"And then they came for me?"?

Question

Do you understand what this means?
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Martin Niemoeller, a German theologian and anti-war activist, was made famous by a poem he wrote during the Nazi takeover of Europe:

"First they came for the socialists, and I didn't speak up, because I wasn't a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak up, because I wasn't a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up, because I wasn't a Jew.
Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak up for me".

For all the Americans who keep bleating, "I'm not affected. I've done nothing wrong. Doesn't apply to me"



Do you understand that our rights have been fought for and paid for with blood? That it has taken this country over 250 years to get where we are today? And that with three pieces of legislation bush has destroyed all of that?

To "imkevlar" - You could not POSSIBLY be more wrong.

9/11 compares EXACTLY to the Reichstag Fire of 1933.

The Patriot Act compares EXACTLY to Hitler's Enabling Act.

And the words spoken in this poem refer EXACTLY to those Americans who keep bleating that what bush is doing in shredding the Constitution "doesn't apply" to them.

If ONE man is oppressed, ALL MEN are oppressed.

To Doc - Nice stab, but it didn't stick.
The Patriot Act was written BEFORE 9/11, and was given the bum's rush through Congress with bush/cheney whipping up the entire country into a "patriotic" frenzy. Russ Feingold was the ONLY Senator who did not vote for it and he was mercilessly attacked for his integrity.

The Military Commissions Act was a bush/cheney baby all the way. Same "mob mentality" still applied.

The HR 1955 legislation of May 9 - arguably the most damaging of all - was essentially an Executive Order of bush's.

ALL BUSH'S DOING - no matter how you'd like to present it as otherwise.

To "journeying" - You're wasting your time, pal. Not interested in any lame posts from someone with Clinton Derangement Syndrome.

To Darwin: You just shot yourself in the foot, although you of course don't realize it.

All of this *is* "all over the news" just not in the mainstream news...since the mainstream news is "bought and paid for" corporate America. So much for your lame "liberal media" sham.

To Madpol: Eloquent as per usual. I really love your posts...And your point about "tyranny" is accurate and precise.

I have been saying for YEARS that the TERRORISTS ARE WINNING. Look at this country! Look at the bickering and the chasm between the only two parties we have to work with! Look at how the very FOUNDATION of this nation, our beloved Constitution, has come to be meaningless in the hands of a despot.

Answer 1

Ben Franklin put it more succinctly. "Those who trade essential Liberty for temporary Security will soon discover that they have neither."

Giving up our Rights is a losing strategy against Terrorists. Terrorists LOVE Tyrants. They feed and Breed on discontent. Whatever their banner, the goal of terrorists has always been the same--to destroy Civilization in the name of whatever, usually Religion. Government crackdowns make for unstable governments. Unstable governments are eventually brought down by their own people, if outsiders haven't already moved in.

Only a Free People can ever put down Terrorists, a Tyrant can supress them, but they only row stronger in the dark. But, only a truly Free Press, and a strong committment to Human Rights build the kinds of Governments where the people stand up to them, fearless, and their recruiting fails. Europeans understand this. They've been through hundreds of years of Christian Terror and Religious Wars. They won't make that mistake again.

The Founders understood this. They gave us a Constitution and a Bill of Rights to keep it from ever happening here. We need to stop buying into the lies of Big Business and Big Religion and once more become the Brave and Free People that once we were--in the knowledge that Governments, like Fire make good servants but Bad Masters.

Chemcook, you're being too generous. 21 ragheads with 4 airplanes totally PUNKED Americans as a People. Of course,
our own institutions had spent 50 years setting us up for that moment, but the days after 9\11 are a time that Americans should remember with shame and vow NEVER to allow to happen again.

Answer 2

your quote: "I have been saying for YEARS that the TERRORISTS ARE WINNING. Look at this country! Look at the bickering and the chasm between the only two parties we have to work with! Look at how the very FOUNDATION of this nation, our beloved Constitution, has come to be meaningless in the hands of a despot."

