today.  “They” are coming, right now, for the trans-gendered.  They are denying medical care for trans children, determining that “they” know better what’s good for them; better than the parents, the doctors, the kids themselves.  It’s happening now. “They” are determined that those children must suffer.  And many of “us” are not speaking out, because we are not trans-gendered.

“They” are coming, coming for those that are gay, or even simply cross-dressing.  “They” are banning drag shows that children might see, even though drag shows are as old as theatre.  Even the ancient Greeks dressed in drag in amphitheaters; women were not allowed to perform.  But now “they” are calling drag shows some kind of “grooming”, tapping into America’s fear of the “molester with candy” in the shadows.  “They” are banning even the mention of gay in elementary and middle schools. Even a gay Disney movie character caused a teacher to be suspended. And many of “us” are not speaking out, because we are not gay or cross dressers.

“They” are coming, coming for the rights of women.  It starts with forcing women to bear children, but it will move onto restrictions on birth control and ultimately what women (alone) must do to raise a child.  But, many of “us” are not speaking out, because we are not women.

Happening Now

“They” are coming, coming for educators who dare to teach that America is “imperfect”.  “They” don’t want children to hear about a diverse nation with a history of discrimination.  Instead, “they” want a literally whitewashed version of our story.  In fact, “they” are denying our own Constitution, which establishes our nation as becoming “more perfect”.  “They” demand that we are already “perfect”, that all of those who continue to face discrimination are simply “weak” or “whiners”.  But many of “us” are not speaking out, because we aren’t teaching, or minorities, or disadvantaged.

It’s Happening  — right now in Florida and Texas, Montana and Iowa, and even quietly here in Ohio as well.  “They” are taking away rights, taking away votes, taking away the truth in classrooms.  But don’t worry.  “They” will make sure there’s plenty of weapons of war in the streets.

And if we don’t speak out, “they” will ultimately come for “us”.