Speaking out - First they came

Speaking out – before it’s too late

I pinched this from a Facebook comment. I’ve been angry about the government for many years. This guy finally gets it:

John McHarg:

First they came for the free thinkers,
and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a free thinker.

Then they came for the people who disagreed with them,
and I did not speak out—
I did disagree with them, but I kept quite about it.

Then they came for the tax payer,
and I did not speak out.
I was a tax payer, but I thought my money was being used for the benefit of the country.

Then they came for the people who voiced concern,
and I did not speak out,
because I was starting to get scared.

Then they came for people at peaceful protest, who weren’t causing trouble,
and I did not speak out,
because I wasn’t at those protests.

Then they started jailing people for social media post,
and I did not speak out,
because, I didn’t post my opinion on social media.

Then they silenced the raped and abused,
but I did not speak out,
because I was not raped and abused.

Then they tried to demonise the people who tried to speak for me, but I was too shit scared to speak for myself.

But when I saw them arresting dying people because of their colour, and 5 year old boys,
then I fucking spoke out!

Now, they will come for me.

There have been many other reworks of this poem, all warning of the cost of silence.

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