First they came for the Communist and I did not speak out because I was not a Communist
Then they came for the Jews and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew
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 Catholics and I did not speak out because I was a Protestant
Then they came for me and by that time there was no one left to speak out for me
Martin Niemoller, 1892-1984
Martin Niemoller was born in Lippstadt, Germany in 1892. He served as a German submarine officer in WWI and was awarded the Iron Cross for his heroism under fire. After the war, he tried a number of jobs including farming where he was a failure. He was ordained a Lutheran minister in 1924.
Martin was an enthusiastic supporter of Adolph Hitler. He voted for Hitler in the elections of 1924, 1928, and 1933. He was a true believer in the Nazi party. He was both anti-Communist and anti-Jewish. He also subscribed to the purging of undesirables – homosexuals, Gypsies, habitual criminals, mental and physical defectives and others.
As Nazis extremists began to tighten their grip over the country, including the church, Martin began to speak out against their abuse of power. He was rewarded by imprisonment. In 1938 he was sent to prison and not released until the end of the war in 1945.
After the war, Martin continued his life as a Lutheran minister. For the rest of his life, he regretted his support of extremism and was plagued by guilt. He was ashamed that he had not spoken out as Hitler rose to power. In 1946, he penned his famous “then they came for me” poem. He spent the remainder of his life as a pacifist. He campaigned against the Vietnam War and nuclear weapons. Towards the end of his life at the age of 92, he remarked “I did not betray Hitler, Hitler betrayed me”.
The lesson of Martin Niemoller must not be lost. America is already a great nation. There is no need to make it great again. Extremism is dangerous. Peaceful protest is our right. We must make our voices heard before eventually “they come for me”.
“Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety”.
Benjamin Franklin, 1706-1790
Thomas Jefferson, 1743-1826
Author: Staff
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