The fault lies entirely on the people. The forefathers warned them to be increasingly watchful of their government.

I don't get the ones who excuse Bush on all of his offenses on the constitution. Claiming that their liberties are not affected and saying that they have nothing to hide so they don't mind government spying on them. Well I have nothing to hide either but government has limits for a reason! With more power comes tyranny - and history shows this.

Do they realize how dangerous and how fast legislation is passed to weaken the constitution?

Does this mean they choose not to be watchful? Then they deserve tyranny in the end!

Answer 3

It means that we need to fight for everyone’s rights, not just those in the majority.

Doc, with all respect to your military service, your opinion counts no more than anyone else’s. The Patriot Act was rammed through congress during a time when people wanted to support the President and Congress, and was heavily influenced by the White House. It was cowardly, but any member of Congress who even debated the act would have been committing political suicide. And the GOP had the voting majority then anyway.

Answer 4

I have always wondered how the Germans could say that they did not know the authorities the Nazi movement. After eight years of Bush Administration and looking at some people comments, I no longer ask that question.

They knew, but since it did not effect them, they did not care.

Answer 5

I agree wholeheartedly.
People today think that they can let the next man, woman, or child do the dirty work.
We all need to band together and throw off the tyrannical oppression of this administration, before we are led like sheep to slaughter.
This government is not working. It was written into the Constitution (oops..the "goddamn piece of paper"..) that we can tear down and rebuild what is not working for the people. What on earth are we waiting for, exactly? I am ready to do my part!

Answer 6

That's why we have a Bill of Rights (or amendments to the Constitution) - ie., in order to delineate those rights that are common sensical but which the average person doesn't understand. It's the average person (masses, mob or however called) that requires us to create extra checks and balances to make sure the rest of us can live our lives with minimal hassle.

It's a bunch of those average people who probably don't vote but every four years and only in Presidential elections who got us into this mess in the first place - along with a lot of average poll workers who did their average thing and nullified the votes of a whole bunch of people that would have turned the election around were those votes counted as intended. (Hanging chads or even dimples resulting from bins for discarded chads that weren't emptied; butterfly ballots that confused voters and actual votes; long lines from workers not able to handle identification efficiently; etc.)

It appears that about 30% of our electorate (those who still support this President) would be entirely happy were Facism or any other dictatorship introduced into our 'free' country.

Answer 7

Yes, most definitely I do, and I share completely your dismay and assertions that our society is extraordinarily selfish and oblivious. I for one have fought hard on a local level for truth and justice and have paid a very high price for my outspoken efforts and I feel that this is preciously what deters most Americans from taking a stand and an active roll in fighting against injustice, corruption, incompetence, hypocrisy and all the other traits that seem so prevalent in our society at all levels. If one compromises their core beliefs and principles their purpose in life then becomes less significant.

Answer 8

It means, to me, that nobody cares about what's going on around them until it directly affects you. The government could be doing something you don't like but you won't say or do anything to stop it because it doesn't relate to you. You could be losing your freedom by the day without you knowing it. It's good to stay informed about topics circulating the desks of our leaders that way when something comes up you don't agree with you can make your voice be heard. It's one of those freedom of speech things.

Answer 9

Bush as a president doesn't pass legislation- (no President does)
Slept through American Government class but still managed to get that stuck in the darn noggin after 20 years of life outside the classroom.


Congress- The House and the Senate pass legislation-
Thank congress for passing that legislation and the current Democratic congress for not suggesting that something be done about it.

How come no one has spoken of repealing the Patriot act if it poses such a threat to liberty?
Perhaps because the people in the know aren't playing on YA- ( ya' think?)

Answer 10

Nice poem.....
It is because I can still voice my opinion that I come on every day and share my beliefs to any who will listen......that Bush betrayed the nation by ignoring national security and terrorism until after we were attacked!
I believe it is at least a clear case of dereliction of duty!