When the Nazis arrested the Communists...

[Guest guest]

Niemöller (1892—1984), Protestant pastor and social activist

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 nicht protestiert;

ich war ja kein Gewerkschafter.

Als sie die Juden holten,

habe ich nicht protestiert;

ich war ja kein Jude.

Als sie mich holten,

gab es keinen mehr, der protestierte.

Translation: When the Nazis arrested the Communists,

I said nothing; after all, I was not a Communist.

When they locked up the Social Democrats,

I said nothing; after all, I was not a Social Democrat.

When they arrested the trade unionists,

I said nothing; after all, I was not a trade unionist.

When they arrested the Jews, I said nothing; after all, I was not a

Jew.

When they arrested me, there was no longer anyone who could protest.

May I add the line, (which is true; thousands of gays and lesbians

died under the hands of the Nazis):

Als sie die Schwulen holten,

habe ich nicht protestiert;

ich war ja kein Schwule.

(When they came after the gays and lesbians,

I said nothing; after all, I was not gay or lesbian...)

This is why I am " over-sensitive " to real or perceived threats or

insults. I have made my apologies to all of you, and to Bill, in

particular. I can only hope now that you can understand, at least in

a small part, why I am " over-sensitive " . I honestly hope to God that

none of you ever have to endure the persecution and bigotry I have

endured, so that your " view " of life is never " distorted " .

Wishing all you the best,

Dirk

[Guest guest]

I spent five years in Germany in the 1960's in the Air Force. You'd be

surprised how many Germans of that time were very proud to read that poem

out loud. It was both a ststement of conscience/responsiblity and

catharsis.

Best.

Bill

When the Nazis arrested the Communists...

Niemöller (1892-1984), Protestant pastor and social activist

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 nicht protestiert;

ich war ja kein Gewerkschafter.

Als sie die Juden holten,

habe ich nicht protestiert;

ich war ja kein Jude.

Als sie mich holten,

gab es keinen mehr, der protestierte.

Translation: When the Nazis arrested the Communists,

I said nothing; after all, I was not a Communist.

When they locked up the Social Democrats,

I said nothing; after all, I was not a Social Democrat.

When they arrested the trade unionists,

I said nothing; after all, I was not a trade unionist.

When they arrested the Jews, I said nothing; after all, I was not a

Jew.

When they arrested me, there was no longer anyone who could protest.

May I add the line, (which is true; thousands of gays and lesbians

died under the hands of the Nazis):

Als sie die Schwulen holten,

habe ich nicht protestiert;

ich war ja kein Schwule.

(When they came after the gays and lesbians,

I said nothing; after all, I was not gay or lesbian...)

This is why I am " over-sensitive " to real or perceived threats or

insults. I have made my apologies to all of you, and to Bill, in

particular. I can only hope now that you can understand, at least in

a small part, why I am " over-sensitive " . I honestly hope to God that

none of you ever have to endure the persecution and bigotry I have

endured, so that your " view " of life is never " distorted " .

Wishing all you the best,

Dirk

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