"And when they..... there was no one left to speak out."

[omega minimo]

First they betrayed the truth, to make war
I did not speak out
because I was not responsible.

When they betrayed the Gulf War survivors,
I did not speak out
because I was not an Iraqi.

When they betrayed the Gulf War military,
I did not speak out
because I was not a soldier.

When they betrayed the Gulf Hurricane survivors
I did not speak out
because I was not poor or black;

And when they betrayed me,
there was only a gulf of silence,
there was no one left to speak out.



With gratitude to the original:
Martin Niemöller

[Qibing Zero]

1. It fits. Recommended. nt

[omega minimo]

2. This is where we are

This is the wake up call.

I have faith enough in enough of the American people to snap out of it, to see themselves in these people in the Gulf Coast.

Last call!

:bounce:

[Liberty Belle]

3. Moving and true. Kick.

[omega minimo]

5. Thank you all-- thanks to the poet

"Moving and true"!? The highest praise.

:hug:

[LibertyorDeath]

4. Recommended !

[alittlelark]

6. My husband says it's up to me to reply to this........

I am replying - saying - BRILLIANT.

Cut out 1 verse for perfection. You know which one. Americans aren't worried about them.


PR tells me that it could work w/o that particular verse. No one here is interested in history.

[omega minimo]

8. Good thing I took out the bit about "future generations" hmmm?

Thank you.

Perfection or sore thumb poking out of "Gulf War" ambiguity?

Which will get the point across?

[omega minimo]

7. The Word of the Day is "Quiescence"

First they came...
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

First They Came... is a poem by Pastor Martin Niemöller (1892-1984) about the quiescence of German intellectuals following the Nazi rise to power and the purging of their chosen targets, group after group. In Spanish-speaking countries the poem has been often erroneously attributed to Bertolt Brecht since the 1970s.

An early supporter of Hitler, by 1934 Niemöller had come to oppose the Nazis, and it was largely his high connections to influential and wealthy businessmen that saved him until 1939, after which he was imprisoned, eventually at Sachsenhausen and Dachau concentration camps. He survived to be a leading voice of penance and reconciliation for the German people after World War II. His poem is well-known, frequently quoted, and is a popular model for describing the phenomenon of social chaos, as it often begins with specific and targeted fear and hatred which soon escalates out of control.


First they came for the communists,
I did not speak out
because I was not a communist.

When they came for the social democrats,
I did not speak out
because I was not a social democrat.

When they came for the trade unionists
I did not speak out
because I was not a trade unionist.

When they came for the Jews
I did not speak out
because I was not a Jew;

And when they came for me,
there was no one left to speak out.

(additional props to Swamp Rat)

[nicknameless]

9. That is a beautiful update, omega minimo.

I fear we're seeing history repeating itself.

Recommended.

[omega minimo]

10. Ich bin ein New Orleaner

:patriot: :loveya:

[GreenPartyVoter]

12. Je suis une New Orleaner?

------------------------------------------------------
Save the Gulf, then save the nation!
http://timeforachange.bluelemur.com/electionreform.htm

[nicknameless]

20. Yes!!!

:hug:

[omega minimo]

18. It's up to us, isn't it?

[GreenPartyVoter]

11. *sad sigh*

------------------------------------------------------
Save the Gulf, then save the nation!
http://timeforachange.bluelemur.com/electionreform.htm

[omega minimo]

14. People. Will. Wake. Up.

Those were human beings in New Orleans.
Americans know it.
Their government does does not.

Take heart, GPV. We can help broadcast the wake up call.

Someone else just posted about all the RWingers that will be watching Oprah's NO visit today.........

They can't spin reality. Not this.

:grouphug:

[raccoon]

13. Great post. nt

[omega minimo]

15. Peace

:hi:

[blue neen]

16. Very good, om.

Spot on.

[omega minimo]

17. Cheers then

:toast:


Will the wake up call work?

[Carolab]

19. SEPTEMBER 24, Washington DC. See you there. n/t

[omega minimo]

21. .

[omega minimo]

22. :HI:

:kick:

[omega minimo]

23. How can you have any pudding if you DON'T EAT YOUR MEAT?!!!!!!!!

:kick: