||| FROM SAN OLSON |||
With sincere apology to Pastor Martin Niemölle, I am rewriting his searing words to be relevant to today’s political and cultural environment. He made his historic and present statement in 1946 as an indictment of passivity and indifference of the German people during the Nazi Regime and subsequent Holocaust.
First then they came for the immigrants, and I did not speak out —-because I was not an immigrant.
Then they came for the women who had an abortion or a miscarriage, and I did not speak out—because I was not a woman.
Then they came for the LGBTQ community, and I did not speak out—because I was not LGBTQ.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
—Martin Niemölle
(paraphrased by San Olson, Lopez Island)
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Sobering words, San. Thank you for reminding us of the parallels.
Likewise– years from now your children and grandchildren will ask you what you did during the genocide. For you’re doing it now.
Thank you San. An appropriate reminder that we need to be always vigilant. I was encouraged to see that the words, “Then they came for me” were painted on The Tank yesterday, the unique Orcas visual forum that sits on the corner where Crescent Beach Road meets the road to Olga.
Oh, San, this is so true. As you know, like you I also served in our country’s military and have been proud of those years. But this country has turned in a direction so opposite from the ideals I thought it would forever stand for.